Error Codes With KitchenAid Ovens

Your KitchenAid oven and range is a quality appliance meant to last years. With proper care, your stove and oven will continue to work properly and give you delicious meals for its entire life. When something is wrong, KitchenAid has done its best to make the problem clear so that you can address it right away — and you can even use the KitchenAid oven diagnostic mode for help. In fact, you can troubleshoot some of the most common issues that occur in a KitchenAid oven or stove to keep your range in working condition.

The display on the stove will share an error code when there is an issue. Depending on your model, the most common KitchenAid range error codes can show as an F or E code. It's best to check the manual that came with your stove so that you know which codes to expect.

Sometimes error codes can be cleared by resetting the power to the oven. You can do this at your circuit breaker box by turning off the circuit breaker or fuse, leaving it off for one minute, and then turning it back on. Often, this power reset will allow the stove to reboot and solve the problem.

The most common general codes are F9, F9 E0, C and PF.

The "F9" or "F9 E0" code appears when there's something wrong with the electricity wired to your stove. The electrical outlet or the wiring in the home is incorrect and is supplying the stove with the wrong voltage. Or, the stove detected a surge along the electrical connections during a storm or outage. The best resolution is to reset power to the stove, which you can do by unplugging and plugging back in, or by checking the breaker box. Keep in mind that electrical issues can be safety hazards, so if this problem occurs multiple times, have a certified electrician come check the electrical connections.

"C" means the oven is currently displaying temperatures in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. When operating in Celsius, the oven will not exceed 260 degrees. You'll have to check the specific manuals for your model, because each model uses a different set of commands to change the temperature units.

"PF" code identifies a power failure. It can be shown as PF id=27 or PF id=30, depending on the model, but the PF is consistent across KitchenAid ovens. Press cancel to clear the display, and check to make sure the time clock is correct — if the power has been off for a long time, the clock may need to be reset.

"Time clock flashing" identifies a power failure, so follow the directions in your manual to reset the time if necessary.

The "CAL" code appears when calibrating the oven. If you feel the oven isn't cooking as expected, it may be time for a calibration to adjust the internal temperature so that it matches the temperature you input on the control screen. Calibration allows you to adjust the temperature upwards or downwards in small increments so that the oven's performance matches your expectations. Again, the directions for your specific model will be found in the product literature.

The codes "SAB," "Sab," "5AB" and 5A6," all represent that Sabbath Mode has been enabled on your oven. Sabbath Mode exists for those whose religious practices forbid them from doing work on their Sabbath Day or during holidays.

Sabbath Mode exists for most contemporary kitchen appliances. In this case, it allows the oven to hold temperature over a long period of time without doing anything that might count as work for a person. Pre-prepared food can then be served warm without people having to touch or use the oven's controls. Your oven's manual will provide directions for entering or exiting Sabbath Mode.

The "LOC" or "lock" code tells you when the oven's control lock has been activated. This mode locks the control pad to prevent unintended use of the oven. Normally, you can press and hold the cancel button or start button to enter or exit control mode, but check your model's literature for the proper instructions.

These codes are more specific and often require replacement of parts. The general recommendation is to reset the oven with the circuit breaker to clear the code, then pay attention to the oven's operation going forward. If these codes appear more than once, there's a likely problem with the oven, and you'll have to have a certified technician come have a look.

The F0, F1, F0-E0 and F1-E1 codes all refer to an electrical failure that requires you to replace the electronic control on your stove. The variations will tell the technician or electrician what sort of electrical issue is occurring, but the outcome is the same: replacing the electronic range control.

F2, F3 and F4 are codes that refer to problems with the temperature or the keypad. The codes can be displayed as two-digit codes or as a four-digit code (i.e. F2-E0) that further identifies the issue. F2 alone means the keypad has died and the electronic range control must be replaced. The other codes identify a number of conditions where the oven's temperature is registering as too hot, or the temperature sensor is malfunctioning. Normally these codes require replacement of the oven temperature sensor or thermal fuse.

Any codes starting with F5 refer to the door latch nor working properly. These errors usually require replacement of the door latch.

The F6, F7, F8 and F9 codes identify circuit problems within the oven. F6 represents issues with the time-keeping function and may be solved by resetting the time or cook functions. F7 and F8 represent different types of electronic control failure and will require replacement of the controls. F9 refers to the circuitry of the door lock. These errors often require a licensed technician to examine and replace parts as needed.

Each of the F03, F12, F13, F22 codes designates a different problem with the electronic range control (ERC). F03 means one key on the control pad is registered as being permanently pressed and can sometimes be solved by cleaning the oven or resetting the power. Likewise, F22 represents a key sensitivity problem and can be fixed in the same manner. F12 and F13 refer to issues with the touch pad and the CPU, respectively. These issues can require replacement of the touch control model or the electronic range control.

The F36 code communicates a hardware issue with the temperature probe. It may require replacement of the probe or the control module.

In many cases, the KitchenAid range error codes will represent a momentary problem, which can be resolved by resetting the power to the oven. It's when these codes appear more than once, over time, that you need to pay attention. These types of errors can result in oven malfunctions that may not only ruin your cooking, but also cause safety hazards, too.

By keeping your oven clean, using it properly and responding to error codes in the proper fashion, you can keep your KitchenAid oven working for you for years. Cross-reference with your oven's manual and other literature to make sure you can identify the error easily. This will help your technician solve the problem quickly so your kitchen can return to normal.