Maytag · Refrigerator
Maytag Refrigerator Error Code 31
Dispenser ice door motor fault
What this error means
Code 31 means the in-door ice chute flap did not open or close on command. Cubes may jam or warm air enters the freezer through the chute.
How 31 is detected
When 31 appears on a Maytag refrigerator, the control board has confirmed that water did not leave the machine within the programmed drain window. On Maytag MFI2570FEZ, Maytag MSS25C4MGW, and similar variants, the drain pump runs for a fixed interval—often three to seven minutes on washers and dishwashers—while a pressure switch or turbidity sensor verifies the tub or sump is empty. If water remains, the cycle stops to prevent spin with a full tub or overflow on the next fill.
Most 31 calls are resolved without parts: clear visible ice from the dispenser chute with warm cloth. Restricted drain paths mimic pump failure because the impeller spins against a blocked hose or filter. Document whether the pump hums audibly during the drain step; a humming pump with no water movement points to a clogged filter or kinked hose, while silence may indicate a failed pump motor or loose wiring at the harness.
After clearing blockages, run a short cycle and listen at the drain hose for steady water flow. If 31 returns on the next load with a clean filter and straight hose, measure resistance at the pump motor connector per the service manual for your model before ordering a replacement pump assembly.
Common causes
- Ice frozen around the chute door in the dispenser
- Failed chute door motor or linkage
- Broken door return spring
- Dispenser board not sending voltage to the motor
Step-by-step fixes
- 1Clear visible ice from the dispenser chute with warm cloth
- 2Activate crushed and cubed ice to exercise the door
- 3Inspect the chute for a cube wedged against the flap
- 4Power-cycle the refrigerator for two minutes
When to call a technician
Chute door motor replacement when the flap never moves after clearing ice.
Affected models
- Maytag MFI2570FEZ
- Maytag MSS25C4MGW
- Maytag MFF2055FRZ
Prevention & maintenance
- Clean drain filters and hose terminations monthly on high-use refrigerators to prevent 31 from lint and food debris buildup.
- Record when 31 appears in the cycle and whether it clears after a 60-second power reset on your Maytag refrigerator—that detail speeds diagnosis if you call service.
- Keep the model and serial number from the rating plate when ordering parts for 31; Maytag uses multiple revisions with different harness lengths and board firmware.
- Photograph wiring connector orientation before disconnecting any component while troubleshooting 31; reversed plugs on pumps and valves cause immediate repeat faults.