Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes and Fixes

Quick answer: Most Bosch dishwasher codes point to water: E24 and E25 mean the machine is not draining, E15 means water has reached the base, and E16 to E18 relate to filling. Many clear once you clean the filter or fix a kinked hose, but heater, pump and control faults need a technician.

On Bosch models with a display, the code appears in the control panel window, usually on the top edge of the door. Models without a display flag faults with flashing lights instead. Bosch has changed its code list over the years, so the same code can mean slightly different things on different model series; the meanings below are what Bosch lists for many current models. Before anything else, try a reset: switch the dishwasher off at the circuit breaker for 30 seconds, then turn it back on. If the code comes back, work through the steps for that code.

Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes list

E09 / E20

On many models, a fault with the heater built into the circulation (heat) pump.

Common causes: Failed heater element in the pump, wiring or control fault.

What you can try: Reset at the breaker for 30 seconds and run a short cycle.

Call a technician if: The code returns or dishes come out cold and wet.

E12

Limescale build-up in the heat pump.

Common causes: Hard water and no softener salt or descaling.

What you can try: Run a cycle with a dishwasher descaler. If your model has a water softener, keep the salt topped up.

Call a technician if: The code persists after descaling.

E14

Flow meter failure or a water inflow problem.

Common causes: Faulty flow meter, partly closed supply valve, low water pressure.

What you can try: Make sure the shutoff valve under the sink is fully open, then reset.

Call a technician if: Water supply is fine and the code keeps appearing.

E15

Water detected in the base; the leak protection system has switched on.

Common causes: A leak from a hose, seal, pump or the tub; heavy sudsing from the wrong detergent.

What you can try: Turn off the water supply and the breaker. Use only dishwasher detergent going forward.

Call a technician if: Right away. Water in the base means something is leaking and should be found before the next cycle.

E16 / E17

Water may not be entering the dishwasher correctly.

Common causes: Kinked or damaged inlet hose, closed valve, inlet valve fault.

What you can try: Check the inlet hose behind the kick plate area for kinks you can see without removing panels, and confirm the valve is open.

Call a technician if: The hose and valve look fine and the code returns.

E18

Water level too low, or water is not being pumped correctly.

Common causes: Low water pressure, kinked inlet hose, closed supply valve.

What you can try: Confirm the water is on and that the hose is not pinched, then restart the cycle.

Call a technician if: It fills slowly or not at all after those checks.

E21

The heat pump is blocked.

Common causes: Debris or a seized pump motor.

What you can try: Reset at the breaker and clean the filters.

Call a technician if: The code comes back after a reset.

E22

The filter is blocked.

Common causes: Food soil, labels, glass or seeds caught in the filter.

What you can try: Twist out the filter, rinse it under running water with a soft brush and mild soap, and lock it back in place.

Call a technician if: The filter is clean and the code still shows.

E23

Drain pump blocked, clogged or faulty.

Common causes: Debris in the pump or a failed pump motor.

What you can try: Clean the filter and check that the sink drain and disposer are clear.

Call a technician if: Water still sits in the tub or the pump hums without draining.

E24

Poor draining, often from a blocked drain filter or drain path.

Common causes: Clogged filter, kinked drain hose, disposer knockout plug left in, loose pump cover.

What you can try: Clean the filter, check the drain hose for kinks, and if the dishwasher drains into a new garbage disposer, make sure the knockout plug was removed.

Call a technician if: The code returns with a clean filter and a clear disposer.

E25

The drain pump is blocked or its cover is loose.

Common causes: Glass, bones or pits trapped under the pump cover.

What you can try: With power off, remove the filter, unclip the small pump cover underneath, and clear debris and standing water. Watch for sharp pieces.

Call a technician if: The cover is clear and the pump still will not drain.

E27

Household supply voltage is too low.

Common causes: A weak circuit or a wiring problem in the home.

What you can try: Reset at the breaker.

Call a technician if: It recurs. Have an electrician check the circuit before calling for dishwasher repair.

How to clear the code

Bosch's own advice for most codes is a power reset: turn the dishwasher off at the circuit breaker, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. This clears a code that was triggered by a power blip, but it does not fix a real fault. If the same code returns on the next cycle, the problem is still there.

For E15, shut the water off before you reset.
For E22, E24 and E25, clean the filter before you reset, or the code will simply come back.
A display showing H01, H02 and so on is not a fault. It is the delay-start timer counting down.

Newer four-digit Bosch codes

Some recent Bosch dishwashers show longer codes. Bosch lists them as equivalents of the older ones: for example, E3100 matches E15 (water in the base), E6102 matches E25 (pump blocked), E6103 matches E24 (drain filter blocked) and E9240 matches E22 (filter blocked). If your display shows a four-digit code, the same first steps apply.

When a Bosch code needs a technician

Drain and filter codes are usually something you can sort out in a few minutes. Heater, pump, flow meter and control codes are different, because the parts sit behind panels and involve live wiring. Mr. Fixer technicians repair Bosch dishwashers across Metro Atlanta and carry common parts on the truck. Book online or call (678) 866-3669, and see our Bosch repair page for the other Bosch appliances we fix.

Code still showing?

Our technicians repair Bosch dishwashers across Metro Atlanta, usually the same day. Diagnostic from $80, credited toward your repair.

Call (678) 866-3669

FAQs

Why does my Bosch dishwasher keep showing E15?

E15 means water has collected in the base and the anti-flood system has stopped the cycle. Turn off the water and power, and avoid running it again until the leak is found. Common sources are a loose hose, a worn seal or using hand dish soap instead of dishwasher detergent.

Is E24 the same as E25 on a Bosch?

Both are drain codes. On many models E24 points to a blocked filter or drain path, while E25 points to the drain pump itself being blocked or its cover being loose. Start by cleaning the filter for either one.

Can I keep using the dishwasher with an error code showing?

For drain codes, clear the blockage first or the tub will keep holding dirty water. For E15 or any heater or electrical fault, stop using it and get it checked.

Codes and meanings vary by model and model year. Check your owner's manual for your exact model.

Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes: What They Mean and How to Fix Them