Hotpoint F18 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 F18 actually means

The machine's electronics have lost track of their own stored settings, or the control board and display are no longer talking to each other properly, so the wash won't run.

F18 on Hotpoint machines is logged as an internal data error \u2014 a fault in the data the control board holds, or in the communication between the control board and the display/user interface. The usual symptom is that some or all of the display stops working: lights or segments missing, buttons not responding, the programme dial not being read. The machine stops rather than run a cycle it can no longer control reliably.

What F18 looks like on a Hotpoint washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Hotpoint washing machine, F18 usually shows up as one or more of these:

No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start
Machine tripping the electrics
F18 flashing on the display
Beeping and showing F18

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 corrupted or failed main control board
A fault in the display/control panel module
A poor or damaged connection between the control board and the display
Electrical supply disturbance or a power surge upsetting the stored data

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 socket, leave it for a minute or two, then switch back on \u2014 a genuine one-off glitch can clear this way
Check the machine is on its own socket and not running through an extension lead or adaptor
Make sure the programme dial is sitting cleanly in a position and not left between two settings

Common questions about Hotpoint F18

What does F18 mean on a Hotpoint washing machine?

The machine's electronics have lost track of their own stored settings, or the control board and display are no longer talking to each other properly, so the wash won't run. F18 on Hotpoint machines is logged as an internal data error \u2014 a fault in the data the control board holds, or in the communication between the control board and the display/user interface. The usual symptom is that some or all of the display stops working: lights or segments missing, buttons not responding, the programme dial not being read. The machine stops rather than run a cycle it can no longer control reliably.

Can I fix Hotpoint F18 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall socket, leave it for a minute or two, then switch back on \u2014 a genuine one-off glitch can clear this way.
Check the machine is on its own socket and not running through an extension lead or adaptor.
Make sure the programme dial is sitting cleanly in a position and not left between two settings.

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

How much does it cost to repair Hotpoint F18?

£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 F18?

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 Hotpoint washing machine codes

All Hotpoint 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.

Hotpoint F18 error — washing machine