Maytag Dryer Error Code F16

The F16 error code on a Maytag stack dryer indicates a lower thermistor circuit failure. The thermistor is a temperature-sensing resistor located in the lower dryer unit of a stacked configuration. It continuously monitors air temperature inside the drum or exhaust path and sends resistance readings to the control board. The control board uses this data to regulate heating cycles and prevent overheating. When the control board detects that the resistance signal from the lower thermistor is outside the expected range, either too high, too low, or completely absent, it triggers the F16 code and may halt the drying cycle.

The most common causes of this fault involve either the thermistor itself or the wiring that connects it to the control board. Thermistors can fail internally due to heat stress, age, or manufacturing defects. When a thermistor fails, it typically presents as an open circuit (very high or infinite resistance) or a short circuit (near-zero resistance). Either condition falls outside the normal operating resistance range the board expects, triggering the fault code. Wiring harness damage, loose connectors, or corroded terminals along the thermistor circuit can produce the same symptom without the thermistor itself being defective.

Because this code is specific to the lower unit in a stack dryer configuration, diagnosis should focus on components in the lower dryer rather than the upper unit. The lower thermistor circuit is a separate sensing loop, and faults in it will not necessarily affect the upper unit's operation. A technician should inspect the thermistor connector, test the thermistor's resistance with a multimeter, and trace the harness for damage before condemning any single component.