Sharp E12 error — washer dryer

What E12 actually means

The main control board has lost communication with the machine's 3D module, so it stops rather than carrying on blind.

E12 is a communication error with the 3D module — an electronic sub-assembly the main board talks to and checks at the start of a cycle. When the board sends a message and gets nothing back, or gets a garbled reply, it flags E12 and refuses to run. It shows up in the same way during the engineer's service autotest: the door locks, then the 3D module is checked, and a failed check puts E12 on the display.

What E12 looks like on a Sharp washer dryer

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Sharp washer dryer, E12 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
• Leaking
• Water on the floor
• Puddle underneath

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 loose or corroded plug on the wiring between the control board and the 3D module
• Damaged or chafed wiring in that harness
• A failed 3D module
• A fault on the main control board itself
• Damp or a previous leak having got into a connector

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.

1. Turn the machine off at the wall, leave it a minute, then switch back on — a one-off communication glitch can clear
2. Note whether E12 comes back straight away or only part way into a cycle, as that helps whoever attends

Which Sharp models show E12

E12 means the same thing on all 2 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

ES-GDD9144W0-EN · ES-GDF964W

Common questions about Sharp E12

Tried the checks and it's still showing E12?

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 washer 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 Sharp washer dryer codes

• Sharp E14 — The dryer half of the machine isn't producing any heat, so t…
• Sharp E15 — The machine has flagged a problem with its waterjet — the sp…
• Sharp E16 — The drying side of the machine has got too hot, so the contr…
• Sharp E17 — The washer dryer has lost a reliable reading from the flowme…
• Sharp E18 — The temperature sensor on the drying side is giving a readin…
• Sharp E01 — The machine cannot lock the door, so it refuses to start fil…
• Sharp E02 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expe…
• Sharp E03 — The machine can't get the water out of the drum, so it has s…

All Sharp fault codes and repairs →

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.