All 19 Kenmore dryer codes
- AF / F30 / F4E3Exhaust airflow is restricted
- PFPower went out during a cycle
- F31 / F4E4Low or missing voltage on one leg (electric dryers)
- F01 / F1E1Main control board fault
- F02 / F2E1A button on the panel is stuck
- F22 / F23 / F3E1Exhaust thermistor fault
- F24 / F25 / F3E3Inlet thermistor fault
- F28 / F29 / F3E2Moisture sensor fault
- F20 / F21 / F4E1 / F4E2Heater relay fault
- F70 / F71 / F6E2 / F6E3Control boards have stopped talking to each other
- E1 / E2 / tE1 / tE2Thermistor fault on 110 electronic and 796 dryers
- E3 / F1E3Control panel and main board don't match
- dEDoor switch problem on 796 dryers
- E10 / E11 / E12 / EAFControl board fault on 417 dryers
- E24 / E25Temperature sensor fault on 417 dryers
- E4A / E5BNo heat or drying takes too long (417 dryers)
- E8CHigh-limit thermostat keeps tripping (417 dryers)
- F40 to F46Blower system fault on the Elite Oasis
- F26Drive motor fault on the Elite Oasis
About Kenmore dryer error codes
Kenmore is an American appliance brand that was sold for decades through Sears. Other manufacturers built Kenmore appliances under contract, and the first three digits of the model number (such as 110, 417 or 796) tell you which product family you have. The error codes follow that family's system, so check your model number before you read a code.
How to read Kenmore dryer codes
Sears sold Kenmore dryers built by several companies, and each family has its own set of codes, so start with the model number on the label inside the door or around the opening. The first three digits are the family. PartSelect's prefix chart links 110 with Whirlpool and 417 with Frigidaire. Each code on this page says which family it belongs to; a code from another family can mean something else on yours.
Kenmore Elite dryers write codes with a colon (F:01) and the Elite Oasis with a hyphen (F-01), while 110 VMAX dryers use pairs like F3 E1. On 417 dryers without a display, the Drying, Cool Down, Wrinkle Rid and Clean Lint Filter lights flash the first digit and the Start light flashes the second; 10 flashes stand for A, 11 for B, 12 for C.
For board codes, Sears PartsDirect's first step is to leave the dryer unplugged for 5 minutes. A gas dryer still needs its electrical plug pulled; leave the gas line alone.
Of the 19 codes on this page, 2 usually have a simple fix you can do yourself, and 7 usually need a technician. Each guide says which is which, so you don't pay for a service call you don't need, and you don't attempt a repair that isn't safe.
Kenmore dryer repair guides
- Dryer Won't Start? Door, Breaker, Fuse and Switch Checks
Most dryers that won't start have a door that isn't fully latched, a start button that wasn't held for 2 to 5 seconds, a control lock that's on, or a tripped breaker.
- Dryer Overheating or Shutting Off Mid-Cycle? Causes and Fixes
A dryer that runs too hot or shuts off partway through a cycle almost always has an airflow problem: a packed lint screen, a crushed or overlong duct, or an outside hood that won't open.
- Dryer Making Noise? What Squeaks, Thumps and Rumbles Mean
A high squeal from the bottom of the dryer is usually the idler pulley, a steady thump is often a flat-spotted drum roller or a worn belt, and grinding at the front points to worn drum glides or felt seal.
- Dryer Not Heating? Electric and Gas Causes and Safe Fixes
Start with the free checks: a no-heat cycle such as Air Fluff, a tripped half of the 240-volt breaker on electric dryers, or a closed gas valve on gas models.
- Dryer Takes Too Long to Dry? Fix the Vent Before It's a Fire
When a dryer still heats but needs two cycles to finish a load, look at the exhaust vent first: lint buildup, a crushed duct behind the machine or a run that's too long are the usual reasons.
- How to Replace a Dryer Belt: Step-by-Step With Idler Routing
If the motor runs but the drum doesn't turn, or the drum spins with no resistance by hand, the belt has almost certainly broken or slipped off the idler pulley.
Before you start
- Write down your model number. It's on a sticker, usually inside the door or lid, on the frame, or on the back or side panel. Parts and some code meanings depend on it.
- Try a reset. Unplug the dryer or switch off its breaker for 10 minutes. This clears many one-off glitches without tools.
- Clean the lint screen and check that the outside vent flap opens when the dryer runs. Restricted airflow causes many dryer codes and is a fire risk.
- On a gas dryer, if you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company from outside.