LG uses OE when the washer cannot drain the wash water in the expected time.
What OE means
LG uses OE when the washer cannot drain the wash water in the expected time.
What you may notice
- Water remains in the drum
- The door stays locked
- The cycle stops before spin
- The pump runs longer than normal
Most likely causes
- 01A kinked drain hose
- 02A clogged pump filter
- 03A blocked household drain
- 04A small item in the pump
- 05A failed drain pump
Safe checks, in order
Start with the simplest non-invasive check. Stop as soon as the error clears; repeated resets can hide a condition without correcting it.
Protect the floor
Prepare towels and a shallow pan for retained water.
Check the drain hose
Straighten kinks and verify the standpipe is not backed up.
Clean the filter
Use the emergency drain and pump-filter procedure in the model manual.
Run drain or spin
Reassemble the filter securely and test once.
Know where to stop
Unplug the washer before opening a filter cover. Let hot wash water cool and never force a locked door.
When to call a technician or support
Call for service if the pump only hums, the filter is inaccessible, or OE returns with a clear drain path.
When you call, have the exact product or vehicle model, model year where relevant, the complete code or symbol, and when it appeared.
Where this information came from
We use the manufacturer's current published guidance as the starting point, then organize it into a safer, beginner-friendly sequence.
LG USA Support — washer error-code list Source last checked August 16, 2026. Manufacturer instructions and model manuals take priority over this independent summary.