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Error code reference

Miele Dryer Error Codes: What They Mean and What to Do

When your Miele dryer shows a code, it is pointing at the part of the cycle that failed. This page lists the 26 codes we could confirm in Miele's own owner's manuals and support articles: what each one means, the checks that are safe to do yourself, and the point where a technician should take over.

Compiled by the Appliance Surgeon team from Miele documentation · Last checked

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At a glance

Miele dryer codes and what to do

Covers Miele dryers sold in the US, including current T1 heat-pump and vented models and earlier generations, using Miele USA's dryer support library (articles do not list model families). Refrigerant and compressor codes (F1/F2, F156/F157, F159, F206/F207) only occur on heat-pump models; the condensate-container message applies to condenser/heat-pump models. Text-display models show messages such as 'Clean out airways' or 'Technical fault'; others light an indicator or show an F-number.

Faults appear as an F-number, a text message, or an indicator light (e.g. Clean out airways, Empty out container). Miele's usual first step is to switch the dryer off and on and restart; lint-related messages clear after the filters are cleaned (some need the door opened and closed with the dryer on, or OK pressed).

CodeMeaningWhat to do
Clean out airwaysLint buildup: lint filters or plinth filter need cleaningUsually a quick fix
Technical faultAirflow blocked by lint in filters or heat exchangerCheck, then call if it returns
F66Poor airflow: filters not cleaned or ventilation blockedCheck, then call if it returns
F55Laundry still not dry after the 180-minute maximumCheck, then call if it returns
F50Drum too full, a software glitch, or a drive faultCheck, then call if it returns
Empty out containerCondensate container full or drain hose kinkedUsually a quick fix
Clean the door filterFilter reminder will not clearUsually a quick fix
CHELaundry unevenly distributed or rolled upUsually a quick fix
F252Dirty door contacts near the door hingeUsually a quick fix
F158Dryer has overheatedStop using it
F1Refrigerant temperature sensor circuit faultNeeds a technician
F3Drying-air temperature sensor circuit faultNeeds a technician
F156Refrigerant sensor after the condenser faultyNeeds a technician
F206Refrigerant sensor after the compressor faultyNeeds a technician
F159Compressor failed to startNeeds a technician
F30Door signals disagree (door switch fault)Needs a technician
F36Door contact (reed switch) faultyNeeds a technician
F53Drive motor or electronic faultNeeds a technician
F104Voltage to the drive motor is too lowNeeds a technician
F99Appliance is blocked (internal lockout)Needs a technician
F43Model variant not programmed in the controlNeeds a technician
F38Electronic (control) faultNeeds a technician
Cold air / Finish flashingFault with no obvious causeCheck, then call if it returns
3 LEDs flashingPower was interrupted during the programUsually a quick fix
888Demo mode is on; programs will not startUsually a quick fix
Locked flashingChild/lock function is on; program cannot startUsually a quick fix

Safety first. Switch the appliance off at its power button and unplug it or turn off the breaker before you clean a filter or check a hose. If you smell gas, leave the home and call your gas utility from outside. If there is a burning smell, smoke, sparking or water near wiring, stop using it and keep it off until it has been checked.

Code by code

What each Miele dryer code means

Clean out airwaysLint buildup: lint filters or plinth filter need cleaning

Usually a quick fix

Also shown as or same meaning as: Information: Clean out airways, Clean out airways light

Common causes

  • Soiled upper/lower lint filters
  • Soiled plinth (toe-kick) filter

What you can safely check

  • Remove and clean the upper and lower lint filters; rinse and dry them
  • Vacuum the lint-filter air openings with a crevice tool
  • Clean the plinth filter behind the lower flap as your manual describes
  • Open and close the door with the dryer on to reset the light

Call a technician if: Message returns soon after a full filter cleaning

Source: [1], [2]

Technical faultAirflow blocked by lint in filters or heat exchanger

Check, then call if it returns

Applies to: Text-display models

Common causes

  • Lint built up in filters and airways

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on
  • Clean the upper and lower lint filters and the plinth filter per the manual
  • Dry all filters fully before refitting

Call a technician if: Message persists after cleaning all filters

Source: [3]

F66Poor airflow: filters not cleaned or ventilation blocked

Check, then call if it returns

Common causes

  • Lint filters or plinth filter dirty
  • Drum overloaded
  • Air grille blocked
  • Room poorly ventilated

What you can safely check

  • Clean the lint filters and plinth filter per the manual
  • Remove some laundry if the drum is overfull
  • Clear anything blocking the grille below the door
  • Ventilate the room while drying

Call a technician if: Fault returns with clean filters and good ventilation

Source: [4]

F55Laundry still not dry after the 180-minute maximum

Check, then call if it returns

Applies to: Residual-moisture (sensor) programs

Common causes

  • Drum overloaded
  • Laundry not spun enough in the washer
  • Dirty lint filters
  • Laundry too dry to sense

What you can safely check

  • Stay within the program's maximum load
  • Use a higher final spin speed in the washer
  • Clean the lint filters and plinth filter per the manual

Call a technician if: Fault repeats with normal loads and clean filters

Source: [5], [6]

F50Drum too full, a software glitch, or a drive fault

Check, then call if it returns

Common causes

  • Load above the program maximum
  • Door opened mid-cycle
  • Technical fault

What you can safely check

  • Remove some laundry so the load is within the maximum
  • If it appeared after opening the door, switch off and on immediately

Call a technician if: Fault persists with a correct load

Source: [7]

Empty out containerCondensate container full or drain hose kinked

Usually a quick fix

Applies to: Condenser and heat-pump models

Common causes

  • Condensate container full
  • Kinked condensate drain hose

What you can safely check

  • Switch off, pull out and empty the condensate container, then refit it
  • If a drain hose is fitted, straighten kinks and use the hose holder

Call a technician if: Light stays on after emptying

Source: [8]

Clean the door filterFilter reminder will not clear

Usually a quick fix

Common causes

  • Dryer was switched off when the door was opened, so the reset was missed

What you can safely check

  • With the dryer switched on, open the door and clean the filter
  • Close the door, press OK, then switch off

Call a technician if: Reminder still will not clear

Source: [9]

CHELaundry unevenly distributed or rolled up

Usually a quick fix

Common causes

  • Items tangled or balled together

What you can safely check

  • Untangle the laundry and remove some items if needed
  • Switch off and on, then start the program again

Call a technician if: Message repeats with a loose, normal load

Source: [10]

F252Dirty door contacts near the door hinge

Usually a quick fix

Common causes

  • Soil on the door contacts

What you can safely check

  • Gently clean the door contacts by the hinge as Miele shows
  • Restart the program

Call a technician if: Fault persists after cleaning

Source: [11]

F158Dryer has overheated

Stop using it

Common causes

  • Overheating detected

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and stop using it
  • Unplug it if you can do so safely

Call a technician if: Always: book service before using it again

Source: [12]

F1Refrigerant temperature sensor circuit fault

Needs a technician

Also shown as or same meaning as: F2

Applies to: Heat-pump models

Common causes

  • Sensor short circuit (F1) or open circuit (F2)

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [13], [14]

F3Drying-air temperature sensor circuit fault

Needs a technician

Also shown as or same meaning as: F4

Common causes

  • Sensor short circuit (F3) or open circuit (F4)

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [15], [16]

F156Refrigerant sensor after the condenser faulty

Needs a technician

Also shown as or same meaning as: F157

Applies to: Heat-pump models

Common causes

  • Sensor short circuit (F156) or open circuit (F157)

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [17], [18]

F206Refrigerant sensor after the compressor faulty

Needs a technician

Also shown as or same meaning as: F207

Applies to: Heat-pump models

Common causes

  • Sensor short circuit (F206) or open circuit (F207)

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [19], [20]

F159Compressor failed to start

Needs a technician

Applies to: Heat-pump models

Common causes

  • Compressor start-up fault

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [21]

F30Door signals disagree (door switch fault)

Needs a technician

Common causes

  • Door signal and door contact signal mismatch

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [22]

F36Door contact (reed switch) faulty

Needs a technician

Common causes

  • Door sensor failure

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [23]

F53Drive motor or electronic fault

Needs a technician

Common causes

  • Motor or motor control problem

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [24]

F104Voltage to the drive motor is too low

Needs a technician

Common causes

  • Motor supply voltage low

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [25]

F99Appliance is blocked (internal lockout)

Needs a technician

Common causes

  • Internal blocking condition

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [26]

F43Model variant not programmed in the control

Needs a technician

Common causes

  • Control not set for this model

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [27]

F38Electronic (control) fault

Needs a technician

Also shown as or same meaning as: F39, F40, F41, F45, F46, F108, F242

Applies to: Miele US support labels each of these numbers 'electronic fault'

Common causes

  • Electronics fault

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then restart once

Call a technician if: Code returns after one restart

Source: [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35]

Cold air / Finish flashingFault with no obvious cause

Check, then call if it returns

Common causes

  • Unspecified fault

What you can safely check

  • Switch the dryer off and on, then start a program

Call a technician if: It flashes again after restarting

Source: [36]

3 LEDs flashingPower was interrupted during the program

Usually a quick fix

Common causes

  • Power outage or unplugged mid-cycle

What you can safely check

  • Restart the program
  • If it keeps happening, check the house circuit breaker

Call a technician if: It happens without any power interruption

Source: [37]

888Demo mode is on; programs will not start

Usually a quick fix

Common causes

  • Demonstration mode activated

What you can safely check

  • Turn off demo mode with the Start/Stop button sequence in Miele's instructions

Call a technician if: Demo mode will not switch off

Source: [38]

Locked flashingChild/lock function is on; program cannot start

Usually a quick fix

Common causes

  • Lock function activated

What you can safely check

  • Turn off the lock using the button-and-dial sequence in your manual

Call a technician if: Lock will not turn off

Source: [39]

Still showing the code?

When to call a technician

If a code comes back after the safe checks, or the table says it needs a technician, the fault is usually a sensor, valve, pump, motor or control board, and diagnosing it means opening the dryer. Our technicians repair Miele appliances across Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland, seven days a week until 10 PM. Tell us the code when you book and we bring the parts that code usually points to.

Book Miele dryer repair $75 diagnostic, credited toward the repair.

Sources

Where these meanings come from

Every code on this page was checked against Miele's own documentation: owner's manuals, use and care guides, support articles or Miele technical sheets. Codes we could only find on third-party sites are left out. Meanings are paraphrased; your model's manual is the final word.

  1. Clean out airways indicator light comes on — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  2. Information Clean out airways/end of the program — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  3. Technical fault — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  4. Fault F66 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  5. Fault F55 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  6. Drying process goes on too long or switches off — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  7. Fault F50 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  8. Empty out container indicator light lights up — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  9. Clean the door filter keeps appearing — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  10. CHE on the display — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  11. Fault F252 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  12. Fault F158 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  13. Fault F1 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  14. Fault F2 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  15. Fault F3 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  16. Fault F4 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  17. Fault F156 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  18. Fault F157 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  19. Fault F206 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  20. Fault F207 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  21. Fault F159 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  22. Fault F30 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  23. Fault F36 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  24. Fault F53 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  25. Fault F104 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  26. Fault F99 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  27. Fault F43 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  28. Fault F38 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  29. Fault F39 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  30. Fault F40 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  31. Fault F41 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  32. Fault F45 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  33. Fault F46 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  34. Fault F108 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  35. Fault F242 — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  36. Cold air or Finish flashes — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  37. 3 LEDs light up/flash — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  38. 888 in the display — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  39. Locked indicator light flashes — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com
  40. Display messages & light indicators (tumble dryer support index) — Miele, Inc. (USA). www.mieleusa.com

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