Electrolux E57 washing machine: what it means & what to try

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 E57 actually means

The machine has detected a sudden surge of current going to the drum motor and has shut the motor down to protect itself.

The motor control board on your Electrolux feeds the motor through an inverter. If the current spikes past a fixed hardware limit, the board cuts the motor instantly and the machine drops into a safe state. It retries the cycle five times, roughly a minute apart, and if the surge keeps happening it stores the fault, stops the wash and releases the door.

What E57 looks like on a Electrolux washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Electrolux washing machine, E57 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
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves

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

A short circuit between the motor windings
A failed motor control (inverter) board
Damaged or chafed wiring between the board and the motor
A worn motor developing an internal fault

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 machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and start a short cycle — this clears the stored alarm and tells you whether it returns straight away
If the drum was heavily loaded, take some washing out and try again on a shorter programme

Which Electrolux models show E57

E57 means the same thing on this model. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

ZWX9115XL

Common questions about Electrolux E57

What does E57 mean on a Electrolux washing machine?

The machine has detected a sudden surge of current going to the drum motor and has shut the motor down to protect itself. The motor control board on your Electrolux feeds the motor through an inverter. If the current spikes past a fixed hardware limit, the board cuts the motor instantly and the machine drops into a safe state. It retries the cycle five times, roughly a minute apart, and if the surge keeps happening it stores the fault, stops the wash and releases the door.

Can I fix Electrolux E57 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and start a short cycle — this clears the stored alarm and tells you whether it returns straight away.
If the drum was heavily loaded, take some washing out and try again on a shorter programme.

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

How much does it cost to repair Electrolux E57?

£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 E57?

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 washing machine 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 washing machine 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 E57 error — washing machine