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Samsung dishwasher won't turn off: what it means and what to check

The machine may keep humming after the cycle, the display may stay lit, or a light such as Normal may blink. This page helps you tell a normal display delay from a dishwasher stuck in drain or leak protection.

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Straight answer

A Samsung dishwasher that won't turn off is often in leak or flood protection, so the drain pump keeps running and the lights may stay on. The common cause is moisture reaching the leak sensor in the base. On models with a foam float, water in the base pan can lift that float and trigger the fault.

Check these first

Safe to do yourself. Unplug the appliance before you start.

  1. Check whether Sanitize was used

    If Sanitize was selected, the display can stay on until the door is opened, then remain lit for 10 minutes. Press Power if you only need the display off.

  2. Look for blinking lights or an error code

    A leak fault can make the dishwasher drain over and over. Note which lights blink before resetting it, since a reset can erase useful clues.

  3. Look for water you can see

    Check the floor at the front corners, under the sink where the drain hose connects, and around the door bottom. Do not pull the dishwasher from the cabinet if it's hardwired or tight in place.

  4. Make sure Start wasn't held too long

    On many Samsung dishwashers, holding Start for more than 3 seconds cancels the cycle and starts a drain. A blinking “1” on the display can point to this cancel-drain mode.

  5. Reset power once

    Turn the dishwasher off at the breaker for 30 seconds, then restore power. If the pump starts right away with no cycle selected, treat it like a leak sensor or control fault.

Dishwasher tub with the filter in the floor under the lower spray arm and the drain hose to the sinkFilter (twists out)Lower spray armDisposal or air gapDrain hose
The filter sits in the tub floor under the lower spray arm. Water leaves through the drain hose to the disposal or an air gap at the sink.
When it's a repair

A technician usually looks for a leak or overflow first: loose drain connection, suds overflow, clogged drain path, misaligned or damaged door seal, or water in the base pan. If the pan is wet, the repair is finding why it got wet, then drying the sensor or float area and confirming the leak signal clears. If the pan is dry yet the unit still acts wet, the next checks are the leak sensor or float switch, its wiring, and then the main control board. The door control moves up the list only when buttons act stuck or won't respond. The unit is a poor repair candidate when it is older, builder-grade, has cabinet damage from long leaks, or needs a main board plus a door control with parts that are hard to source.

Error code lists

Every Samsung dishwasher error code in one table, with what each means and what to check first →

Have the model number ready

The company will ask for it first. It's on a sticker or metal plate, usually in one of these spots:

Where the model tag usually is on a dishwasher12
  1. Open the door: on the left or right edge of the tub or door
  2. Some models: on the top edge of the door
Worth knowing

Conditions that make this more likely

The house drain can be the real problem

Older homes often have narrow or partly blocked standpipes and drain lines. If the machine's own filter and hose are clear, the house drain is the next suspect, and that's a plumbing call rather than an appliance call.

Boards fail earlier in hot rooms

Electronics are rated for room temperature. In a garage or an unconditioned laundry room in summer, a control board can sit well above that for hours a day. Before replacing a board, a good technician confirms the parts it controls test good, since a shorted pump or valve can take out a new board too.

What a technician tests

Most likely part first. These are for a technician with a meter and the tech sheet, not a weekend project.

PartHow it's tested
Leak sensor or base pan floatThe technician inspects the lower pan for water and checks the leak sensor or foam float, if that model uses one. The tell is water in the pan, a raised float puck, or a leak/blinking-light fault that clears only after the pan is dried.
Drain path and overflow sourceThe technician clears the sump, drain hose, air gap, or disposal inlet, then looks for suds marks in the tub base. Excess suds or a blocked outlet can overflow into the pan; after cleanup, a repeat leak points to a real seal or hose leak.
Drain pump circuitIn flood mode, the control may keep the drain pump powered on purpose. With the leak input cleared, power still being sent to the pump points toward a stuck relay or main control fault.
Control button interfaceIf the unit responds to some touches yet ignores others, the door control is inspected for moisture or corrosion behind the buttons. Stuck-button patterns, such as certain blinking-light combinations, move this part ahead of the main board.
Door latch switchThe latch should close cleanly, and its switch should change continuity as the latch moves. A bent strike, broken latch, or switch that doesn't change state can cause odd start or pause behavior.

Don't see your symptom?

Describe it on the phone. The company on the other end works on these every day and will know what to ask.

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LESamsung dishwasher code LE: what it means and how to fix it

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Common questions about appliance repair

Can I reset a Samsung dishwasher that won't turn off?

Yes, once. Turn power off at the breaker for 30 seconds, then restore it, but write down any blinking lights first.

Why is only the Normal light blinking while the pump runs?

If Normal is the only blinking light on many Samsung models, that points to moisture at the leak sensor. With the pump running, the dishwasher is usually trying to drain because leak protection says moisture is present.

Does Sanitize mode mean the dishwasher is broken?

No. After a Sanitize cycle, the display may stay lit until you open the door, then remain on for 10 more minutes.

What if the dishwasher is still under warranty?

Check your purchase date and Samsung warranty status before approving a repair. If the dishwasher was installed recently, have the installer check the setup because installation moisture or drain routing can trigger leak protection.

Should I keep using it if it won't shut off?

If the pump runs continuously or you see water, shut off power at the breaker and arrange diagnosis. If it was only the Sanitize display delay, normal use can resume after the display times out.

Still showing the problem after the checks?

Call and describe what you tried. You'll be connected with an independent repair company near you.

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