The most common Samsung refrigerator codes are 21E (freezer fan), 22E/22C (fridge fan), 5E (defrost sensor), 33E (ice-maker fill tube heater) and 83E/85E/86E (compressor current or voltage). Fan codes are often caused by ice and can be cleared with a full defrost; power codes often clear after switching the breaker off for 60 seconds. OF OF means the fridge is in showroom mode, not broken. Codes that return after these steps need a technician.
| Code | What it means | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| 21E | Freezer fan not spinning — usually frozen in ice, sometimes a failed motor | Manual defrost (unplug, doors open, several hours) and check the door gasket. If 21E returns, the defrost system or fan motor has failed. |
| 22E / 22C | Fresh-food fan error, often after a door was left open | Unplug, leave the doors open for a few hours, plug back in. Repeats mean ice from a defrost fault or a bad fan. |
| 5E | Fresh-food defrost sensor error | Not owner-repairable. Frost will build up; book a diagnosis. |
| 40E / 40C | Ice room fan error (in-door ice maker) | Clear ice from the ice compartment; repeats need service. |
| Code | What it means | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| 8E | Ice maker sensor error | Reset the ice maker; if the code stays, the sensor or ice maker needs service. |
| 14E | Ice maker temperature sensor out of range | Technician repair. |
| 33E | Ice pipe (fill tube) heater failed — the fill tube can freeze | No ice is the symptom. Technician repair. |
| 39E / 39C | Ice maker function error | Remove the bucket, clear any jammed ice, reinstall. Repeats need service. |
| Ice Off blinking | Ice bucket missing or not seated | Push the bucket fully into place. |
| Code | What it means | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| 83E | Abnormal compressor current | Breaker off 60 seconds. If it returns, the compressor or inverter board needs diagnosis. |
| 85E | Compressor under-voltage | Breaker off 60 seconds; check the outlet isn't shared or on an extension cord. |
| 86E | Compressor over-voltage | Breaker off 60 seconds; repeats need diagnosis. |
| 85C | Low voltage detected — informational | Hold OK for 3 seconds to clear. |
| 88 88 | Communication fault, often after a power outage | Breaker off 60 seconds, then restart. |
| PC ER / PC CH | Communication error between boards | Breaker off and on; repeats usually mean a door wiring harness. |
| 84C | Meaning varies by model — sources give different definitions | Model-specific: a technician visit is needed to find the exact cause. |
| Code | What it means | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| OF OF / O FF | Cooling Off (showroom/demo) mode — lights work, no cooling | Hold the top two or three buttons on the left of the panel for 5–8 seconds until it chimes. |
| All icons flashing | Self-diagnosis after a power event | Normal; wait for it to finish. |
| AP | Wi-Fi access point during SmartThings setup | Finish setup; it clears by itself. |
Codes and their meaning can vary by model and production year, and the same code can have different causes. Where sources disagree we say so; in every case the exact cause is confirmed only by a technician's on-site diagnosis. Your owner's manual has the definitive list for your model.
Unplug the appliance (or switch off its breaker) before touching anything inside it, and never open a sealed refrigeration system, a gas valve or a microwave. If a code points to a part, the part has to be tested before it is replaced; we do that on the $75 diagnostic visit, credited toward the repair.
Switch it off at the breaker or unplug it for 60 seconds. If the code comes back, the fault is still there.
Warm, humid air froze the fan. A full defrost with the doors open for a few hours usually clears it; if it returns, the defrost system needs repair.
No. It's the showroom Cooling Off mode; holding the top buttons for 5–8 seconds turns cooling back on.
Yes, across Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City, usually the same or next day.
Sources: Samsung US: refrigerator error codes.
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Call (702) 744-2944 or book online. The in-home diagnostic is $75 and is credited toward the repair. We serve the whole Las Vegas Valley.
A 38-year-old Sub-Zero 500 Series freezer most companies would have written off: we replaced the compressor, evaporator, heat exchanger and drier with OEM parts and retrofitted it from R12 to a modern refrigerant.
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