Electrolux E50 tumble dryer: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What E50 actually means

The dryer has stopped because it isn't happy with the drum motor — usually because the motor is running too hot.

On Electrolux heat pump dryers this code points at the motor circuit that drives the drum and fan. The control board sees the motor drawing wrongly or overheating and cuts the cycle rather than let it cook itself. In practice the cause is very often airflow rather than the motor itself — these machines pack fluff into the base and around the condenser, the motor works harder and hotter, and out comes the fault.

What E50 looks like on a Electrolux tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Electrolux tumble dryer, E50 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Fluff choking the base of the machine and the condenser/evaporator area
Drum motor overheating and cutting out on its thermal protection
Motor capacitor or motor winding failure
Wiring or connection fault in the motor circuit
Control board misreading the motor

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then restart a short cycle to see if the code returns
Clean the door filter and the secondary fluff filter thoroughly — rinse and dry them if they are matted with fine lint
Open the lower flap and clean the accessible condenser filter and its housing (no tools, no panels)
Check the machine is not jammed tight against a wall or in a small cupboard with no ventilation
Feel whether the load is very heavy or tightly packed — try a smaller load

Which Electrolux models show E50

E50 means the same thing on all 2 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

EDH3386PJW · TWGLES7000

Common questions about Electrolux E50

What does E50 mean on a Electrolux tumble dryer?

The dryer has stopped because it isn't happy with the drum motor — usually because the motor is running too hot. On Electrolux heat pump dryers this code points at the motor circuit that drives the drum and fan. The control board sees the motor drawing wrongly or overheating and cuts the cycle rather than let it cook itself. In practice the cause is very often airflow rather than the motor itself — these machines pack fluff into the base and around the condenser, the motor works harder and hotter, and out comes the fault.

Can I fix Electrolux E50 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then restart a short cycle to see if the code returns.
Clean the door filter and the secondary fluff filter thoroughly — rinse and dry them if they are matted with fine lint.
Open the lower flap and clean the accessible condenser filter and its housing (no tools, no panels).
Check the machine is not jammed tight against a wall or in a small cupboard with no ventilation.
Feel whether the load is very heavy or tightly packed — try a smaller load.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E50?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E50?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most tumble dryer faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Electrolux tumble dryer codes

All Electrolux fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Electrolux E50 error — tumble dryer