KitchenAid Dishwasher FAE5 / F10E5 Error — Cycle Halt Fix

What it means

KitchenAid dishwasher FAE5 and F10E5 are the same code displayed differently on different model generations.
KitchenAid's support page covers them together: 'the cycle ends, drains, and displays the error code.'
The dishwasher safely finishes the drain step and then halts.
KitchenAid's official fix is simple: Cancel twice, then start a new cycle.

Affected Models

KitchenAid KDPM, KDTM, KDTE, KDFE built-in dishwashers
KitchenAid KDPE, KDPE804K, KDPE234G series
KitchenAid PrintShield, Architect II, and panel-ready models
KitchenAid KUDS legacy series (older models)
Same codes appear on Whirlpool, Maytag, and JennAir dishwashers (shared platform)

Common Causes

Sensor reading flagged at the very end of the cycle
Brief electronic glitch that the control logged but couldn't recover from mid-cycle
Optical Water Indicator (OWI) calibration reading rejected
Intermittent control fault that doesn't recur after a fresh cycle
Persistent FAE5: a sensor or control board may be failing

How to Fix It

Press Cancel twice.

KitchenAid's exact step: 'Press the Cancel key twice.'
First press stops the alarm and halts the displayed fault state.
Second press fully clears the fault from the control's memory.
Try a new cycle.

KitchenAid: 'Try to start a new cycle.'
Pick any normal cycle (Normal, Quick, or Rinse Only) and press Start.
If the dishwasher runs the cycle to completion with no FAE5 at the end, the fault was transient and the dishwasher is fine.
Power cycle if it returns.

If FAE5 reappears on the next cycle, do a 30-second power disconnect — pull the plug under the sink, or trip the breaker for hardwired units.
Restore power and try one more cycle.
A power cycle clears stuck control states that the Cancel button alone can't reach.
Schedule service if FAE5 persists.

If FAE5 appears at the end of three consecutive cycles after a power reset, the dishwasher needs a technician.
The most common culprit is the OWI (optical water indicator) sensor at the bottom of the tub, which reads water clarity to decide cycle length — but the fault is logged in the control and needs the technician's reader to confirm.

When to Call a Professional

If pressing Cancel twice and starting a new cycle does NOT clear FAE5 — or if the code returns at the end of every cycle — schedule service.
Persistent FAE5 usually means a failing sensor or control component the technician needs to replace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my dishwasher say FAE5 and my neighbor's says F10E5 for what sounds like the same issue?

Same code, different display.
On older KitchenAid panels with limited display segments, the code shows as F10E5 because the segment display can render '10' directly.
On newer panels with character displays, the same fault renders as FAE5 because 'A' is the hexadecimal-style representation of 10.
KitchenAid's own support page covers both side-by-side because the underlying fault, cause, and fix are identical.