Error code

GE dishwasher error code C3

Snap a photo — see what it is, how urgent, who to call.

One photo of the problem. fixRAgent reads it and gives you a Triage Profile.

Triage a photo now

No sign-up.

Is C3 on a GE dishwasher an emergency?

Usually not an emergency. If it smells like burning, sparks, or trips the breaker, switch it off at the breaker and leave it off until it is checked.

Take the photo. We’ll tell you what it is.

Managing this for someone else? Managers: set it up for your buildings →

Managing this for someone else? There is a version of this for whole portfolios.

Managers: set it up for your buildings →

What C3 means

“The dishwasher will not drain.”

— GE Appliances, Dishwasher - Error, Fault or Function Codes. Codes vary by model: check your dishwasher’s own manual.

Where C3 fits

In plain words, C3 is about draining — the water did not leave in the time the control allows, usually a blockage in the filter, hose or pump.

GE gives 4 other drain codes for this dishwasher: C1 (The pump out during drain has exceeded 2 minutes), C2 (The total pump out cycle exceeds 7 minutes), C5 (The pump out time is too short), F56 (Failure to drain).

Next to C3 in GE’s table: C2 (The total pump out cycle exceeds 7 minutes) and C4 (Machine filled twice after a power failure).

What to try first

  • Switch the dishwasher off at the breaker for about 30 seconds, then reset it.

Safety: If it smells like burning, sparks, or trips the breaker, switch it off at the breaker and leave it off until it is checked.

How urgent is it?

At least THIS WEEK. fixRAgent treats this code as a this-week repair: the appliance has reported a fault, but the code alone does not point at a safety hazard. This is fixRAgent’s reading, not the manufacturer’s. A photo can raise it — water near wiring, scorch marks, a gas smell — but a code never lowers what the photo shows.

Who to call

Appliance repair. Have the model and serial numbers from the label ready — a photo of the label works.

Recalls and manuals

Check whether your model is under a safety recall on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s site: cpsc.gov/Recalls. Your owner’s manual is on GE’s support site; search it with the model number from the label.