Samsung E02 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 E02 actually means

The machine has tried to pump the water out and failed, so it has stopped rather than carry on with a drum full of water.

On these Samsung machines the control board watches for the water level to drop once the drain pump runs. If the water is still sitting there after around ten minutes of pumping, it flags a drain fault and halts the cycle. You'll usually find the drum part-full and the door locked until the level drops.

What E02 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, E02 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

Blocked pump filter at the bottom front \u2014 coins, hair grips, threads and fluff
Drain hose kinked, crushed behind the machine or pushed too far into the standpipe
Blocked sump hose between drum and pump, often a sock or an underwire
Blocked or slow household waste pipe under the sink
Failed drain pump, or a pressure switch/hose fault making the machine think water is still present

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 power it back up and select a drain or spin \u2014 sometimes it clears a one-off.
Open the small flap at the bottom front, drain the water down into a shallow tray, then take out the filter and clean it thoroughly \u2014 rinse the mesh and check the housing for debris.
Look behind the machine and make sure the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall.
If the hose goes into a standpipe, check it isn't pushed down too far, and if it drains into a sink trap, check the sink isn't slow to empty.
Run a drain or spin only once the filter is back in and tight.

Common questions about Samsung E02

What does E02 mean on a Samsung washing machine?

The machine has tried to pump the water out and failed, so it has stopped rather than carry on with a drum full of water. On these Samsung machines the control board watches for the water level to drop once the drain pump runs. If the water is still sitting there after around ten minutes of pumping, it flags a drain fault and halts the cycle. You'll usually find the drum part-full and the door locked until the level drops.

Can I fix Samsung E02 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up and select a drain or spin \u2014 sometimes it clears a one-off.
Open the small flap at the bottom front, drain the water down into a shallow tray, then take out the filter and clean it thoroughly \u2014 rinse the mesh and check the housing for debris.
Look behind the machine and make sure the drain hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall.
If the hose goes into a standpipe, check it isn't pushed down too far, and if it drains into a sink trap, check the sink isn't slow to empty.
Run a drain or spin only once the filter is back in and tight.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Samsung E02?

£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 E02?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. 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 E02 error — washing machine