Hoover E18 washing machine: 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 E18 actually means

The machine's main control board isn't reading the mains electricity supply correctly, so it stops rather than run a cycle.

Hoover machines use a control board they call the "Cuore" power card, and part of its job is to read the frequency of the incoming mains supply and use it to time the motor and the cycle. E18 comes up when that reading is wrong or missing — either the board itself has failed, or the wiring feeding it has. The machine usually halts early, sometimes before it takes any water, because it cannot safely control the drum speed without that reference.

What E18 looks like on a Hoover washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Hoover washing machine, E18 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only
Leaking
Water on the floor
Puddle underneath
Shuts itself down and won't restart

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 failed "Cuore" main control board
Damaged or loose wiring to the control board
Poor or unstable mains supply to the machine, including extension leads and adaptors
Moisture or a previous leak having got to the board

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.

Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power up again — an occasional one-off E18 can clear.
Plug the machine straight into a wall socket rather than an extension lead, adaptor or timer plug.
Check whether other appliances on the same socket are behaving normally; if the whole circuit is playing up, that needs an electrician rather than an appliance engineer.

Common questions about Hoover E18

What does E18 mean on a Hoover washing machine?

The machine's main control board isn't reading the mains electricity supply correctly, so it stops rather than run a cycle. Hoover machines use a control board they call the "Cuore" power card, and part of its job is to read the frequency of the incoming mains supply and use it to time the motor and the cycle. E18 comes up when that reading is wrong or missing — either the board itself has failed, or the wiring feeding it has. The machine usually halts early, sometimes before it takes any water, because it cannot safely control the drum speed without that reference.

Can I fix Hoover E18 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Switch off at the wall for a minute, then power up again — an occasional one-off E18 can clear.
Plug the machine straight into a wall socket rather than an extension lead, adaptor or timer plug.
Check whether other appliances on the same socket are behaving normally; if the whole circuit is playing up, that needs an electrician rather than an appliance engineer.

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

How much does it cost to repair Hoover E18?

£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 E18?

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 Hoover washing machine codes

All Hoover 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.

Hoover E18 error — washing machine