What F12 actually means
The board that controls the motor has restarted itself mid-cycle, so the machine has stopped rather than carry on.
Hisense machines run the drum motor through an inverter (motor control) board with its own small processor. If that processor resets unexpectedly, or the machine can't hold a proper conversation with it, the wash is halted and F12 is shown. The machine only makes this judgement while it's actually running, so you'll usually see it appear part-way through a cycle rather than at switch-on.
What usually causes it
- Fault on the inverter/motor control board itself
- Poor or loose connection between the main power board and the inverter
- Unstable or incorrect mains supply to the machine
- A failing motor dragging the inverter into a reset
- Damaged wiring or a connector working loose from vibration
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, switch it back on and restart the programme — the documents allow for a single reset attempt like this.
- Check the plug is firmly in the socket and the machine isn't running through an extension lead or adaptor.
- If it clears once and comes straight back on the next wash, treat it as a real fault rather than a glitch.
When to call someone
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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 Hisense washing machine codes
- Hisense F01 — The machine isn't getting enough water in the time it expect…
- Hisense F02 — The machine has detected too much water inside the drum and …
- Hisense F03 — The machine can't get the water out, so it has stopped mid-c…
- Hisense F04 — The washing machine's control electronics have reported a fa…
- Hisense F05 — The washing machine's control board has flagged a fault it c…
- Hisense F06 — The machine's control electronics have flagged a fault and s…
- Hisense F07 — The washing machine's control board has reported an internal…
- Hisense F08 — The machine has detected the motor drawing too much current …