Hoover F08 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 F08 actually means

The machine isn't getting a proper signal back from the drum motor, so it stops rather than spin.

On Hoover machines F08 points at the motor circuit — either the tachometer (the small sensor that tells the control board how fast the motor is turning) or a break in the motor circuit itself. Because the board can't confirm the drum is spinning at the speed it asked for, it halts the cycle instead of guessing. Typically you'll find the wash stops early, often around the point it should be picking up spin speed, with laundry left wet.

What F08 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, F08 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
Very noisy on spin
Banging or knocking
Moving across the floor
Load left soaking wet because it won't spin up

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

Worn carbon brushes in the motor — the most common cause by far, and they wear out gradually with age
Tachometer sensor on the motor not reading correctly
A broken or disconnected connection in the motor circuit
Motor windings or the motor itself failed
Control board fault (less common than 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 machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and restart a short programme — occasionally a one-off glitch clears.
Check the drum turns freely by hand and nothing is jammed inside it or wedged under the paddles.
Run a short spin with a much smaller load; a heavily overloaded, unbalanced drum makes motor faults show up sooner.

Common questions about Hoover F08

What does F08 mean on a Hoover washing machine?

The machine isn't getting a proper signal back from the drum motor, so it stops rather than spin. On Hoover machines F08 points at the motor circuit — either the tachometer (the small sensor that tells the control board how fast the motor is turning) or a break in the motor circuit itself. Because the board can't confirm the drum is spinning at the speed it asked for, it halts the cycle instead of guessing. Typically you'll find the wash stops early, often around the point it should be picking up spin speed, with laundry left wet.

Can I fix Hoover F08 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and restart a short programme — occasionally a one-off glitch clears.
Check the drum turns freely by hand and nothing is jammed inside it or wedged under the paddles.
Run a short spin with a much smaller load; a heavily overloaded, unbalanced drum makes motor faults show up sooner.

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

How much does it cost to repair Hoover F08?

£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 F08?

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 F08 error — washing machine