Kenmore · Washing Machine
Kenmore Washing Machine F5 Error Code
Water temperature sensor out of range
What this error means
F5 means the water temperature sensor (NTC) on Kenmore HE washers reported a value outside the expected range during the water heating step. Heated cycles may abort before reaching target temperature.
How F5 is detected
Kenmore washing machine models lock the door or lid before energizing fill, heat, or high-speed spin. F5 means the latch switch never sent a "locked" signal to the main control, or the lock motor did not complete its travel. On Kenmore Elite 41382 31102, Kenmore Elite 41952 99111, and similar variants, clothing caught in the gasket, a misaligned strike, or a failed latch assembly are the most common mechanical causes—not the board itself.
Inspect the door gasket perimeter and strike alignment before replacing the latch. Hot and cold fill hoses reversed at the inlet valve is reported frequently on this code. After correcting mechanical issues, trace hoses—cold should connect to the blue valve, hot to red. If the latch clicks but F5 persists, the door lock switch or wiring harness to the control board likely needs testing with a multimeter.
Do not force the door open during an active cycle; wait for the lock to release when the board de-energizes the lock motor—usually two to three minutes after canceling power on most Kenmore units.
Common causes
- Hot and cold fill hoses reversed at the inlet valve
- Open or shorted NTC wire at the mixing valve
- No hot water supply to the hot inlet port
- Failed thermistor inside the water inlet assembly
Step-by-step fixes
- 1Trace hoses—cold should connect to the blue valve, hot to red
- 2Run the laundry tap and confirm hot water is warm before starting
- 3Unplug and reseat the NTC harness at the inlet valve
- 4Measure NTC resistance against the chart in the tech sheet behind the lower panel
When to call a technician
Correct hose routing with lukewarm tap water that still triggers F5 needs inlet valve and thermistor replacement.
Affected models
- Kenmore Elite 41382 31102
- Kenmore Elite 41952 99111
- Kenmore 22202 90002
Prevention & maintenance
- Wipe the door gasket weekly and avoid overloading items against the seal—F5 often starts as a slow leak or latch misalignment.
- Record when F5 appears in the cycle and whether it clears after a 60-second power reset on your Kenmore washing machine—that detail speeds diagnosis if you call service.
- Keep the model and serial number from the rating plate when ordering parts for F5; Kenmore uses multiple revisions with different harness lengths and board firmware.
- Photograph wiring connector orientation before disconnecting any component while troubleshooting F5; reversed plugs on pumps and valves cause immediate repeat faults.