Willow E16 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 E16 actually means

The machine has decided the water inside is getting hotter than it should be, so it has stopped the wash rather than carry on heating.

On these Willow machines E16 is logged as a high temperature error. The control board watches the water temperature during the heating part of the cycle, and if the reading climbs past what the selected programme allows — or climbs when no heating was asked for — it halts and shows the fault. Typically the wash stops part-way through with the drum full of hot water, and it may refuse to restart until it has cooled.

What E16 looks like on a Willow washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Willow washing machine, E16 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
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill

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 faulty temperature sensor giving a false high reading
The heater staying powered when it should have switched off, usually a control board fault
Water fed to the machine from a hot supply rather than cold
Wiring or connector trouble at the sensor or heater

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 programme knob to the off position, leave it for a few seconds, then select a cool wash and see whether the fault returns — this resets the machine.
Turn it off at the wall for a minute in case the board has latched the fault.
If the machine has been plumbed in recently, check the fill hose is on the cold tap and not the hot one.
Let the machine stand and cool before retrying if the water inside is hot.

Common questions about Willow E16

What does E16 mean on a Willow washing machine?

The machine has decided the water inside is getting hotter than it should be, so it has stopped the wash rather than carry on heating. On these Willow machines E16 is logged as a high temperature error. The control board watches the water temperature during the heating part of the cycle, and if the reading climbs past what the selected programme allows — or climbs when no heating was asked for — it halts and shows the fault. Typically the wash stops part-way through with the drum full of hot water, and it may refuse to restart until it has cooled.

Can I fix Willow E16 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the programme knob to the off position, leave it for a few seconds, then select a cool wash and see whether the fault returns — this resets the machine.
Turn it off at the wall for a minute in case the board has latched the fault.
If the machine has been plumbed in recently, check the fill hose is on the cold tap and not the hot one.
Let the machine stand and cool before retrying if the water inside is hot.

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

How much does it cost to repair Willow E16?

£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 E16?

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 Willow washing machine codes

All Willow 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.

Willow E16 error — washing machine