Samsung 8E 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 8E actually means

The machine has drawn more electrical current than it should and shut itself down to protect the motor and control board.

Samsung's control board monitors how much current the motor is pulling. If it spikes beyond the safe limit \u2014 usually when the drum starts turning or tries to spin up \u2014 the board cuts the cycle and shows 8E. On the direct-drive inverter machines this often shows up alongside a juddering or stuttering drum rather than smooth rotation, which points at a problem in the motor windings rather than the wash programme itself.

What 8E looks like on a Samsung washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Samsung washing machine, 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
Very noisy on spin
Banging or knocking
Moving across the floor
Load left soaking wet because it won't spin up

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 inverter motor windings (open circuit), which makes the drum judder
A one-off current spike or electrical glitch that clears with a full power-down
Motor drive section of the main control board failing
Something jamming the drum so the motor overloads trying to turn it
Poor or unstable mains supply to the machine

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, leave it for at least 30 seconds, then power up and start a cycle again \u2014 this is Samsung's own first step and clears one-off trips
Take a heavy or badly unbalanced load out and try a short cycle with a lighter load
With the machine switched off at the wall, turn the drum by hand and check it moves freely and there is nothing trapped in it

Common questions about Samsung 8E

What does 8E mean on a Samsung washing machine?

The machine has drawn more electrical current than it should and shut itself down to protect the motor and control board. Samsung's control board monitors how much current the motor is pulling. If it spikes beyond the safe limit \u2014 usually when the drum starts turning or tries to spin up \u2014 the board cuts the cycle and shows 8E. On the direct-drive inverter machines this often shows up alongside a juddering or stuttering drum rather than smooth rotation, which points at a problem in the motor windings rather than the wash programme itself.

Can I fix Samsung 8E myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Switch the machine off at the wall, leave it for at least 30 seconds, then power up and start a cycle again \u2014 this is Samsung's own first step and clears one-off trips.
Take a heavy or badly unbalanced load out and try a short cycle with a lighter load.
With the machine switched off at the wall, turn the drum by hand and check it moves freely and there is nothing trapped in it.

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 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 Samsung washing machine 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 — washing machine