Indesit F17 washer dryer: 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 F17 actually means

The machine can't confirm the door is shut and locked, so it won't start or won't release the door.

On these Indesit washer dryers the control board checks the door interlock before it will let water in or the drum turn. F17 means that confirmation never arrived — either the door genuinely isn't latched, or the interlock itself (or its wiring) has failed. The related F06 code turns up for much the same reason, which is why the two are usually dealt with together.

What F17 looks like on a Indesit washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Indesit washer dryer, F17 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening

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

Door not pushed fully home, or laundry trapped in the seal stopping it latching
Worn or broken door catch, so the latch doesn't engage properly
Failed door interlock — the most common finding on this fault
Damaged or burnt wiring at the interlock plug, which is what the Hotpoint/Indesit interlock recall was about
Control board not reading the interlock signal

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.

Take everything out of the doorway, close the door firmly at around the 3 o'clock position and listen for the catch to click
Check no clothing is caught between the door glass and the seal
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and try a short programme again
Check whether your machine is affected by the Whirlpool door interlock recall at washingmachinerecall.whirlpool.co.uk — if it is, book it through the recall scheme rather than repairing it yourself

Common questions about Indesit F17

What does F17 mean on a Indesit washer dryer?

The machine can't confirm the door is shut and locked, so it won't start or won't release the door. On these Indesit washer dryers the control board checks the door interlock before it will let water in or the drum turn. F17 means that confirmation never arrived — either the door genuinely isn't latched, or the interlock itself (or its wiring) has failed. The related F06 code turns up for much the same reason, which is why the two are usually dealt with together.

Can I fix Indesit F17 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Take everything out of the doorway, close the door firmly at around the 3 o'clock position and listen for the catch to click.
Check no clothing is caught between the door glass and the seal.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and try a short programme again.
Check whether your machine is affected by the Whirlpool door interlock recall at washingmachinerecall.whirlpool.co.uk — if it is, book it through the recall scheme rather than repairing it yourself.

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

How much does it cost to repair Indesit F17?

£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 F17?

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 washer dryer 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 Indesit washer dryer codes

All Indesit fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

washer dryer not drying

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Indesit F17 error — washer dryer