Washing Machine Door Not Locking? (this is why)

Of all of our household appliances, the washing machine probably get’s used the most. Over time components wear and begin to fail, unfortunately there’s often little or no warning that something is wrong. The first we know of it is when whatever it is fails to do what it’s supposed to.

If the washing machine door will not stay shut, it means the machine won’t function at all. This is due to a safety feature to save the floor from becoming soaked with washing water. There are a number of reasons for the lock to fail including; The door becoming bent slightly out of shape, wear and tear of the rubber or plastic seal and the latch inside the machine moving.

Another reason the door won’t stay shut could be the machine is sited in an unlevel position. This can cause the door to move due to vibration when the machine is in operation. 

What To Check If The Washing Machine Door Won’t Lock

If the door won’t lock into the closed position look for the following;

• Are there any clothes or material trapped in the hatch area?
• Is the locking hook bent or damaged?
• Is the rubber seal connected securely all round the door?
• Is the locking plate (shoe) fixed correctly?
• Is the hatch loose and sagging?
• Is the metal rod missing from the locking latch?

If any of the above have been answered with a yes, that is probably the cause of your problem. Fix this fault and the machine will function correctly again. If you answered no to all of the above, it’s time to consider if any of the following applies;

Broken Door Strike 

If the door strike is broken, it cannot be repaired and will need replacing. If you are not confident or competent enough to replace the door strike, you’ll need to call an engineer to solve it.

Door Lock Broken

If after inspecting the door lock you discover it is broken, this will need to be replaced before the door will stay closed and the machine can operate. Call an engineer to replace the door lock.

Faulty Door Lock Motor 

The machine will not start until the door is locked. If the door lock motor is faulty it will need replacing by a qualified expert.

A Faulty Control Panel

These usually consist of circuit boards that unfortunately wear out or get damaged over time. If the problem is linked to a faulty control panel it needs to be repaired by a qualified electrical engineer.

Frequently Asked Questions