Samsung Washer 5C Error: Meaning and Fixes

The washer is not draining at the expected speed. Start with the drain hose, pump filter, and any visible blockage.

Reviewed August 16, 2026·Official source linked below
Short answer

Samsung uses 5C, 5E, nd, SC, and related displays for a no-drain condition. Water is leaving too slowly or not leaving the tub at all.

01

What 5C / 5E means

Samsung uses 5C, 5E, nd, SC, and related displays for a no-drain condition. Water is leaving too slowly or not leaving the tub at all.

Confirm the model.Error codes can be reused across product families. These steps apply to the Samsung washing machine context described by the cited source.
02

What you may notice

  • Water remains in the drum
  • The door stays locked on a front-loader
  • The cycle stops before spin
  • The drain pump runs unusually long
03

Most likely causes

  1. 01A kinked or frozen drain hose
  2. 02A clogged user-accessible pump filter
  3. 03A small item blocking the pump
  4. 04A restricted household drain
  5. 05A failed pump or drain-circuit component
04

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.

1

Stop and protect the floor

Cancel the cycle. Place towels and a shallow pan near the filter area because retained water may drain quickly.

2

Inspect the drain hose

Straighten kinks and verify that the standpipe is not backed up.

3

Clean the pump filter

If your manual identifies an accessible filter, drain the emergency hose first and remove lint, coins, and debris.

4

Try Drain or Spin

Reassemble the filter securely, restore power, and run a drain-only or spin cycle.

!
Safety note

Know where to stop

Unplug the washer before opening a filter cover. Never remove a hose or filter while the water is hot, and do not force a locked door.

05

When to call a technician or support

Call for service if the pump only hums, the filter is inaccessible, the code returns immediately, or the washer leaks after reassembly.

When you call, have the exact product or vehicle model, model year where relevant, the complete code or symbol, and when it appeared.

Primary reference

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.

Samsung Support — washing machine information and error codes Source last checked August 16, 2026. Manufacturer instructions and model manuals take priority over this independent summary.