Does Your Dishwasher Keep Stopping Mid Cycle? 6 Causes

Stuck trying to stop your dishwasher from stopping mid-cycle?

Unfortunately, this is a common issue and can be super frustrating when it happens, especially if you hate doing the dishes as much as I do.

If your dishwasher stops mid-cycle, chances are you have a damaged latch, a tripped fuse, a blown thermal fuse, or there’s a problem with the motor, control board, or vent.

But, don’t worry. With the help of this article, you’ll learn how to solve these issues.

Keep reading to fix your dishwasher!

Here’s Why Your Dishwasher Keeps Stopping Mid-Cycle

Most dishwashers start and stop multiple times whenever they drain, but if your dishwasher keeps on stopping mid-cycle, it might have a problem. Let’s go through the most common causes and their solutions, one by one.

#1 Damaged Door Latch

Similar to most home appliances, your dishwasher can only perform its function if the door is fully latched.

The door latch assembly is connected to a sensor to automatically stop the cleaning cycle whenever the door is opened to prevent water from splashing.

So, if your dishwasher stops mid-cycle, and you can’t figure out why, check whether the door is fully closed. Dishwasher doors often fail to close properly when:

• The dishes are sticking out: If that’s the case, remove and rearrange them, so the door can close. 
• The dishwasher isn’t properly installed: if your dishwasher is slightly tilting in any direction, the door will keep on hitting the cabinet and won’t close properly. Check your dishwasher to ensure it’s on a leveled surface and if not, move it to a better location. 
• Loose screws: if the screws securing your dishwasher door come loose even slightly, they tend to prevent it from closing. In this case, all you need to do is tighten the loose screws, and try closing the door again.
• The door latch is misaligned or damaged: although typically durable, banging your dishwasher’s door too hard can cause door latch misalignment. Try to reposition it and close the door.
• The door latch is damaged: like any other electrical component, a dishwasher door latch also wears out over time. If your dishwasher’s door closes, but the latch won’t activate, it’s probably faulty or just worn out. In that case, it would be best to replace the latch. Ensure you refer to your dishwasher user manual while at it, as door latches can be pretty tricky to remove and replace. 
• The strike plate is misaligned: the strike plate is the part your dishwasher’s latch goes into when you close the door. Similar to the latch, it can also get misaligned when you consistently bang the dishwasher door too hard. Strike plates rarely get damaged, so the only fix here would be to loosen the screws, and reposition it. 
• Worn-out or damaged dishwasher door seal: the door gasket is the rubber fit around your dishwasher’s door. It provides a watertight seal and when it’s worn out, ripped, or damaged in any way prevents the door from shutting tight. Inspect it for damage and if you notice any, have it replaced to fix the problem.    

#2 A Tripped Fuse

As you may already know, a home’s circuit breaker will automatically trip when a single appliance is consuming too much energy to prevent potential electrical fires.

So, if the door seems to be in perfect working condition and your dishwasher has never stopped like this before, the issue might be just a tripped fuse. Fixing it is as simple as resetting the breaker. 

To confirm whether your dishwasher stopped due to a tripped breaker, check whether your dishwasher status indicator lights are on, or try powering other appliances in your kitchen. 

While at it, note, although a tripped fuse is easy to fix, if it keeps on tripping it might damage your dishwasher and other home appliances. Consider reducing the loan on that circuit by unplugging other appliances, or have your home’s wiring inspected if it occurs again. 

#3 Blown Thermal Fuse

Most modern dishwashers feature a thermal fuse to protect them from overheating, however it’s typically part of the control board or power filter board. Especially on Samsung, LG, Bosch & other dishwashers.

Unfortunately, the repair for this is a little beyond a DIY job. Our Appliance Expert recommends that, after you’ve gone through troubleshooting for the other aspects of this guide, if you think this could be the issue then contact a pro for help.

#4 Motor Issues 

During cleaning cycles, the dishwater motor facilitates most of the action by spinning the spraying arms.

A damaged motor usually fails to produce enough water pressure, causing the dishwasher to stop during the cleaning cycle. Faulty dishwasher motors are usually a result of excess soap buildup or problems with the circulation pump. 

If nothing is done, the motor will deteriorate over time and may cause seal damage resulting in water leaks. It’ll also fail altogether. Replacing it is the most efficient way to solve the problem. 

Unfortunately, based on expert advice this is another issue that can’t typically be solved by a DIY job! It’s already a large and tricky job for a qualified technician. Again, if you believe this to be the issue, please contact a pro.

We recommend asking for a quote upfront. Often with dishwashers, the price of a complex repair may be almost as much as buying yourself a brand new dishwasher.

#5 Problems with the Control Board 

A damaged control board will often cause your dishwasher to stop mid-cycle since it stops sending the required signals.

Similar to most defective dishwasher machine components, the best way to fix the issue is by replacing the control board. I recommend checking your dishwasher manual and calling a professional to do it.

#6 Vent and Fan Issues

The vent and fan keep your dishwasher running at peak performance by forcing hot air out during the drying process.

But when the fan fails, the air is accumulated, preventing dishes from drying and causing your dishwasher to stop mid-cycle. The control panel will also go blank. Replacing the vent and fan assembly is the recommended fix. 

Dishwasher Maintenance Tips 

The key to preventing problems such as the dishwasher stopping mid-cycle is proper maintenance. That said, here are a few maintenance tips to keep your dishwasher running at peak performance:

Clean the Edges, Door and Gasket Regularly 

Sometimes your door latch assembly not closing properly can be a result of food gunk accumulating around the edges and on the rubber gasket. 

To prevent your dishwasher from stopping mid-cycle due to door latch assembly issues caused by accumulated food gunk try to regularly clean the inside edges of its door, as well as the gasket. 

Use an old toothbrush to loosen up the gunk and then give it a wipe-down using hot water and a vinegar solution. 

Use It Regularly 

If you live alone and barely cook, you probably use your dishwasher countable times a month. Even so, try to run the self-cleaning cycle or cook and do the dishes more often, using your running dishwasher cycles regularly helps keep your motor and other mechanical parts such as the pump working properly.

This, in turn, prevents dishwasher mid-cycle stops due to a motor or mechanical issues. 

Regularly Inspect and Clean Dishwasher Spinning Arms 

Your dishwasher’s spinning arms are the reason why your dishes come out squeaky clean.

But, similar to most parts of a dishwasher, they can also accumulate food gunk which over time, can lead to clogging. Inspect them at least once a month, and remove food buildup using a toothbrush or a piece of wire.

While at it, test them to ensure they’re spinning properly. 

Don’t Forget to Clean the Filter 

While cleaning your dishwasher, don’t forget to clean the filter. It prevents food debris from getting into the drainage, and failure to clean it regularly can leave your dishwasher with unpleasant smells.

Every once a month, take it out, and thoroughly clean it using a water and vinegar solution. The vinegar will not only easily loosen the dirt, but it’ll also eliminate any odors it might have accumulated.  Powdered lemonade is also another excellent option. 

Call in a Professional 

Every once a year, call in a professional dishwasher expert and let him/her inspect your dishwasher. This is the easiest way to catch and fix minor problems before they blow up into costly repair problems. 

Conclusion 

A dishwasher stopping mid-cycle is annoying and frustrating, to say the least. On the bright side, it’s a problem you can easily solve yourself by trying out the above fixes. 

If all else has failed, make sure to also consult your dishwasher’s manual for more troubleshooting issues. If you’ve lost it, don’t worry! You can often find it online by searching “Dishwasher [Brand + Model #] Manual PDF” online.

I hope this article has helped you today. If it has, please explore our other articles for more money and stress-saving guides!