A dishwasher door that won’t close is a real hassle. It causes leaks, interrupts the cycle, or prevents you from starting one at all.
So why won’t your Samsung dishwasher door close and how do you fix it? Let’s jump right in.
Why won’t your Samsung dishwasher door close?
Your Samsung dishwasher door won’t close because it’s blocked, the AutoRelease function is on, or the door is misaligned or has damaged parts.
To fix this, reload the items on both racks and push them all the way in. Check the door for damaged parts and make sure it isn’t stuck against the cabinetry.
If these don’t resolve the issue, try the following methods:
- Turn off the AutoRelease feature.
- Realign your dishwasher door.
- Inspect the door hinge for damage and replace it if necessary.
- Realign, clean, and spray the door latch with lubricant.
If you need more guidance on how to perform these steps, continue reading below for more detailed instructions.
Important note: Unplug your dishwasher or turn the circuit breaker switch off before you perform any repairs to avoid electrocution. Press the power button — it shouldn’t light up to make sure that there is no residual power left.
Causes and Solution
There are 5 possible causes of your Samsung dishwasher door not closing correctly.
- The racks are obstructing the door.
- The AutoRelease feature is on.
- The door isn’t aligned correctly.
- The door latch mechanism is damaged.
- The door hinge is faulty.
Here’s a quick overview of how to troubleshoot each error.
| Causes | Solution |
| Protruding Racks | Remove all the items on the lower and top racks and load them correctly. Make sure that no item is obstructing the racks from being pushed all the way inside the tub. |
| AutoRelease is On | Turn off the AutoRelease feature. You can do this by rebooting your dishwasher. Unplug the appliance for 5 minutes and turn it back on again. |
| Misaligned or Stuck Door | Inspect all the edges of the door as you close it. Make sure that no side is stuck or hit against the cabinetry. Re-align the dishwasher door if it has come off one of its hinges. |
| Faulty Door Latch | Verify that the door latch is in the right position and undamaged. Also, check that the striker plate has no clogs or bents. Replace the door latch mechanism if it’s damaged. |
| Damaged Door Hinge | Inspect the door’s hinge for damages. Replace it if necessary. |
Let’s take a closer look at these causes and the troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve them.
Protruding Racks
One of the likeliest causes of your dishwasher door not closing, is that it is being obstructed by one or both of the dishwasher racks.
This can be caused by improperly loaded dishes such as pot handles, knives, or ladles that are sticking out. Damaged, rusty, or bent racks can also cause this issue.
If the lower or upper rack isn’t pushed all the way inside the tub, this will prevent the dishwasher door from closing properly.
Solution: Remove all the items on your dishwasher racks and pull the racks out for inspection. Look for any rust, breaks, or bends that may cause them to stop midway along the tracks.
Clean both racks and try to scrub off all rusts. Reattach all broken tines and repaint the scrubbed areas using vinyl paint.
Reload all the dishes on the racks and make sure that there are no items sticking out that could become an obstruction.
Load larger items on the top rack and the smaller items on the bottom. Use the baskets for spoons, forks, and cutleries, and then push the racks all the way inside the tub.
Also, adjust the leveling legs and make sure that your dishwasher isn’t tilting forward. This is to prevent the racks from sliding off their tracks and pushing the door open.
AutoRelease is On
The AutoRelease function is a feature available on newer Samsung dishwasher models. It automatically opens your dishwasher door at the end of a cycle to improve its drying performance.
This feature uses extended rods to open your dishwasher door. When this happens, the door won’t be closed for a few minutes until the AutoRelease function is turned off.
Take note that this setting turns on by default. If you are not aware of this, your dishwasher door opening by itself may come as a surprise.
Solution: To turn off the AutoRelease feature, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Enter the settings menu by pressing and holding the Lower Sanitize and Hi-Temp Wash Delay Start buttons until a U0 or U1 code appears on the display.
- Step 2: Press the Sanitize button repeatedly until the display shows an A0 or A1code.
- Step 3: Choose A0 to disable the AutoRelease function.
- Step 4: Press the power button to save your Settings.
You can also restart your dishwasher to forcibly stop the AutoRelease function. Do not close the door while it is on or you will damage the rods or the dishwasher door.
However, remember that restarting your dishwasher will only temporarily stop the feature. Follow the steps above if you want to permanently disable it.
Misaligned or Stuck Door
Another possible reason your dishwasher door won’t fully close is that it’s misaligned.
Oversight during a previous repair or mishandling during transport has likely caused the door to come off one or more of its hinges.
Another likely cause of a stuck door is an obstruction from the cabinetry.
If any part of the cabinet housing is crooked or has an unremoved screw, this could prevent the dishwasher door from fully closing.
Solution: First, inspect the cabinetry for any signs of obstructions. This could be a piece of nail or screw, or wood elements protruding on the side of the cabinet.
Also, see if the dishwasher door looks crooked or tilted to one side. If the door has come off one of its hinges, follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Unplug your dishwasher from the outlet.
- Step 2: Open the door slightly to around 15 degrees from the tub.
- Step 3: Slowly lift the door and reseat it back on both hinges.
- Step 4: Wait for the clicking sound indicating that the door has been placed correctly.
- Step 5: Test your dishwasher door by opening and closing it. Repeat the seats above if necessary.
Faulty Door Latch
The latch mechanism keeps your dishwasher door closed and locks it in place to prevent the water from leaking.
It also triggers the safety switch so the dishwasher knows that its door is closed. This stops it from performing any cycle while the door is open.
However, if the door latch is deformed or damaged, it won’t be able to hold the dishwasher door closed.
Solution: Here are a few steps you can take to ensure that the door latch is working properly.
- Step 1: Verify the position of the door latch mechanism. Readjust the latch’s position if it’s misaligned.
- Step 2: Inspect the door latch for food particles or other foreign debris. Clear any clogs stuck inside the latch and test it afterward.
- Step 3: Lubricate the latch to loosen its components, allowing them to move easier.
- Step 4: Replace the door latch if the striker plate is bent or damaged.
- Step 5: Call an expert if uninstalling and replacing the latch assembly is outside your area of expertise.
Damaged Door Hinge
The last possible cause of your dishwasher door not closing is the door hinges are faulty.
The door hinge is the pivot point in opening and closing the dishwasher door. It attaches the door to the rest of the appliance and allows it to latch on the tub securely.
If the hinge is bent, loose, or broken, it could pull the dishwasher door open unintentionally.
Solution: Replace your dishwasher hinge by following the steps below:
- Step 1: Unplug your dishwasher to remove its power source.
- Step 2: Open the dishwasher door and remove the front and rear screws.
- Step 3: Use a flathead screwdriver to release the clips.
- Step 4: Remove the top lid of your dishwasher and set it aside.
- Step 5: Unthread the front and rear screws that are holding the side panel. Pull off the side panel gently and set it aside.
- Step 6: Unthread the self-tapping screws to remove the front panel of the dishwasher.
- Step 7: Remove the insulation pieces, if your model has any, and set them aside.
- Step 8: Unclip the door spring off the hinge.
- Step 9: Unthread the screws holding the door hinge.
- Step 10: Slowly close the dishwasher door to access the rest of the door hinge.
- Step 11: Remove the clip holding the door hinge with a flathead screwdriver.
- Step 12: Pull off the old door hinge. Fit the new one and clip it in place.
- Step 13: Screw the new door hinge in place and reattach everything by following the steps above in reverse.
Keeping your Samsung dishwasher doors closed is crucial to ensure that your appliance works properly. And by following the steps above, you’ll be able to prevent your dishwasher from opening its doors willy-nilly!
If some of the steps above are too technical for you, don’t hesitate to hire a professional repairman. You can also call Samsung’s Support Service for help.
