Siemens F42 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 F42 actually means

The machine has stopped because the control board isn't getting the motor response it expects, so the drum won't turn properly.

On Bosch-built machines — which includes Siemens — F42 sits in the same family of codes as F04, F05, F21, F43 and F44, all of which point at the motor and its drive circuit rather than water or drainage. The board watches what the motor is actually doing against what it asked for, and when the two don't match it halts the programme rather than keep driving it. In practice the owner sees a cycle that stops part way, often with water still in the drum and washing that hasn't spun.

What F42 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, F42 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only

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

Worn motor carbon brushes — by far the most common finding on these codes
A fault in the motor itself or its connections
A problem on the control module driving the motor
Drum jammed or badly overloaded so the motor can't reach the speed asked of it

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 switch back on and try a short programme — a one-off glitch will clear
If the drum is heavily loaded, take some washing out and try again with a smaller load
Check nothing has slipped between the drum and the outer casing (a coin or an underwire) that could be stopping the drum turning freely

Common questions about Siemens F42

What does F42 mean on a Siemens washing machine?

The machine has stopped because the control board isn't getting the motor response it expects, so the drum won't turn properly. On Bosch-built machines — which includes Siemens — F42 sits in the same family of codes as F04, F05, F21, F43 and F44, all of which point at the motor and its drive circuit rather than water or drainage. The board watches what the motor is actually doing against what it asked for, and when the two don't match it halts the programme rather than keep driving it. In practice the owner sees a cycle that stops part way, often with water still in the drum and washing that hasn't spun.

Can I fix Siemens F42 myself?

There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on and try a short programme — a one-off glitch will clear.
If the drum is heavily loaded, take some washing out and try again with a smaller load.
Check nothing has slipped between the drum and the outer casing (a coin or an underwire) that could be stopping the drum turning freely.

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

How much does it cost to repair Siemens F42?

£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 F42?

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 F42 error — washing machine