Samsung Refrigerator Error Codes — Complete List & Fix Guide

Common Symptoms

• Error code displayed on the temperature panel
• Display blinking or showing dashes instead of temperature
• Alarm beeping repeatedly
• Fridge has entered an unexpected diagnostic mode

Most Likely Causes

1. 1

   Sensor Error Codes (1E, 2E, 5E) — Temperature Sensor Failures

   Code 1E (or SE on older models) indicates a fault in the fresh food compartment temperature sensor. Code 2E indicates a freezer temperature sensor fault. Code 5E (also shown as SE) indicates a defrost sensor or defrost termination sensor fault. These codes appear when the sensor reads open circuit (broken wire or failed sensor), shorted (near-zero resistance), or produces a temperature reading outside its operating range. Samsung NTC thermistors read approximately 16,000–17,000 ohms at 32°F and approximately 10,000 ohms at room temperature (68°F). An OL reading or a near-zero reading confirms sensor failure.

2. 2

   Ice Maker and Ice Room Error Codes (14E, 33E, 39E, 40E)

   Code 14E indicates an ice maker fault — typically the ice maker assembly, water inlet valve, or the ice maker temperature sensor. Code 33E indicates an ice room fan fault in French door models with a dual ice maker system. Codes 39E and 40E indicate ice maker motor or thermistor faults on models with the ice maker in the freezer door. These codes commonly appear alongside stopped ice production or clumping ice. Start with a forced defrost cycle — many ice maker codes are caused by ice buildup around the ice maker assembly rather than an actual component failure.

3. 3

   Evaporator Fan Error Codes (21E, 22E) — Fan Motor Failures

   Code 21E indicates a freezer evaporator fan circuit fault. Code 22E indicates a fresh food (refrigerator compartment) evaporator fan circuit fault. Samsung detects these faults via a tachometer signal from the fan motor — if the motor stops spinning or operates outside normal RPM, the control board logs the fault code. A 21E code means the freezer section will begin warming within hours. A 22E code means the fresh food section warms while the freezer stays cold — the classic Samsung Twin Cooling symptom.

4. 4

   Defrost Error Codes (24E, 25E) — Defrost Circuit Failures

   Code 24E indicates the defrost termination sensor reads open circuit — this sensor monitors evaporator temperature and signals the board to stop the defrost heater at the correct temperature. Code 25E indicates the defrost heater circuit is open — the heater element itself or the thermal fuse protecting the heater circuit has failed. Both codes lead to defrost failure: frost accumulates on the evaporator coil until airflow is blocked and the compartment warms. On Samsung Twin Cooling models, 24E and 25E can reference either the freezer or fresh food evaporator depending on model and display variant.

5. 5

   Compressor Inverter Error Codes (41E, 42E) — Inverter Board or Compressor Failure

   Code 41E indicates a fault in the compressor inverter PCB — the board that drives the variable-speed compressor motor. Code 42E indicates the inverter has detected a compressor overload or locked rotor condition. These codes appear when the inverter board fails, the compressor is drawing excessive current, or the compressor motor windings have degraded. Codes 41E and 42E represent the most expensive Samsung diagnosis — the inverter board (DA41-00684A or similar) costs $100–$300, and a mechanically failed compressor requires professional refrigerant recovery and a $400–$800 or more repair.

Quick DIY Checks

1. 1Enter Samsung refrigerator diagnostic mode: on most Samsung models including RF28, RF23, RS27, RH29, and RF31, hold the top two buttons on the control panel simultaneously for 8 seconds. The buttons are typically labeled Energy Saver and Power Freeze, or Freezer and Fridge, depending on the model. The display cycles through a self-test showing all segments lit. On some models this same sequence initiates forced defrost mode and shows current active error codes. On Samsung Family Hub models, access the diagnostic menu through Settings, then About This Refrigerator, then Diagnostics. If you are unsure of the correct button combination for your model, use the Ask AI tool above with your full model number.
2. 2Clear error codes after repair: after completing the repair and verifying normal operation, hold the same button combination used to enter diagnostic mode for 5–8 seconds until the display resets to normal temperature readout. On most models, unplugging the refrigerator for 60 seconds also clears non-persistent fault codes. Important: clearing a code without fixing the underlying fault causes the code to return within the next operational cycle. If a code reappears within minutes of clearing, the fault is still active and the repair is incomplete.
3. 3Diagnose sensor codes 1E, 2E, and 5E: unplug the refrigerator. Locate the failed sensor — the fresh food sensor is typically clipped to the evaporator fins or mounted inside the fresh food compartment (small cylindrical sensor with two wires). Set a multimeter to ohms, 20k range. Disconnect the sensor connector and measure resistance across the two sensor wires. At room temperature (68–72°F), a healthy NTC sensor reads 9,000–11,000 ohms. OL (open circuit) means the sensor wire has broken or the sensor has failed open — replace the sensor. A reading near zero ohms means the sensor has internally shorted — also replace it. If the sensor resistance is within range, inspect the wire harness run from the sensor to the control board for pinched or chafed wires.

1. 4Diagnose evaporator fan codes 21E (freezer fan) and 22E (fridge fan): open the appropriate compartment door, hold the door switch closed with your finger, and listen for the fan. A silent fan with the unit running means the motor has stopped. Remove the back panel (4–6 screws, power off first) and manually spin the fan blade. If it spins freely, the motor has an electrical failure — replace the motor. If it will not spin, check for ice blockage first by running forced defrost. After defrost, if the blade still will not spin freely, the motor bearings have seized. With the panel off and power restored (use caution — 120VAC terminals are exposed), verify 120VAC at the fan motor connector. Voltage present with motor not running confirms motor failure. No voltage points to a control board or wiring harness fault.
2. 5Diagnose defrost codes 24E (defrost sensor) and 25E (defrost heater): unplug the unit and access the evaporator compartment by removing the back panel. For 24E, disconnect the defrost sensor connector and measure resistance at room temperature — expected 9,000–11,000 ohms for a healthy sensor. OL confirms sensor failure — replace it. For 25E, disconnect the defrost heater wires and measure resistance with the meter set to ohms. A typical Samsung defrost heater reads 25–75 ohms depending on wattage and model. OL means the heater has burned out. Also test the thermal fuse (bimetal cutout) in series with the heater using the continuity beep mode — no beep means the thermal fuse has blown. A blown thermal fuse is a frequent root cause of the 25E code and is a much cheaper fix than the heater itself.
3. 6Diagnose compressor inverter codes 41E and 42E: do not replace the inverter board or compressor without first ruling out power supply issues. Measure voltage at the inverter board input with the unit running — should be stable 120VAC. A power surge or brownout can trigger an inverter fault code without the board or compressor being damaged — clear the code by unplugging for 60 seconds, restore power, and monitor for 2 hours. If 41E or 42E returns, verify the compressor is not making clicking or stuttering sounds on startup. Clicking and then silence on startup is a classic locked-rotor symptom and may indicate compressor mechanical failure rather than inverter board failure. A licensed appliance technician with refrigerant certification is required to test compressor windings under load and to perform compressor replacement if needed.

Repair vs Replace

Recommended Tools & Parts

• Samsung NTC Temperature Sensor Pair (Fresh Food and Freezer)

  NTC thermistor replacement kit for Samsung 1E, 2E, and 5E error codes. Match the DA32 or DA47 part number to your specific model. Kit typically includes both fresh food and freezer sensors.

  $10–$30

  Buy on Amazon →

• Samsung Evaporator Fan Motor DA31-00146E

  Replacement fresh food evaporator fan motor for Samsung 22E error code. Available in DA31-00146E, DA31-00146F, and DA31-00146G variants — verify against your model label before ordering.

  $25–$65

  Buy on Amazon →

• Samsung Defrost Heater and Thermal Fuse Kit

  Defrost heater assembly with thermal fuse for Samsung 25E error code. Covers RF28, RF23, and RS27 series. Includes heater element and bimetal thermal cutout.

  $25–$75

  Buy on Amazon →

• Samsung Compressor Inverter Board DA41-00684A

  Replacement compressor inverter PCB for Samsung 41E error code. Verify the DA41 part number variant against your specific model before ordering — multiple variants exist across the RF and RS product lines.

  $100–$300

  Buy on Amazon →

Links are Amazon affiliate links (tag: fixitfastai-20). Prices are estimates.

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