Siemens F16 washing machine: what it means & what to check

What F16 actually means

The machine can't confirm the door is shut and locked, so it won't start the cycle.

Before a Siemens washing machine will take water, the control board has to see a signal from the door interlock telling it the door is closed and locked. With F16 that confirmation never arrives, so the programme stops at the very beginning and the drum stays empty. It's a door lock fault rather than a water or drainage one.

What F16 looks like on a Siemens washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Siemens washing machine, F16 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

Door not fully pushed shut, or laundry trapped in the seal holding it slightly open
Worn or broken door interlock (the commonest cause by far)
Bent, loose or worn door catch pin that should engage the lock
Damaged wiring or a poor connection to the lock
Control board fault,

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.

Open the door and close it again firmly until you hear it latch — check no clothing is caught in the seal
Look at the plastic catch on the door: if it is loose, bent or snapped, that alone will cause this code
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and restart the programme
Try a different programme to see whether the code returns immediately

Common questions about Siemens F16

What does F16 mean on a Siemens washing machine?

The machine can't confirm the door is shut and locked, so it won't start the cycle. Before a Siemens washing machine will take water, the control board has to see a signal from the door interlock telling it the door is closed and locked. With F16 that confirmation never arrives, so the programme stops at the very beginning and the drum stays empty. It's a door lock fault rather than a water or drainage one.

Can I fix Siemens F16 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Open the door and close it again firmly until you hear it latch — check no clothing is caught in the seal.
Look at the plastic catch on the door: if it is loose, bent or snapped, that alone will cause this code.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and restart the programme.
Try a different programme to see whether the code returns immediately.

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

How much does it cost to repair Siemens F16?

£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 F16?

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 Siemens washing machine codes

All Siemens 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.

Siemens F16 error — washing machine