Samsung 8E tumble 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 8E actually means

The machine's control board has seen the motor drawing more electrical current than it should, so it has cut the cycle short to protect itself.

On this Samsung washer dryer the main board constantly watches the current going to the drum motor. If that current spikes or stays too high, it shuts everything down and shows 8E rather than risk damaging the motor or the board. Occasionally it is a one-off glitch that clears, but where the machine has an inverter motor a genuine fault in the motor windings will bring it straight back — the giveaway is the drum juddering or hesitating instead of turning smoothly before the code appears.

What 8E looks like on a Samsung tumble dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Samsung tumble dryer, 8E usually shows up as one or more of these:

Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start

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 fault in the drum motor windings on inverter-motor machines, which shows as juddering or stalling
Something jamming or overloading the drum so the motor has to pull harder
A one-off electrical spike or momentary glitch that clears on a power cycle
A failing main control board misreading the motor current
Poor or damaged connections between the board and the motor

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 at least 30 seconds, switch back on and try the cycle again.
If the drum is heavily loaded, take some of the washing out and restart — a packed or badly balanced load makes the motor work harder.
With the machine switched off at the wall, turn the drum by hand to see whether it moves freely or catches on something.
Watch and listen on the retry: note whether the drum judders or hesitates before the code shows, as that tells the engineer a great deal.

Which Samsung models show 8E

8E means the same thing on this model. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

WD0804W8E1

Common questions about Samsung 8E

What does 8E mean on a Samsung tumble dryer?

The machine's control board has seen the motor drawing more electrical current than it should, so it has cut the cycle short to protect itself. On this Samsung washer dryer the main board constantly watches the current going to the drum motor. If that current spikes or stays too high, it shuts everything down and shows 8E rather than risk damaging the motor or the board. Occasionally it is a one-off glitch that clears, but where the machine has an inverter motor a genuine fault in the motor windings will bring it straight back — the giveaway is the drum juddering or hesitating instead of turning smoothly before the code appears.

Can I fix Samsung 8E myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall socket, leave it for at least 30 seconds, switch back on and try the cycle again.
If the drum is heavily loaded, take some of the washing out and restart — a packed or badly balanced load makes the motor work harder.
With the machine switched off at the wall, turn the drum by hand to see whether it moves freely or catches on something.
Watch and listen on the retry: note whether the drum judders or hesitates before the code shows, as that tells the engineer a great deal.

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

How much does it cost to repair Samsung 8E?

£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 8E?

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 tumble 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 Samsung tumble dryer codes

All Samsung 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.

Samsung 8E error — tumble dryer