ANY MAKEOVEN

Any make · Oven

F3 error code on an oven

Not reaching temperature

The oven is reading a lower temperature than it should, so it either never gets hot enough or keeps running.

Also shown as F03

Worth repairing?

Worth fixing

The sensor and the element are both affordable next to a new oven.

Can you do it yourself?

Moderate

Needs a multimeter

Before you start

  • Unplug it before you touch anything inside.
  • Gas oven: leave anything beyond the basics to a registered engineer.

What to check, in order

  1. Test the temperature sensor

    And replace it if it's faulty.

  2. Then the element

    If the sensor tests fine, the heating element may be failing.

When to call an engineer

For a gas oven, or if you'd rather not use a multimeter.

Parts people end up buying

Only if the checks above point to a part. Match it to your model number first: it's on a label around the oven door frame or on the back.

Affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. It never changes a verdict.

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 around the oven door frame or on the back.

Last reviewed September 2026.

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