What AE means
The washer's control boards aren't communicating with each other properly.
Also shown as: AC, AE6, AC6, depending on the model.
Likely causes
- A temporary glitch
- Loose wiring between boards
- Board fault
Safe first checks
- Wait a few minutes; it may return to normal on its own. If not, power off for 2 to 3 minutes and restart the cycle.
When to stop
If it keeps returning, request service.
Checked against: Samsung US: Washing machine information and error codes. Codes can differ by model and year, so confirm with your owner's manual.