Dyson Vacuum Cleaner F18 Fix (Straightforward Guide)

Dyson doesn’t publish one universal meaning for F18 across all models, but their official playbook is always the same: clear blockages, clean filters, reset, then call Dyson if it still throws the code.

Run this in order:

• 1. Kill the power first
  • Cordless: remove the battery pack.
  • Corded: unplug from the wall.
  • Leave it dead for at least 5–10 minutes. This lets the control board discharge and do a soft reset.
• 2. Strip the airflow path
  • Empty the bin completely.
  • Remove the wand, hose, and cleaner head.
  • Look through every piece for clogs: cereal, Lego, hair wads, anything.
  • Clear all blockages. If you can’t see light through a tube, it’s not clear.
• 3. Clean the filters properly
  • Pull out every user-removable filter (pre-motor and HEPA/post-motor, depending on model).
  • Rinse under cold tap water only. No soap, no hot water.
  • Squeeze out excess water and let them dry a full 24 hours. Slightly damp filters can make the machine overheat and trip fault codes.
  • Do not run the vacuum with filters removed unless your manual explicitly says it’s okay.
• 4. Check the cleaner head and brush bar
  • Remove the floor head from the wand.
  • Take out the brush bar (usually a coin or screwdriver to unlock the end cap).
  • Cut off all wrapped hair, string, carpet threads.
  • Look for burnt spots, melted plastic, or a stiff section of the brush bar — that can overload the motor and trigger a fault.
  • Spin the brush by hand. It should turn freely with no grinding.
• 5. Inspect electrical connections
  • Battery: make sure it locks in tight. Check the metal contacts for corrosion or burning.
  • Wand and cleaner head: look at the small metal pins and sockets. Bent, pushed-in, or burnt pins can trigger an error.
  • Charger (cordless): check the charger LED. If it blinks or stays off when it should be on, Dyson expects you to treat that as a charger/battery issue first.
• 6. Rebuild and test systematically
  • Reinstall dry filters and the bin.
  • Cordless: refit the battery and put it on charge until it shows full.
  • Test the bare machine first (no wand, no tools) for a few short bursts.
  • If it runs fine, add the wand and test again.
  • Then add the floor head and test. If F18 only appears with a specific attachment, that attachment is the suspect.
• 7. Cool-down and retry
  • If the machine was hot when it failed, give it 30–60 minutes off power to cool fully.
  • Dyson’s official line: overheated units can throw fault codes and will only clear after a full cool-down plus a restart.
• 8. When Dyson wants you to call them
  • If you still get F18 with clean filters, no blockages, cool machine, and minimal attachments, Dyson treats that as an internal electronics fault (motor, PCB, sensor, or battery electronics).
  • At that point, the official answer is: contact Dyson support for a service quote or main body replacement.

If your vacuum is under warranty, stop here and call Dyson. Opening the main body yourself can void coverage.