Bosch dishwasher error codes: what each one means

Bosch dishwasher error codes tell you which part of the machine has stopped a cycle, and most of the common ones point to water that can't get in or can't get out. E24 and E25 mean a drain blockage, E15 means water has reached the base pan, and E16 to E18 mean a water supply problem. Many of these you can clear yourself by cleaning the filter, checking the hoses and resetting the power. Codes linked to the heater, heat pump or control board usually need a technician from our dishwasher repair team or from Bosch.

Every meaning below comes from Bosch's own support pages. Where our job records add something useful, we say so, and where we have no local data for a code, we say that too.

Key Takeaways

• The codes we see most on Bosch dishwashers are drain codes: E24, E25 and E23.
• On our service calls, most Bosch drain codes cleared once the filter, pump cover and drain hose were cleaned. The drain pump only needed replacing when it tested weak or the code came back.
• E15 means water in the base. Bosch says to turn off the water and contact support.
• To reset a Bosch dishwasher, Bosch says to switch it off, wait about a minute, switch it back on and run a short empty cycle.
• Electronic, heater and heat pump codes (E01 to E07, E09, E10, E19 to E21) need a technician if a power reset doesn't clear them.

Bosch dishwasher error codes at a glance

Find your code in this table first. Bosch lists a short code such as E24 and, for some models, a four-digit version such as E6103. Both are shown where Bosch gives both.

The meanings come from Bosch's dishwasher error code page. We couldn't find a separate Bosch Canada list, so we use the North American one. The less common electronic codes are in a second table further down.

Drain error codes: E24, E25, E23 and E22

Drain codes are the Bosch codes we see most, and they are the ones most worth trying yourself. Before you touch the filter or pump cover, switch the dishwasher off. If there's standing water, scoop it out with a cup and a sponge. Our guide to a dishwasher not draining covers the garburator, air gap and high loop in more detail.

E24 error: drain filter blocked

Bosch says E24 means "the dishwasher is not draining properly due to the drain filter being blocked." Bosch also lists a blocked drain hose as a cause.

1. Take out the lower rack, twist the filter out and wash it.
2. Bosch says the pump cover under the filter "may be loose". Make sure it's seated.
3. Check that the drain hose under the sink isn't kinked.
4. If a new garburator went in, Bosch says to "ensure that the plug is removed from the disposer's dishwasher drain connection."

On our service calls, E24 has been a clogged drain system, glass and plastic in the drain pump, and food in the filter with glass in the hose. Broken glass turns up often: we've found it in the drain pump or hose on 14 BC dishwasher jobs.

E25 error: drain pump blocked or pump cover loose

E25 means "The drain pump is blocked or the drain pump cover is loose or missing." Bosch's fix is to remove the filter, find the small pump cover underneath and "pry off the pump cover with a spoon until it clicks." Lift it out, clear any debris and water, then push it back until it clicks into place. Go carefully, because Bosch warns some of the debris may be sharp.

Most of the six Bosch E24 and E25 calls in our records were fixed by cleaning the filter, pump, hose or sink connection, with no parts. We replaced the drain pump only when it tested weak or the fault came back after cleaning.

E23 error: drain pump issue

E23 is "an issue with the drain pump", according to Bosch, and it happens "when the drain pump is blocked, clogged, or faulty." The official advice is to contact support. It's still worth doing the E25 pump cover check first, since a blockage can cause it.

On our calls, E23 has been a failed drain pump, a clogged hose with a weak pump, and once just a blocked drain pipe under the sink.

E22 error: dishwasher filter blocked

Bosch says E22 means "the dishwasher filter is blocked." The fix is to "Wash it under running water with mild soap and a soft brush to remove debris then reinstall." Bosch says the filter "needs to be cleaned regularly" but doesn't give an interval. Our dishwasher cleaning guide walks through the filter and spray arms.

We have no BC job data for E22. None of our recorded Bosch jobs showed this code, so this section goes by Bosch's description alone.

Water supply and leak codes: E15, E14, E16, E17 and E18

These codes are about water coming in, or water ending up where it shouldn't. Check the tap under the sink first. A half-closed shut-off valve is an easy thing to miss after any plumbing work.

E15 error: water in the base of the dishwasher

Bosch says "An E15 error code indicates that the safety switch has detected water in the base of the dishwasher." Its advice is to "turn off the water inflow and contact Bosch Customer Support." On the Bosch units we open, that switch is a float in the base pan.

Turn off the water supply and the power before anything else. On the four E15 calls in our records (three Bosch, one Thermador, which uses the same codes), the fixes were drying out the base pan (twice), re-attaching a loose water inlet inside the machine, a replacement part, and correcting a poor install where too much soap was used. Some calls needed more than one fix. Excess suds can spill over into the base. If water keeps showing up, look at our guide to a leaking dishwasher.

We've also seen an E31 on Bosch units that came down to water on the float or food at the bottom door seal. E31 isn't on Bosch's North American code list, so we can't give you Bosch's meaning for it.

E14 error: flow meter or fill problem

Bosch says E14 means "a flow meter failure or an issue with water flowing into the dishwasher or the filling system." The official advice is to contact support. Check the tap is fully open and the inlet hose isn't kinked before you call.

E16 and E17 errors: water can't get in

Bosch says these mean "an issue with water flowing into the dishwasher or the filling system." Bosch's fix is to "Check the inlet hose and make sure it isn't kinked or damaged." If the hose and tap are fine, the water inlet valve is the next part to check, and that is a repair.

E18 error: low water level or poor flow

E18 means "The water level is too low, or water is not being pumped correctly," according to Bosch. Check the inlet hose and make sure the water supply is on. Bosch adds that "The water flow rate should be 10 l/min."

Heater, heat pump and power codes: E09, E20, E12 and E27

On the Bosch units we repair, the part Bosch calls the heat pump is the wash pump with the water heater built in. Bosch describes E09 and E20 as component faults, not blockages. The first step for most of them is the same: "Reset power to breaker for 30 seconds." If the code comes back, book a repair.

E09 and E20 errors: heat pump heater fault

E09 and E20 both mean "There is a heat pump internal heater fault/error." Reset the breaker once. If the code returns, Bosch says to call support. The heat pump will need testing, and it may need replacing.

We have no BC job data for E09 itself. We have one job logged as E20: the heater circuit on the heat pump had failed, and the heat pump and motor were replaced.

E12 error: limescale in the heat pump

E12 means "There is limescale build-up in the heat pump" and "The dishwasher needs to be descaled." This code is less likely here. Metro Vancouver's 2024 water quality report puts the region's treated water at about 2.5 to 22 mg/L of hardness. That's well inside the 0 to 50 mg/L band that Health Canada's hardness document calls extremely soft. None of our BC dishwasher job notes mention scale.

E27 error: house power supply too low

E27 means "The house power supply to the unit is too low." Reset the breaker for 30 seconds. If it comes back, Bosch says to "contact an electrician to check incoming voltage to the appliance." A loose or burnt connection at the dishwasher's terminal block can cause power problems too. We find those fairly often on "no power" dishwasher calls.

Bosch also lists rarer electronic error codes. For most of them, the advice is to reset power at the breaker for 30 seconds, then call Bosch or a technician if the code comes back. E04 goes straight to a support call, and H01 isn't a fault at all.

How to reset a Bosch dishwasher after an error code

Bosch says "Clearing an error code on a Bosch dishwasher can typically be done by resetting the dishwasher." Fix the cause first, or the code will come straight back.

1. Turn the dishwasher off with the power button, or switch off its breaker.
2. Wait about one minute.
3. Turn it back on.
4. Run a short cycle with no dishes to check the code has cleared.

If the dishwasher beeps and shows nothing on the display, Bosch suggests turning off the breaker for about 10 minutes. If that doesn't work, Bosch says "the control board might be damaged and could need replacement."

When to call for Bosch dishwasher repair in Vancouver

Call for service if a drain code returns after you've cleaned the filter and pump cover, if you see E15 with water in the base, or if any heater, heat pump or control board code survives a power reset. We're a warranty repairer for Bosch, so if your dishwasher is still under warranty, the repair is often billed to the brand. See our Bosch appliance repair page.

Out of warranty in Metro Vancouver, our diagnostic is a flat $100 and comes off the labour if you go ahead. Most repairs cost $225 to $300 in labour with the diagnostic included. Built-in and high-end units can run higher, because the repair starts with an uninstall. Parts are quoted before we order them. A drain pump part runs $80 to $150, and a control board $150 to $300. Our Vancouver appliance repair prices page has the full breakdown.

Repair usually makes sense on a dishwasher under 8 years old when the repair costs less than half of a new one. A new mid-range dishwasher costs about $600 to $1,200 installed.

Common questions about Bosch dishwasher error codes

What is the most common problem with a Bosch dishwasher?

Drainage. The Bosch codes we log most often are E24, E25 and E23, and most of them came down to a blockage in the filter, pump or hose. Broken glass, plastic and food are what we usually find. If your Bosch is using more power than you expect, see our piece on Bosch dishwasher energy use.

What do the warning symbols on my Bosch dishwasher mean?

Bosch says a water tap symbol "usually indicates a problem with the water supply, such as a blockage or the tap being turned off." The salt light means the salt reservoir needs refilling, on models with a water softener. The rinse aid light means the rinse aid dispenser is low. A red light on the floor means the dishwasher is running. If that light blinks, there's a problem to check. A three-beep pattern, Bosch says, "usually indicates a leak with water pooling at the base of the dishwasher."

What are the most common dishwasher error codes?

In our records, drain and leak codes come up most. On Bosch, that's E24, E25 and E23 for draining and E15 for water in the base. On Blomberg, the leak code E01 is the one we see most. Other brands use different numbers for the same faults. LG owners can check our LG dishwasher diagnostic mode guide.

What is the most common failure on a dishwasher?

A dishwasher not draining is the fault we see most. In our BC records it's the biggest single group of dishwasher calls, and about half of those were fixed by clearing the hose, pump or sump with no parts. Leaks come second.

Vancouver Appliance Service Pros repairs Bosch dishwashers across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, 8AM to 8PM, seven days a week. Call 604-265-3852 or book a visit online and tell us the code on the display.

Have a question first? Contact us about your dishwasher.

Photo: Bosch Dishwasher by Yelderberry, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped.