LG dishwashers report faults with two-letter codes on the display. AE (also shown as E1, or FE on newer models) means a leak has triggered the flood protection float switch. OE means the machine detected a drain problem. LE points to a wash motor fault.
Like similar leak-detection codes on other brands, AE means water has reached somewhere it should not be inside the machine. Treat it as a genuine leak to find and fix, not just a code to clear.
AE / E1 / FE — leak detected
These codes mean the dishwasher has detected excessive water either in the main tub or in the base cabinet where the flood protection switch sits. Older models tend to show AE or E1; newer LG dishwashers typically show FE for the same underlying leak-detection event.
OE — drain fault
OE means the machine has detected a drain issue — most often from a clogged filter, a drainage installation problem, or a blocked waste spigot connection at the sink or garbage disposal.
LE — wash motor fault
LE indicates a fault with the wash motor itself, which drives the water circulation and spray arms during the cycle.
How to check each
- For AE, check for a visible leak first
Look at the floor around the machine and inside the base for standing water. Run a hand around the door gasket for tears or a section that has come loose.
- Dry the base and reset
If nothing is visibly wrong, dry the base pan fully and reset the machine — a lingering-moisture false alarm is possible, though a genuine leak should be assumed until ruled out.
- For OE, clean the filter
Remove and clean the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub, then check the drain hose and the connection at the sink or disposal for a clog.
- For LE, power cycle first
Unplug for a minute and restart — if the motor fault was a temporary control glitch, this can clear it.
When to call a technician
If AE returns with visible water and no obvious source, have a technician check the spray arm seals, door gasket, and inlet valve. Persistent OE after a filter clean needs deeper drain-path inspection, and LE that survives a reset points to a genuine motor fault needing professional diagnosis.
Stop and call a qualified appliance technician or electrician if you find scorched or melted wiring, smell burning, see water that has reached electrical components, or if the fault returns immediately after a repair. Never bypass a safety device — thermal fuses, door interlocks and flood switches fail for a reason, and defeating one converts a broken appliance into a fire or flood risk.
