GE Profile Dishwasher F5 Error Code Fix Guide

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What This Error Means

F5 on a GE Profile dishwasher means “door latch / door switch fault”.

The control board thinks the door is not securely closed, so it blocks or stops the wash cycle for safety.

Official Fix

What GE wants you to do is mostly about the door and a basic reset. Do this in order:

  • 1. Kill the cycle. Hit Start/Reset (or Cancel) and wait until any noise from the pump stops.
  • 2. Check the obvious door problems.
    • Make sure both racks are fully pushed in and nothing is sticking out and hitting the door.
    • Look at the top and sides of the door gasket; remove any utensils, debris, or buildup that could block the door from closing flat.
    • Close the door firmly. You should feel and hear a solid “click” from the latch. If it only half-catches or bounces back, the latch isn’t engaging right.
  • 3. Hard reset the control.
    • Flip the dishwasher breaker OFF for 5 minutes.
    • Turn it back ON, then close the door and start a short cycle.
    • If the F5 comes back immediately or it won’t start at all, the board still thinks the door is “open”.
  • 4. Inspect the latch and strike.
    • Open the door and look at the metal latch on the tub frame (the “strike”) and the latch assembly in the door.
    • Check for broken plastic, bent metal, loose screws, or burn marks on the latch housing.
    • If the latch is cracked, flopping around, or the strike is obviously bent, the official move is: replace the latch assembly.
  • 5. If the latch looks fine but F5 won’t clear.
    • At this point, GE’s service docs say the fault is probably the door switch circuit or the control board.
    • They want you to call a service tech to test the latch switch and wiring and swap parts as needed.

Bottom line: the official route is reset the power, confirm the door is closing right, and if F5 keeps coming back, install a new door latch assembly or call for service.

The Technician’s Trick

Here’s how a field tech actually chases F5 before throwing parts at it.

  • 1. Test the “hip check”.
    • Close the door, then put your hip or hand against the door and push it in firmly while hitting Start.
    • If it runs while you’re pushing but throws F5 when you let go, the door isn’t lining up with the latch switch. That’s alignment, not electronics.
  • 2. Adjust the strike instead of replacing everything.
    • Kill power at the breaker first.
    • Loosen the two screws holding the metal strike on the tub frame just enough so it can move.
    • Shift it slightly inward (toward the room) or upward so the latch bites deeper when the door closes, then tighten the screws.
    • Turn power back on and test again. Tiny adjustments make a big difference.
  • 3. Level the machine.
    • If the tub has sagged or the door looks crooked against the cabinets, tweak the front leveling feet.
    • Raise the front a little so the door naturally presses tighter into the latch when closed.
  • 4. Quick latch check behind the panel. (Only if you’re comfortable with tools.)
    • Power OFF at the breaker. Do not skip this.
    • Remove the inner door screws, separate the inner panel, and locate the latch assembly.
    • Look for loose connectors, corrosion, or moisture around the small microswitch on the latch.
    • Dry everything out, reseat the connectors, and reassemble. Intermittent F5 often comes from a loose plug, not a dead board.

Most F5 issues on a still-young GE Profile are alignment or a worn latch, not the main board. A tech almost always tweaks or replaces the latch first.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: The dishwasher is under 8–10 years old, the door just feels loose, and the latch or strike replacement is under $60–$120 in parts.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: F5 comes with other random errors, there’s visible water damage or rust around the door, or a tech is quoting you for both latch and control board.
  • ❌ Replace: Unit is 10+ years old, tub is rusting or leaking, or the repair quote (parts + labor) gets close to half the price of a new mid-range dishwasher.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Working through other appliance error codes too? These guides can save you some time: