Most common Zanussi washing machine faults

Our technicians repair Zanussi washing machines daily. These are the faults we see most often:

• E10 / C1 — water supply problem — tap closed, hose kinked or filter blocked
• E20 / C2 / E21 — drainage problem — fluff filter or pump blocked
• E40 / C4 / E41 — door problem — door does not close or door lock defective
• E50 / C5 / E51 — motor fault — washing machine does not spin
• E60 / C6 — heating problem — heating element or NTC sensor defective
• E61 — temperature sensor error — NTC sensor does not give correct signal
• EF0 / EF3 — too much foam — overdosing of detergent
• E90 / E91 — circuit board fault — electronic defect, machine does not respond
• Washing machine does not start — power issue or circuit board defect

Do you not recognise your problem? The technician will diagnose on-site.

Zanussi washing machine error codes: what do they mean?

Zanussi displays errors on the screen as a code that starts with E or C, followed by a number. Zanussi is part of the Electrolux group — the error codes are identical to those of AEG and Electrolux.

Below you will find all common Zanussi error codes with the cause and what you can do yourself.

Zanussi washing machine E10 or C1 — water supply issue

What does it mean?

The washing machine is not getting water or not enough water to start the programme.

Possible causes:

• The tap is not turned on or not fully opened
• The inlet hose is kinked or blocked
• The filter in the inlet hose is blocked with limescale
• Low water pressure

What can you do yourself?

1. Turn the tap fully on and check if water is flowing from the hose.
2. Check the inlet hose for kinks or bends.
3. Turn the tap off and remove the inlet hose from the back of the machine.
4. Clean the small mesh filter in the connection with a toothbrush.
5. Reconnect the hose, turn the tap on and watch for leaks.
6. Turn off the washing machine, wait 2 minutes and restart.

Does E10 remain? Then the water valve (solenoid valve) may be defective. Book a repair with We.repair.

Zanussi washing machine E20, C2 or E21 — drainage issue

What does it mean?

The washing machine does not pump the water away or not quickly enough. Water remains in the drum.

Possible causes:

• The lint filter is clogged (coins, buttons, hair ties)
• The drain hose is kinked or inserted too deeply into the drain pipe (siphon effect)
• The drain pump is faulty

What can you do yourself?

1. Turn off the washing machine and unplug it.
2. Open the flap at the bottom of the front of the machine.
3. Place a bowl or tray under the flap to catch water.
4. Pull out the small hose and remove the cap — let the residual water drain away.
5. Unscrew the pump filter (to the left) and remove it completely.
6. Remove lint, coins, buttons or other debris.
7. Check if the pump impeller can turn freely (use a spoon or stick).
8. Clean the inside and the threads of the filter cap.
9. Screw the filter back in (to the right) and close the flap.
10. Also check that the drain hose is not kinked and does not extend more than 15 cm into the drain pipe.
11. Reconnect the machine and start a drain programme.

Does E20 remain? Then the drain pump is faulty. Book a repair with We.repair.

Zanussi washing machine E40, C4 or E41 — door problem

What does it mean?

The door of the washing machine does not close properly or the door lock does not function correctly. The machine does not start.

Possible causes:

• Laundry is stuck between the door and the rubber seal
• Soap scum or dirt blocks the door lock
• Drum too full — door does not close completely
• Door lock or door switch faulty

What can you do yourself?

1. Open the door and check if any clothing is caught between the door and the rubber seal.
2. Wipe the door lock (the plastic or metal hook) clean with a damp cloth.
3. Also wipe the closure on the machine itself clean.
4. Remove some of the laundry from the drum if it is too full.
5. Close the door again with a clear click and start the programme.

If there is no click when closing, or if E40 remains? Then the door lock is defective. Book a repair with We.repair.

Zanussi washing machine E50, C5 or E51 — motor fault

What does it mean?

The motor is not running or not running correctly. Your laundry comes out wet from the drum because the machine is not spinning.

Possible causes:

• Laundry is caught between the drum and the seal
• Drum overloaded
• Worn carbon brushes in the motor (in older models)
• Defective circuit board

What can you do yourself?

1. Open the door and check if any garments are caught between the drum and the rubber seal.
2. Remove any caught laundry if necessary.
3. If necessary, remove some of the laundry from the drum (maximum three quarters full).
4. Start the programme again.

For a new machine: check that all transport bolts at the back have been removed. If you run the machine with bolts in it, it will vibrate heavily and damage the drum.

Does E50 remain? Then the carbon brushes or the circuit board are likely defective. Book a repair with We.repair.

Zanussi washing machine E60 or C6 — heating problem

What does it mean?

The washing machine is having trouble heating the water. Is the door window cold during a hot wash programme? Then the heating element is likely defective due to limescale.

Possible causes:

• Heating element defective (often due to limescale)
• NTC temperature sensor defective
• Circuit board problem

What can you do yourself?

In case of limescale:

1. Perform a descaling with citric acid or a washing machine cleaner.
2. Run an empty programme at 90°C.
3. Repeat this every 2 months with hard water.

Try resetting:

1. Turn off the machine and unplug it.
2. Wait 5 minutes and start again.

Does E60 keep coming back? The heating element or the sensor is defective. Book a repair with We.repair.

Tip: Avoid the problem by running an empty wash programme at 90°C monthly. This removes grease deposits and limescale before they build up.

Zanussi washing machine E61 — temperature sensor error

What does it mean?

The NTC temperature sensor is not sending a correct signal. The machine cannot measure the water temperature and interrupts the programme.

Possible causes:

• Temporary electronic fault
• Defective NTC sensor
• Damaged wiring to the sensor

What can you do yourself?

1. Turn off the washing machine and unplug it.
2. Wait at least 30 minutes.
3. Reconnect and start the machine again.

Has the error code disappeared? Then it was a temporary fault. Does E61 keep coming back? Then the temperature sensor needs to be replaced. Book a repair with We.repair.

Zanussi washing machine EF0 or EF3 — too much foam

What does it mean?

Too much foam has formed in the drum. The machine interrupts the programme to prevent damage.

Possible causes:

• Too much detergent used
• Wrong detergent (not suitable for washing machines)
• Too little laundry in the drum with too much detergent

What can you do yourself?

1. Remove the laundry from the drum.
2. Run a rinse programme or an empty programme without detergent to remove the foam.
3. Repeat if necessary.

Prevent it in the future: use less detergent, especially with lightly soiled laundry or soft water.

Zanussi washing machine E90 or E91 — circuit board fault

What does it mean?

E90 or E91 indicates a fault in the main circuit board or a configuration error in the electronics. The machine can no longer perform certain functions or does not respond at all.

Possible causes:

• Power failure or voltage spike that has damaged the circuit board
• Software error in the control electronics
• Loose or corroded connections

What can you do yourself?

1. Unplug the appliance.
2. Wait at least 10 minutes (allow the capacitors to fully discharge).
3. Reconnect and start a short programme (rinse or drain).

Has the error code disappeared? Then it was a temporary fault. Does E90 remain? Then the circuit board is defective — this cannot be fixed by you. Book a repair with We.repair.

My Zanussi washing machine does not start at all

Possible causes:

• No power (circuit breaker in the fuse box activated)
• Plug not properly in the socket
• Child lock activated
• Door not properly closed
• Circuit board defect

What can you do yourself?

1. Check in the fuse box whether the circuit for the washing machine has tripped.
2. Check if the plug is properly inserted into the socket.
3. Check if the child lock is activated (consult your user manual for deactivation).
4. Close the door again with a clear click.
5. Pull the plug out, wait 1 minute and try again.

Is the machine still not starting? Book a repair with We.repair.

How do I reset a Zanussi washing machine?

A reset sometimes resolves a temporary electronic fault:

1. Turn the programme selection knob to the position Off or 0.
2. Completely pull the plug out of the socket.
3. Wait at least 5 minutes (for persistent faults 30 minutes).
4. Reconnect, select a short programme (rinse or drain) and see if the error code has disappeared.

Note: if the error code returns immediately after the reset, there is a physical defect that needs to be repaired.

3 tips to prevent error codes on your Zanussi washing machine

1. Clean the lint filter monthly

The filter at the bottom of the machine catches coins, buttons and lint. A clogged filter causes drainage problems (E20, E21). Open the flap, catch the water, unscrew the filter and clean it under the tap.

2. Run a maintenance programme at 90°C monthly

Washing at low temperatures (30–40°C) is environmentally friendly but causes a build-up of grease, soap, and bacteria. A monthly empty programme at 90°C — with a machine cleaner product or citric acid — keeps the drum and the heating element clean and prevents E60 errors.

3. Dose your detergent correctly

Too much detergent causes too much foam (EF0, EF3) and leaves residues in the machine. For lightly soiled laundry and soft water, half of the recommended dose is sufficient.

Frequently asked questions about Zanussi washing machine faults