Washing machine buttons or display not working: what our engineers find
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 110 washing machine jobs our engineers attended for this fault. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
When the buttons or display on a washing machine stop responding, engineers sometimes find there is no fault at all: the child lock has been switched on by accident, which leaves the controls ignoring every press or turn of the dial. Turning the lock off brings the machine back to life, and engineers can show you how to turn it on and off yourself.
Other times the problem is a worn or damaged part. Engineers sometimes find a cracked button housing on the front panel, a broken start button inside the control panel, a snapped programme knob, or a faulty programme selector that changes the cycle on its own. Now and then the display itself has failed, the wiring that connects the display has developed a fault, or a label behind the front panel has slipped and made the display hard to read.
An engineer will first check the machine is safe, see whether the child lock is on, and then inspect the controls, the display and its wiring before running a test cycle. If a new part is needed, such as a front panel, a knob or a control panel, it often has to be ordered and fitted at a second visit, after which the machine is tested again.
Written by our engineers from these jobs.
- Jobs attended
- 110
- Confirmed repairs
- 56
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 41%
- about 2 in 5 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £98 to £184
- including parts and VAT, from 55 repairs
No single cause has enough confirmed repairs behind it yet to show for this fault.
Error codes we see with this fault
- LG CL: Child lock is switched on.
About the price. £98 to £184 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 55 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the washing machine off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage