What F03 actually means
The machine can't get a sensible temperature reading from the water in the drum, so it stops rather than heat blindly.
F03 is the NTC temperature sensor circuit. The control board watches the water temperature as the heater works; if the reading is missing, out of range or never climbs as expected, it halts the cycle. Typically the wash stops partway through with cold or barely warm water still in the drum.
What usually causes it
- Faulty NTC temperature sensor in the drum tub
- Heating element not coming on, so the temperature never rises
- A failed relay or damaged track on the main control board
- Corroded or loose connection at the sensor
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 couple of minutes, then power up and try a short cycle — occasionally a one-off glitch clears
- If the drum still holds water, run a drain or spin-only programme to empty it before anything else
- Try a cold-wash programme; if it completes without fault, that points to the heating side rather than the machine as a whole
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 Hotpoint washing machine codes
- Hotpoint F01 — The machine's main control board has flagged an electrical f…
- Hotpoint F02 — The machine has stopped because it isn't getting the drum to…
- Hotpoint F04 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time…
- Hotpoint F05 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time…
- Hotpoint F06 — The machine can't confirm the door is locked, so it refuses …
- Hotpoint F07 — The machine has spotted a fault in the heating side of its c…
- Hotpoint F08 — The machine has a problem with the water heating side "the h…
- Hotpoint F09 — The machine's control board has lost or mismatched its softw…