Neff F42 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 F42 actually means

The machine has spotted a problem with the drum motor or its control, and has stopped the programme rather than carry on.

On Bosch-built machines (Neff, Bosch and Siemens all share the same control platform), F42 sits in the same family of faults as F21, F43 and F44 — all of them point at the motor and its drive circuit rather than at water, draining or the door. The control board is seeing drum speed it cannot account for, so it shuts the wash down. Typically you'll notice the drum stops turning, or spins erratically, before the code appears.

What F42 looks like on a Neff washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Neff washing machine, F42 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
Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water

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 motor carbon brushes (the usual finding on this generation of machine)
A fault in the motor itself
A fault on the control module driving the motor
Something jamming the drum so it cannot turn freely
A stored code left over from an earlier motor fault that was never cleared

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 switch back on and try a short programme — if the code returns straight away, it's a genuine fault, not a glitch.
With the machine switched off at the wall, check nothing has worked its way into the drum (a wire from an underwired bra, coins, a trapped garment) that could be stopping it turning.
Empty the drum and try again on a rinse and spin — a heavily overloaded or badly unbalanced load can be enough to trip the motor control.

Common questions about Neff F42

What does F42 mean on a Neff washing machine?

The machine has spotted a problem with the drum motor or its control, and has stopped the programme rather than carry on. On Bosch-built machines (Neff, Bosch and Siemens all share the same control platform), F42 sits in the same family of faults as F21, F43 and F44 — all of them point at the motor and its drive circuit rather than at water, draining or the door. The control board is seeing drum speed it cannot account for, so it shuts the wash down. Typically you'll notice the drum stops turning, or spins erratically, before the code appears.

Can I fix Neff F42 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and try a short programme — if the code returns straight away, it's a genuine fault, not a glitch.
With the machine switched off at the wall, check nothing has worked its way into the drum (a wire from an underwired bra, coins, a trapped garment) that could be stopping it turning.
Empty the drum and try again on a rinse and spin — a heavily overloaded or badly unbalanced load can be enough to trip the motor control.

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

How much does it cost to repair Neff F42?

£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 F42?

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 Neff washing machine codes

All Neff 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.

Neff F42 error — washing machine