GE Oven Error Codes

Your GE oven flashes a code and stops working. The manual lists codes, but the words are confusing. This guide explains GE oven error codes in plain language. You will learn what each code means, what to check, and when to call for help.

First step for almost every code: reset the breaker. Turn off the breaker that feeds the oven for one full minute. Turn it back on. Many codes clear and never return. If the code comes back, the oven has a real fault. Write down the code before you reset.

GE Oven Error Codes: Quick Reference Table

Code	Meaning	First thing to try
F0 / F1	Control board fault	Breaker reset for 1 minute
F2 / F20	Oven overheated	Let cool, then reset breaker
F3	Sensor circuit open	Stop using, call for service
F4	Sensor circuit shorted	Stop using, call for service
F5	Board power problem	Check breaker and wiring
F7	Stuck key or bad panel	Press each key, then reset
F8 / F9	Door lock problem	Do not force the door

Keep this table handy. When a code appears, find it here first. Then read the section below for details.

How Error Codes Appear on Your Display

On most GE ovens, the code flashes on the display. The oven beeps. It may lock out all buttons. Some models show the code only for a few seconds. Write it down fast.

Newer GE models may prefix codes differently. F20 is the newer form of F2. The meaning is the same. Your manual lists the exact codes for your model year. Model numbers are on a label inside the oven door or behind it.

F2 and F20: Oven Overheated

F2 is the most common GE oven code. On newer models, it may show as F20. It means the oven got too hot.

The usual causes are a bad temperature sensor or a failing control board. The sensor tells the board the oven temperature. If the sensor reads wrong, the board keeps heating. The oven overheats and throws the code.

Let the oven cool completely. Reset the breaker for one minute. Try the oven again. If F2 returns, stop using the oven. An overheating oven is unsafe. Call for service.

F0 and F1: Control Board Failure

F0 means the control board has an internal fault. F1 means the board detected a problem in its own circuits. Both point to the board itself.

Try the breaker reset. If the code clears and stays away, it may have been a power surge. If it returns, the control board needs replacing.

Control boards are the most expensive oven part. Before you replace one, make sure the code is not caused by something simpler. A technician can test the board and rule out sensor or wiring problems first.

F3: Temperature Sensor Circuit Open

F3 means the sensor circuit is open. In plain words, the oven cannot read the temperature at all. The sensor or its wiring has failed.

The sensor is a thin metal rod inside the oven, usually in a back corner. Its wires run to the control board. A break anywhere in that path throws F3.

Do not use the oven until this is fixed. Without temperature readings, the oven cannot control heat safely. A technician can test the sensor with a meter in minutes. Sensors are cheap parts and quick to replace.

F7: Stuck Key or Shorted Panel

F7 means a key on the control panel is stuck or shorted. This happens often on older GE models with membrane touchpads. Grease and heat wear them out over time.

Press each button firmly, one at a time. Sometimes this frees a stuck key. Reset the breaker for one minute. If F7 returns, the touchpad or the control board needs replacing.

On some models, the touchpad and board are one unit. On others, they separate. A technician can tell which part your model uses.

Less Common Codes Worth Knowing

F4 means the sensor circuit is shorted. It is the opposite of F3. The sensor reads zero resistance. Same fix: test and replace the sensor.

F5 means the board lost power to part of its circuits. Check the breaker and the oven wiring. If power is fine, the board is failing.

F8 means a problem with the door lock circuit. This often appears during self-clean. The lock motor or its switch may have failed. Do not force the door.

F9 means the door lock circuit is stuck. Like F8, it relates to the self-clean lock system. A technician needs to check the lock motor and switches.

When a Code Means a Bigger Repair

Some codes point to simple fixes. A stuck key. A tripped breaker. But many GE oven codes mean a part has failed. The sensor, the touchpad, and the control board are the usual suspects.

If the same code returns after two resets, stop resetting. The oven is telling you something is wrong. Repeated resets will not fix a dead sensor.

Our oven repair hub covers all oven failures beyond error codes. For the full repair walkthrough on GE models, see our GE oven repair guide. If the oven will not heat at all, our oven not heating guide walks through the checks. Gas models with ignition trouble are covered in our gas oven igniter guide.

What to Tell the Technician

Write down the exact code. Note when it appears. Does it show right at startup? Only when baking? Only during self-clean? These details speed up the diagnosis.

Note anything else odd. Strange smells. Clicking sounds. The display going blank. Every detail helps the technician find the fault faster.

Do not keep using an oven that throws overheat codes. F2 and F20 mean the oven cannot control its temperature. That is a safety issue, not just an annoyance.

Getting GE oven error codes you cannot clear? Call us at +1 (888) 206-0056. Our oven repair team reads these codes every day. Find a technician near you on our locations page.