tC, tE, and tE1 belong to temperature detection on the documented Samsung models. They differ from the heater HC/HE codes and do not justify replacing a heating element by elimination.
The association appears in the Samsung USA table. Keep the final number when there is one; do not reduce all messages to “tE.”
What to observe when it stops
Note the cycle, the selected temperature, and whether the alarm appeared while washing or drying. If the door stays locked, do not force it open or touch the glass to estimate the temperature: hot water may still be inside.
Check the recovery allowed by your model’s manual. If the message returns, stop starting new cycles to see whether it heats. A cold cycle also does not prove that the thermal circuit is in good condition.
Diagnosis may require checking the sensor, connections, and control; those measurements are performed by technical personnel. Lack of heat without a code and an HC/HE message follow a different path, so it is worth preserving exactly what appeared.
Bring the full code and the cycle in which it occurred to service, without carrying out additional temperature tests.