GE Oven F2 Code: Meaning & Fixes
- Meaning
- Oven overheat: the oven temperature has exceeded a preset limit, or the sensor reported that it did.
- Can I fix it?
- No, call a technician
- Also shown as
- F20
- Seen on
- Many GE, GE Profile and Hotpoint ranges and wall ovens with electronic controls. GE also lists this fault as F20.
GE’s guidance for F2 is direct: switch the oven off at the circuit breaker and leave it off until it has been serviced. The usual culprit is the oven temperature sensor, a thin probe at the back of the oven, which you can test yourself with the power off. A stuck relay on the control board is another possible cause.
Try this first
- Turn the oven off and let it cool down completely with the door closed.
- Switch the oven off at the breaker for one minute, then back on.
- If F2 appeared during self-clean, wait until the door unlocks on its own before you try again.
- If the oven keeps heating with the control turned off, leave the breaker off and call a technician.
What causes F2
| Cause | What you notice | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Faulty oven temperature sensor | F2 soon after you turn the oven on, even when it's cold | The sensor can be tested with a multimeter |
| Loose sensor connection | F2 comes and goes | The plug behind the sensor at the back of the oven |
| Stuck relay on the control board (another possible cause) | Oven keeps heating with the control off | Needs a technician |
| Wrong sensor reading during self-clean | F2 only during a cleaning cycle | Needs a technician if it repeats |
Fix it step by step
Tap a step number to tick it off as you go. Ticks stay on this device.
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Cut the power
Turn the oven off at the circuit breaker and let it cool for at least an hour.
Safety: If the oven was heating with the control off, don't turn the breaker back on until a technician has looked at it. On a gas range, if you smell gas, don't touch any switches. Leave the house and call your gas utility from outside.
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Find the sensor
Open the oven door and look at the upper back wall. On most models the sensor is a thin metal rod held by two screws. Check that it isn't bent or touching the wall.
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Check the connection
With the breaker still off, remove the two screws and pull the sensor gently forward a few inches. Make sure the plug on its wire is pushed firmly together, then refit the sensor.
Safety: Don't pull hard. On some models the plug sits behind the oven and can't be reached from inside; if so, stop and call a technician.
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Test the sensor if you have a meter
Unplug the sensor and measure resistance across its two pins. A working sensor reads about 1,100 ohms at room temperature. A reading far from that, or no reading at all, means it needs replacing.
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Restore power and test
Turn the breaker back on, set the oven to 350°F and watch it for the first ten minutes. If F2 returns, stop using the oven.
When to call a technician
Call a technician if F2 comes back after the sensor checks out, if the oven heats with the control turned off, or if F2 shows up during self-clean more than once. Those point to the control board or the door lock, and an oven that overheats is a fire risk.
Questions people ask
Is it safe to use my GE oven after an F2 code?
GE recommends leaving the oven off at the breaker until it has been checked. If the code clears after a reset and never returns, watch the oven closely the next few times you use it. If F2 returns, stop using it.
Can I replace the temperature sensor myself?
On most GE ovens, yes. It's held by two screws inside the oven and connects with a plug. Order the part that matches your model number, which is on a label around the oven door frame or in the storage drawer.
Why did F2 show up during self-clean?
Self-clean runs very hot. If the sensor reads wrong, the control can shut down with F2. If it happens again, have the oven checked.