GE Oven F15 Fix: Control Board Communication Error Guide

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What This Error Means

F15 on a GE oven means the display/touch panel (UI board) and the main control board are not communicating or are mis-configured.

In plain terms: the oven’s brains are arguing, so it locks out and won’t heat.

Official Fix

GE’s playbook for an F15 is:

  • Turn the oven OFF at the breaker or fuse box for at least 1 minute. Don’t just hit Cancel on the keypad.
  • Turn power back ON and see if the code clears and the oven starts up normally.
  • If F15 comes back right away, shut power OFF again and pull the range or wall oven out enough to reach the control compartment.
  • Remove the rear/top cover (or front control cover, depending on model) to expose the display/UI board and the main control/relay board.
  • Visually inspect the wiring harness between those boards for burns, cuts, or pinched spots. Repair or replace damaged wiring.
  • If wiring looks okay, the official fix is: replace the display/UI board, restore power, and test for F15.
  • If F15 is still present with a new UI board, replace the main control/relay board as well.
  • Once the code is gone, reinstall all covers, slide the unit back in place, and recheck every function (bake, broil, convection, timers).

If you follow that tree, GE expects the problem to be gone once the bad board is swapped.

The Technician’s Trick

Here’s what working techs try first, before dropping big money on new boards:

  • Kill power at the breaker and confirm the display is totally dead. You’re on 240V here; no shortcuts.
  • Pull the oven or range just far enough to pop the control cover off and access the boards and harnesses.
  • Unplug the flat ribbon cable and any small multi-pin plugs going between the UI board and the main control board.
  • Inspect connectors for dark spots, corrosion, or loose/bent pins. If anything looks cooked, that harness is suspect.
  • Lightly clean the ribbon ends and board contacts with electronics cleaner or a clean, dry pencil eraser, then blow off dust.
  • Reseat every connector firmly until it’s fully home. Half-plugged harnesses cause a lot of “mystery” F15 codes.
  • Restore power with the panels still open, keep your hands out, and watch the startup. If F15 is gone and the oven behaves, button it up and call it a win.
  • If flexing or wiggling the harness makes F15 appear or disappear, replace the harness instead of guessing at boards.

This connector clean-and-reseat routine fixes a surprising number of F15 calls without buying any parts.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Oven under ~8–10 years old, otherwise in good shape, and F15 goes away after reseating connectors or with a single board under about $300.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: 10–15 years old, needs both UI and main boards, or you’re paying full labor on a mid-range unit; compare the quote to a new oven in the $800–$1,500 range.
  • ❌ Replace: Over ~15 years old, multiple other issues (elements, door, rust), or repair estimate is more than ~50% of a similar new model.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Chasing other appliance error codes? These guides keep the guesswork down: