LG Washing Machine Error LE: Motor Overloaded

1. SAFETY: Unplug the washer immediately — a motor overload can generate heat inside the machine.
2. Allow the washer to rest unplugged for at least 30 minutes — the motor thermal protection needs time to reset.
3. Remove half the laundry load if the washer was full — overloading is the most common cause of LE.
4. Manually rotate the drum by hand (with power off and door open) — if it is stiff or does not turn freely, a foreign object or bearing failure is likely.
5. Check around the drum door seal for any clothing or items that may have slipped between the drum and tub.
6. Plug in, reload with a lighter load, and retry the cycle.
7. If LE returns on a normal load with a freely rotating drum, the motor or inverter board needs professional inspection.

Error LE on your LG washing machine means: The washer's drive motor has detected an overload condition and stopped to protect itself from damage. The motor is drawing more current than expected, typically because the drum is over-loaded or something is obstructing rotation. The washer's self-diagnostic system has detected this condition and paused the current cycle.

The most frequent cause is washer overloaded beyond its rated capacity — excess weight forces the motor to work far harder than designed. Work through the causes and fix steps below in order — most LG washer errors are resolved without a service call.

Many cases of LE can be resolved by the homeowner. The steps below cover the full DIY checks — if they do not resolve the error, a technician is needed.

Electronics and motor faults require professional diagnosis. A 2–3 minute power reset resolves transient faults. If the code returns after a reset, the physical component has failed and will not recover without replacement.

• Washer overloaded beyond its rated capacity — excess weight forces the motor to work far harder than designed
• Foreign object (coin, underwire bra, sock) trapped between the drum and the tub, jamming rotation
• Damaged or worn drum bearings creating mechanical resistance on the drive shaft
• Stator winding fault in the direct-drive motor
• Motor control board (inverter) fault preventing proper current regulation

• Do not restart the washer immediately after LE — the motor needs time to cool before the thermal protector resets
• Do not continue running the washer if LE recurs on normal loads — sustained overload will permanently damage the motor

LE returns after reducing load to well below capacity

• Drum does not rotate freely by hand with power disconnected

• Never exceed the washer's rated load capacity — LG front-loaders are sized by dry weight, and wet fabric is significantly heavier
• Check pockets before washing — hard objects can slip into the gap between the drum and tub