Seeing **tC** on a Samsung dishwasher narrows the problem to **temperature-sensor error**. What you do next depends on whether the code is an issue, a normal status/test message, or a model-dependent interpretation. Samsung uses overlapping code conventions across model years and regions. This page keeps the appliance context attached to the code so a same-looking string from another product family is not misapplied. The recorded display form is **tC**. Search normalization stores it as **TC** while preserving the characters a homeowner actually sees.
Reviewed by Ethan Mercer · Last reviewed August 17, 2026
Written by
Ethan Mercer Appliance Repair Content SpecialistPublished August 17, 2026Updated August 22, 2026Technically reviewed August 17, 2026
Content status:
Verified
Error codeTC
ApplianceDishwasher
Quick answer
Temperature-sensor error.
Model compatibility: Samsung can reuse or reformat codes across series and model years, so TC may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
Seeing **tC** on a Samsung dishwasher narrows the problem to **temperature-sensor error**. What you do next depends on whether the code is an issue, a normal status/test message, or a model-dependent interpretation. Samsung uses overlapping code conventions across model years and regions. This page keeps the appliance context attached to the code so a same-looking string from another product family is not misapplied. The recorded display form is **tC**. Search normalization stores it as **TC** while preserving the characters a homeowner actually sees.
Signs
Symptoms you may notice
Depending on the exact model, the control may stop or limit operation because a temperature reading is missing or implausible.
tC can be accompanied by this pattern: heating, cooling, drying, or defrost behavior can become inconsistent.
The tC display becomes more meaningful if the display can return at a similar stage each time the affected sensor is checked.
While tC is active, tC appears during the dishwasher function associated with temperature-sensor error.
A symptom that fits tC is that the cycle can stop, drain, fail to fill/heat, or repeat a stage.
Why it happens
Possible causes
varies by model/region — cross-region baseline — Temperature-sensor error
Before you call
Safe checks you can make
These are simple, non-hazardous checks only. If anything is unclear, stop and contact a technician.
Before opening any service area, record when the code appears and whether the appliance had just heated, cooled, or defrosted.
For tC, start by doing this: confirm vents, doors, filters, and ambient conditions are normal where they affect the sensor reading.
The next non-invasive check is to use the exact model manual before assuming the sensor itself is defective.
As an external check for tC, record the code before resetting.
Before requesting service for tC, verify water supply, drain path/filter, door, detergent/suds, and visible leaks only when relevant.
To rule out an accessible cause, if the code returns after the supported owner checks, request model-specific diagnosis.
Important safety warning. Stop use for active leakage near electrical parts, burning smell, or repeated breaker trips. Do not defeat leak or door-safety switches. If resolving tC would require energized internal access, that is the point to hand the diagnosis to a qualified technician.
Get help
When to request repair service
Persistent temperature-sensor codes usually require resistance/connection checks at the sensor, harness, and control—work best done with the model-specific service procedure. A repeatable tC event is more useful diagnostically than repeated resets, because it shows when the temperature-sensor error check is failing.
Book your repair
Seeing this code on your Samsung appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
Resetting can clear a temporary state, not a persistent issue. If **tC** comes back, preserve the code and move to the safe checks or model-specific service path.
Short owner-accessible checks may be reasonable when the appliance is safe. Persistent **tC**, worsening performance, or any electrical/water/heat hazard is a reason to stop use.
Not automatically. Samsung error codes are diagnostic indicators, not part numbers. Confirm the circuit around **tC** before replacing anything.
The same-looking code can be reused on another Samsung appliance family or reformatted by region/model year. Match the appliance type and exact model before applying a meaning. This page therefore keeps **Dishwasher tC** separate from same-looking codes used by other Samsung appliance families.
