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ANY MAKEFRIDGE

Any make · Fridge or freezer

E4 error code on a fridge or freezer

Defrost sensor failure

The fridge can't run its defrost cycle properly, so ice builds up.

Also shown as E04

What to check

Worth repairing?

Worth fixing

Left alone, the ice eventually kills the cooling, and then you lose the food as well.

Can you do it yourself?

Moderate

Most of a day, mostly waiting

Before you start

  • Unplug it before you touch anything inside.
  • Keep an eye on food temperatures until it's fixed.

What to check, in order

  1. Defrost it by hand

    Empty it and leave it switched off with the doors open. Allow most of a day.

  2. Test the defrost sensor

    And replace it if it has failed.

When to call an engineer

If you'd rather not test and replace the sensor yourself.

About this code

Unbranded and less common appliances don't publish one shared code list, so this page gives the most common meaning across makers. Your manual is the final word, and the model number that finds it is on a label inside the fridge, usually on a side wall, or on the back.

Last reviewed September 2026.

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