Error code · Range

Whirlpool Range C81, C82 or C83: Cooktop Overheat Shutoff

High · stop use, call now

Code: C81, C82 or C83
Appliance: Range
Brand: Whirlpool
Warranty: 30-day workmanship

What C81, C82 or C83 means

A C81, C82 or C83 on a Whirlpool freestanding or slide-in range, gas or electric (WFE525S0HS and WFG515S0ES are two examples), means the surface cooking area got too hot and the range's automatic shutoff stepped in. If the oven was running, turn it off. Owners see the code on the display, and the cooktop will not heat until it has cooled and the code is cleared. Pans left empty on a burner are a common reason for this kind of shutoff.

Common causes of C81, C82 or C83

Empty or dry pan left on a surface element
Cookware that traps heat or sits poorly on the element
Cooktop temperature sensing reading high
Control power cycle needed to clear the shutoff

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Turn off the oven if it is running, and remove any pans from the cooktop. 2. Wait five minutes for the cooktop to cool. 3. Turn the cooktop back on and see if it works. 4. If the code stays, switch the range off at the breaker for one minute and back on. 5. Watch the cooktop for one minute, then confirm it heats.

! Why to stop there

If the code returns with nothing on the cooktop, the shutoff may be reacting to something other than cookware, and we check the sensing and control
Repeated overheating can point to a failing part, so we do not keep resetting it
We tell you the price in writing before any repair

Opening a panel yourself does not automatically cancel a manufacturer warranty, but it can cause accidental damage, and some manufacturers set their own service conditions. Check your warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.

→Same appliance

Other Range codes

PUSH or PSHWhirlpool Range PUSH or PSH: Start Was Not Pressed Sabbath ModeWhirlpool Range Sabbath Mode: Why the Oven Stays On Sabbath, Sab, 5Ab, or 5A7Whirlpool Range Sabbath, Sab, 5Ab or 5A7: Canceling the Mode FEE6Whirlpool Range Code FEE6: Bake Element Circuit FEE7Whirlpool Range Code FEE7: Checking the Broil Element Circuit FEE8Whirlpool Range Code FEE8: Oven Reset, No Part Named Indicator FlashingWhirlpool Range Indicator Flashing: Stuck Key or Control Setting Indicator or Hot Light OnWhirlpool Range Hot Light On: Control Still On or Surface Hot

C81, C82 or C83C81, C82 or C83 questions

Is C81 dangerous?

The range shut itself off to protect against overheating. Do not touch hot surfaces, let the cooktop cool, and turn off any pan. If you smell gas or burning, leave the home and call for help from outside.

Why do C81, C82 and C83 share one entry?

The published guidance treats them together, with the same cool-down and reset steps, and it does not say how they differ, so we cannot honestly separate them for you.

Can a heavy pan trigger it?

Cookware that traps heat or is left dry can lead to the shutoff. Use pans that match the element size and never leave an empty one heating, even for a minute.

Book a visit

Still seeing C81, C82 or C83?

A technician diagnoses it on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.

(713) 589-6107