Miele F39 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 F39 actually means

The machine's control and display electronics have reported a fault in themselves, so it has stopped rather than carry on.

F39 points at the BAE unit \That It is the part that runs the programme and drives the display. When the machine's self-checks find that board misbehaving or not communicating properly, it halts the cycle. There is no water, drainage or load problem being reported here \u2014 the complaint is internal to the electronics.

What F39 looks like on a Miele washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Miele washing machine, F39 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
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

Fault on the control and display electronic board itself
Loose or corroded plug connection between the control board and the display
Damp getting into the control area, often after a leak elsewhere in the machine
A mains supply spike or interruption upsetting the board
Occasionally a one-off glitch that clears on a full power down

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 the machine off at the wall socket, leave it for a minute or two, then power it back up and select a programme \u2014 a genuine one-off glitch will clear at this point
If the code returns straight away or within the next couple of washes, treat it as a real board fault and stop trying to reset it repeatedly

Common questions about Miele F39

What does F39 mean on a Miele washing machine?

The machine's control and display electronics have reported a fault in themselves, so it has stopped rather than carry on. F39 points at the BAE unit \That It is the part that runs the programme and drives the display. When the machine's self-checks find that board misbehaving or not communicating properly, it halts the cycle. There is no water, drainage or load problem being reported here \u2014 the complaint is internal to the electronics.

Can I fix Miele F39 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Switch the machine off at the wall socket, leave it for a minute or two, then power it back up and select a programme \u2014 a genuine one-off glitch will clear at this point.
If the code returns straight away or within the next couple of washes, treat it as a real board fault and stop trying to reset it repeatedly.

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

How much does it cost to repair Miele F39?

£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 F39?

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 Miele washing machine codes

All Miele 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.

Miele F39 error — washing machine