Whirlpool WTW500CM Common Problems & Recalls
This page covers the Whirlpool WTW500CM, a 5.3 cu ft top load washer first listed with ENERGY STAR in 2021-09. It lists the failure modes the machine is actually built to have — the parts Whirlpool publishes replacements for — plus the recall status and whether a repair is worth the money.
Recall status
No public recall record for this model. We check the CPSC recall database for the brand and model string. No record means no recall has been published for the WTW500CM — it does not mean the design is flawless. If a recall is issued later, it will appear here.
What actually fails on this machine
Whirlpool publishes 10 replacement parts for the WTW500CM. That list is the honest answer to “what goes wrong”: a part only gets a published replacement number if people are buying it. These are the categories:
| System | What you notice | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|
| Hose Clamp | Small leak at hose connection | Replace the part; check the harness and connector at the same time |
| Washplate | Poor cleaning, no agitation | Replace the part; check the harness and connector at the same time |
| Lid Lock / Latch | Washer will not start, will not spin | Replace the part; check the harness and connector at the same time |
| Impact Absorber | Washer is loud in spin | Replace the part; check the harness and connector at the same time |
| Drain Pump | Washer will not drain, standing water | Replace the part; check the harness and connector at the same time |
| Knob / Insert | Control knob will not turn | Replace the part; check the harness and connector at the same time |
| Screw / Fastener | Fastener replacement | Replace the part; check the harness and connector at the same time |
| Clutch / Splutch Kit | Washer will not spin, noisy | Replace the part; check the harness and connector at the same time |
These are the failure paths this model is provisioned for, not a count of complaints. We do not publish invented failure rates.
Error codes this family reports
Whirlpool does not publish error-code definitions for the WTW500CM in the owner's manual, so we do not list any for it. The codes below belong to the same washer platform and are documented for sibling models — treat them as indicators of what this machine may report, not as a confirmed code list.
F1E1The main control board (ACU) reported an internal faultF2E5The user interface panel and the main control board do not matchF3E1The washer cannot read the water levelF5E2The lid lock will not engageF5E3The lid lock will not releaseF6E2The user interface panel cannot talk to the main control boardF6E3Same communication failure as F6E2 — the UI and main control board are out of syncF8E1The washer is taking too long to fillF8E6The lid was left openF9E1The washer is taking too long to drainLFLong FilldrDrain problem — the washer cannot empty the drum in the time alloweddrnDrain problem, long form of the same display message as dr
Is it worth repairing?
The rule most appliance technicians use: if the repair costs more than half the price of a new machine, and the washer is over eight years old, replace it. Two specific cases change that maths.
- A shaking or noisy washer is often a levelling or installation problem, not a part. Fix that first — it costs nothing.
- A washer that will not drain is usually a blocked hose, which is also free to check.
- A control board or sealed drum failure is where the maths usually says replace the machine.
When it is a technician job, not a DIY job
Stop and call a licensed technician if any of these apply:
- The machine has a burning smell, scorch marks or a tripping breaker.
- Water has reached the control board or any mains wiring.
- The repair needs the drum, transmission or tub seal opened up.
- The appliance is gas-fired and the fault is anywhere near the gas train.
- You are not confident working with 120 V wiring while standing on a wet floor.
Sibling models with the same platform
- Whirlpool WTW6150P problems
- Whirlpool WTW6157P problems
- Whirlpool WTW7120H problems
- Whirlpool WTW8000D problems
More for the WTW500CM
How the WTW500CM differs from its closest siblings
These are the models most often confused with the WTW500CM. The differences below are computed from our own records, not copied from a marketing sheet.
vs WTW6150P
- 2 part numbers fit only this model (WPW10109200, W10754448)
- 2 part numbers fit only the WTW6150P
- 3 variants listed for the WTW6150P vs 0 here
Shared: both top load; 5.3 cu ft drum; 8 of 10 part numbers identical.
vs WTW8120H
- 3 part numbers fit only this model (W10876600, WP688805, W10754448)
- 3 part numbers fit only the WTW8120H
- 2 variants listed for the WTW8120H vs 0 here
Shared: both top load; 5.3 cu ft drum; 7 of 10 part numbers identical.
Related: the full parts list for the WTW500CM · specifications
Where this data comes from
- Recall databasehttps://www.cpsc.gov/Recallschecked 2026-10-26
- Error code definitionshttps://s3.amazonaws.com/sm-backend-production-attachments/owners-manual-w11354658-revB.pdfchecked 2026-10-26
- Replacement partshttps://www.partselect.com/Models/WTW500CM/checked 2026-10-26
3 separate sources are listed above; each field on this page traces to one of them. We publish facts we can point to — no republished manual text, no hosted PDFs, no invented model numbers or error codes.