Written by
Tessa Brandt Appliance Care EditorPublished October 29, 2026
VERIFIED
Error codeF5 E3
ApplianceWasher
F5 E3 is about the lock, and its wording changes with the washer design.
Front load washers: the door fails to lock as it should.
Top load washers: the lid lock stays locked, and the control cannot verify that it ever reached the unlocked position.
Front load washers: closing the door
Push the door fully closed, then inspect the latch and the door edge. Anything caught there, such as a garment or leftover shipping materials, can stop the door from closing. Beyond that, the reset below is the only other step.
What to do on a top load washer
The power reset below is the only owner step Maytag lists for a lid lock that will not unlock.
The reset
Cut the washer’s power for five minutes, either at the plug or by disconnecting it, then bring it back and check whether F5 E3 still shows.
Other locking codes
F5 E2 is the nearest relative: a door that is not locking properly.
F5E2 describes a lid lock that never reached the locked position.
F5 E4 is not a lock failure at all; the door simply stayed shut across cycles.
Maytag washer repair, San Francisco and Bay Area
A lock that still misbehaves after the reset needs a technician. Call (415) 649-2156 in San Francisco or elsewhere around the bay, and have ready the code, whether the washer is front or top load, and the model number. The Maytag washer repair page covers what the visit includes.
Model compatibility: Maytag reuses codes across series and model years, so F5 E3 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
Front load: the door is not locking properly. Top load: the lid lock will not unlock and the control cannot confirm it unlocked.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Maytag appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
You submit a request with your appliance model and symptom, we confirm an appointment window, and a technician performs an on-site diagnosis. You then receive a clear estimate and decide whether to proceed before any repair begins.
Yes. We provide an upfront estimate after diagnosis. No parts are ordered or installed until you approve the work, so there are no surprise charges.
Replacement parts are selected for the exact model and confirmed with you before ordering or installation.
Service areas are listed on the Locations page. Contact us with your ZIP code to confirm current coverage for your address.
Ready to get your Maytag appliance working again?
Book a repair online or call us — clear estimates and approval before any repair work begins.
