Midea Washer Error Codes: Front Load and Top Load

Midea washers do not all speak the same language, and that is why so much of the advice online is wrong. Midea's front load machines use two digit codes from its service manual: E10 is a fill problem, E12 is an overflow, E21 is a slow drain, E30 is a door that is not closed, and the E50 to E64 range covers the motor and its control board. Midea's top load machines use shorter codes, and the first thing to check there is whether the machine is level.

Midea front load washer error codes

These come from Midea's front loading washer technical service manual:

Code	What Midea says it means	What it usually points to
E10	Water injecting problem during wash cycle	The machine could not fill: tap, pressure, hose, or inlet valve
E12	The water level in the drum exceeds a certain level	Overflow. Water valve, level sensor, air pipe, or control board
E21	Over time water draining	The drain took too long: filter, hose, or pump
E30	Door is not closed properly	Door catch, laundry in the seal, or the lock assembly
E33	Water level sensor problem during wash cycle	Sensor, its connectors, or the board
E50	Motor inverter board detects abnormal signals	Motor control electronics
E60	The motor does not rotate	Motor, wiring, or drive fault
E61	The board cannot detect the speed feedback signal	Speed sensor or its wiring
E62	Actual motor speed is 300 rpm higher than the target	Motor control fault
E64	Motor inverter board error, on BLDC motor models only	Motor control board
E80	Communication error	The boards are not talking to each other

Source: Midea's front loading washing machine service manual. Midea builds washers for several markets and brand names, so confirm anything unusual against your own model's manual.

Midea top load washers use different codes

If you have a Midea top loader, do not use the list above. The codes are shorter and they do not map one to one. Midea's United States top load manual makes one point that saves a lot of service calls: a washer that is not level can display E3, E4 or E5 while it is running.

So on a top loader, before you look up anything else, check that the machine is sitting flat and does not rock. Midea's manual even describes a neat trick for checking: open the lid and pour water into the tub up to the levelling circle. If the machine is level, the water touches the circle the whole way around. If it only touches part of it, adjust the feet.

We are deliberately not publishing individual meanings for top load E3, E4 and E5, because Midea's own user manual does not define them and the guesses online disagree with each other. Level the machine first, then check your model's manual for the code list.

E10: the washer cannot fill

E10 means the machine tried to take on water during the cycle and the level never moved the way it should. Work in this order:

• Both supply taps fully open, not partly open.
• Inlet hoses free of kinks, especially after the machine has been moved.
• The mesh inlet screens where the hoses attach. These catch grit and slowly starve the fill.
• Household water pressure. If every tap in the house is weak, the washer is not the problem.

If all of that is fine, the inlet valve or the level sensing circuit is the next suspect, and that is technician territory.

E12: overflow

E12 is the safety code. Midea's manual describes it precisely: if the water level is detected above the overflow level for 16 consecutive seconds, the machine empties itself and then raises the E12 alarm. So a washer that suddenly drains and alarms is doing what it was designed to do.

The manual lists the likely causes in a useful order: sometimes a simple restart clears it, then a faulty water valve that keeps letting water in, a faulty water level sensor, a damaged air pipe, damaged internal wiring, and finally the control board. Notice that a valve that will not close is high on that list. If your washer fills even when it is switched off, turn the taps off at the wall and get it looked at, because that is how laundry rooms flood.

E21: the drain is too slow

E21 means draining took longer than allowed. The homeowner checks are the same as on any front loader:

• The drain pump filter, usually behind a small hatch at the bottom front. Put a towel and a shallow tray down first, because water will come out.
• The drain hose, for kinks or a blockage.
• The standpipe itself. If the house drain is partly blocked, the washer gets blamed for a plumbing problem.

E30: the door is not closed

Before suspecting the lock, check for laundry trapped in the seal and make sure the door is pushed until the catch seats. An overstuffed drum pressing on the glass will also do it.

The E50 to E64 range: motor and control

These codes all sit in the motor and inverter board area, and none of them are homeowner repairs. They involve testing live electrical parts. What is useful is to write the exact code down. The difference between "the motor does not rotate" and "the board cannot see the speed signal" tells a technician where to start, which usually shortens the visit.

Repair or replace?

Fill and drain codes are usually cheap to resolve. Motor control boards on an older washer are where the numbers start to favour replacement. Our guide on whether to repair or replace an appliance gives you the rule of thumb, and our washer repair DIY guide covers what is safe to attempt at home.

Getting it fixed

If you are in Fairfield or anywhere in Solano County, California, we can connect you with a local technician who works on Midea washers. Our washer repair page explains how the referral works.

Frequently asked questions

What does E10 mean on a Midea washer?

Per Midea's service manual it is a water injecting problem during the wash cycle, meaning the machine could not fill as expected. Start with the taps, hoses, and inlet screens.

Why did my Midea washer drain itself and alarm?

That is the E12 overflow response. Midea's manual says that if the level stays above the overflow point for 16 consecutive seconds, the machine empties and then raises the alarm.

Do Midea top load and front load washers use the same codes?

No. The front load service manual uses two digit codes such as E10 and E21. Top load models use shorter codes, and Midea notes that an unlevel top loader can show E3, E4 or E5 while running.

Is E80 serious?

E80 is a communication error between the boards. It is not a homeowner repair, but it is worth a single power cycle at the breaker before booking service.

My washer keeps filling when it is off. What do I do?

Turn the supply taps off at the wall and arrange service. A water valve that does not close is on Midea's own list of E12 causes and it can flood a laundry room.

Related guides: Haier washer error codes and Midea dishwasher error codes.