What FAE5 or F10E5 Means
Dishwasher: printed as "FAE5 or F10E5" to cover both control generations, this code is published with the potential cause "Diverter Leak". The step KitchenAid gives first is not a reset - it is to check for leaks under the dishwasher and make sure all water connections are secure. Only after that does it say to press the Cancel key twice and try to start a new cycle, and it closes by saying that if the error returns, schedule service. The diverter sits in the circulating water path under the tub, so a leak there puts water straight onto the cabinet base every time the pump runs.
Common Causes of FAE5 or F10E5
- A leak at the diverter or its housing inside the circulating water path
- A water connection under the machine that has worked loose
- A seal at the pump assembly that has hardened and no longer holds
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Shut the water supply to the dishwasher at its valve and cut power at the breaker or unplug it before you look at anything. Then check the floor in front of the toe kick and the cabinet base on either side for water or for the dark staining that dried-out water leaves. If it is wet, leave it off and book service. If it is dry, restore power and water, press Cancel twice as KitchenAid describes and start a new cycle, staying with the machine while it runs so you see the first sign of water if it comes.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- A leak under a built-in dishwasher runs onto the cabinet base and into the floor structure, where it is absorbed for weeks before anything shows at the surface and the repair stops being about the dishwasher.
- The diverter is inside the pump assembly below the water line, so getting to the leak means draining the machine and opening seals that have to be remade correctly.
- Running cycles to see whether the leak repeats adds water to a place it is already reaching, and the cost of finding out that way is a floor rather than a part.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.