Electrolux E51 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 E51 actually means

The dryer has found a fault in the electrical switch on the control board that powers the drum motor, and has stopped the cycle.

On these Electrolux boards, the motor is switched by a component called a triac. E51 means that triac has short-circuited o cannot control the motor properly, so the machine halts rather than run the drum uncontrolled. It can also appear after a run of E52 faults the motor overheating and cutting out repeatedly for around 35 minutes at which point the board escalates it to E51.

What E51 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, E51 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not drying
Blowing cold air
Clothes still damp at the end
Takes hours to dry
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only

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

Failed motor triac on the control board
Drum motor itself faulty or drawing too much current
Damaged or chafed wiring between board and motor
Motor start capacitor on its way out usually with a humming noise and no drum movement
Repeated motor overheating cut-outs escalating into this code

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 power it up and try a cycle again if it clears, note whether it comes back
Take out an overloaded drum heavy, tightly packed loads make the motor work harder
Clean the lint filter and, on heat pump models, the condenser filter, since restricted airflow makes the motor and heater work harder

Common questions about Electrolux E51

What does E51 mean on a Electrolux tumble dryer?

The dryer has found a fault in the electrical switch on the control board that powers the drum motor, and has stopped the cycle. On these Electrolux boards, the motor is switched by a component called a triac. E51 means that triac has short-circuited o cannot control the motor properly, so the machine halts rather than run the drum uncontrolled. It can also appear after a run of E52 faults the motor overheating and cutting out repeatedly for around 35 minutes at which point the board escalates it to E51.

Can I fix Electrolux E51 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the dryer off at the wall for a minute, then power it up and try a cycle again if it clears, note whether it comes back.
Take out an overloaded drum heavy, tightly packed loads make the motor work harder.
Clean the lint filter and, on heat pump models, the condenser filter, since restricted airflow makes the motor and heater work harder.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E51?

£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 E51?

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 E51 error — tumble dryer