Samsung · Dishwasher
Samsung Dishwasher 5E Error Code
Drain cycle timed out with water in tub
What this error means
5E appears when the drain pump runs but the water level sensor still reads high after the allotted drain window. Samsung halts before dry and may leave standing water at the bottom of the tub.
How 5E is detected
When 5E appears on a Samsung dishwasher, the control board has confirmed that water did not leave the machine within the programmed drain window. On Samsung DW80N3030US, Samsung DW80R7031US, 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 5E calls are resolved without parts: remove the lower rack and twist out the filter assembly counterclockwise. 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 5E 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
- Cylindrical fine filter and sump clogged under the lower rack
- Drain hose lacking a high loop under the counter
- Garbage disposal knockout plug still in place on new installs
- Check valve stuck closed at the pump outlet
Step-by-step fixes
- 1Remove the lower rack and twist out the filter assembly counterclockwise
- 2Rinse the mesh and clear debris from the white sump cavity
- 3Verify the drain hose routes up to the underside of the counter before descending
- 4Run Cancel/Drain and listen—humming without water movement suggests jammed impeller
When to call a technician
Clear sump with silent pump motor requires drain pump or check valve replacement under the tub.
Affected models
- Samsung DW80N3030US
- Samsung DW80R7031US
- Samsung DW80B6060US
Prevention & maintenance
- Clean drain filters and hose terminations monthly on high-use dishwashers to prevent 5E from lint and food debris buildup.
- Record when 5E appears in the cycle and whether it clears after a 60-second power reset on your Samsung dishwasher—that detail speeds diagnosis if you call service.
- Keep the model and serial number from the rating plate when ordering parts for 5E; Samsung uses multiple revisions with different harness lengths and board firmware.
- Photograph wiring connector orientation before disconnecting any component while troubleshooting 5E; reversed plugs on pumps and valves cause immediate repeat faults.