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Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes: The Ultimate Repair & Diagnostic Guide

Bosch dishwashers have a built-in diagnostic system which lets you know if there are any issues with the dishwasher, the errors it gives, can indicate if you need a replacement or a check-up.

Read Also: 5 Common Bosch Dishwasher problems

Below is a comprehensive table of Bosch dishwasher error codes. Most Bosch errors can be initially addressed by resetting the unit: turn the dishwasher off, unplug it (or flip the breaker) for 30 seconds, and then restart.

Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes Reference

CodeMeaningPotential Fix
E01Heat pump motor circuit faultPossible control board failure; reset power.
E02Heater relay faultMain control board relay error; often requires a technician.
E03Auxiliary heater relay faultCheck water inlet valve or main control board.
E04Heater electronics faultAppliance failed internal self-test; check spray arms for clogs.
E05Water switch/Diverter faultIssue with the wash arm diverter circuit or float switch.
E06Door sensor/Aqua sensor faultCheck for door latch obstructions or sensor continuity.
E07Drying fan motor faultDefective Zeolite (Crystal Dry) fan or wiring issue.
E08Low water levelWater dropped during cycle; check for overturned bowls.
E09Heating circuit faultHeating element or heat pump has failed; check continuity.
E10Zeolite heater faultSlow heating or failed Crystal Dry chamber heater.
E11NTC/Thermistor faultTemperature sensor is disconnected or defective.
E12Limescale buildupExcessive scale in the heat pump; Descale immediately.
E14Flow meter failureWater is entering, but the sensor isn’t detecting it.
E15Water in the base (Leak)Safety float activated; check for leaks or oversudsing.
E16/17Water inflow issueKinked inlet hose, clogged filter, or low water pressure.
E18Water level too lowCheck supply valve is fully open and inlet hose is clear.
E19Dispenser solenoid faultProblem with the detergent dispenser or internal valve.
E20Circulating pump faultElectrical resistance issue in the main pump motor.
E21Circulating pump blockagePump is jammed by debris (glass, seeds, or toothpicks).
E22Filter blockedSump filter is dirty or clogged; remove and clean.
E23Drain pump electrical faultIssue with the winding resistance of the drain pump.
E24/25Drain pump blockedDebris in the drain pump or the pump cover is missing/loose.
E26Diverter motor faultWater switch cannot move; check for glass in the diverter.
E27Under voltageHousehold voltage is too low for the dishwasher to operate.
E31Zeolite moisture faultMoisture trapped in the drying system; may need “air drying.”

Service Code E0

It is displayed when you entered diagnostics test mode and retrieved fault codes from memory.

Error Code E1 or E2

it is displayed when there was an issue with the temperature sensor or thermistor, in order to access the sensor you need to remove the dishwasher front cover and locate thermistor under the tub.

Error Code E3

it is displayed when the dishwasher cant fill with water.

If the dishwasher’s water supply is fully open but the dishwasher cannot fill with water then turn off the water supply and unplug the dishwasher.

Remove the water fill line and verify that the water inlet valve is connected. If so, replace the water valve.

Don’t try to clean the screen as it can make the problem worse because it can get stuck open from gunk and either flood or overfill.

Error Code E4

This error related to water flow sensor, most likely caused by calcium builds-up on the sensor wheel.

it’s just can’t spin and unable to measure how much water entering the dishwasher. In this case you just need to replace the sensor. There is no way to clean it.

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Bosch dishwasher error codes

Error Code E5

It is displayed when the dishwasher is overfilled with water, in order to check you must unplug and re-plug the dishwasher if the problem continues, check the float switch.

Error Code E6

It is displayed when there was a fault in the Aqua Sensor, the aqua sensor is responsible for detecting whenever the water is clean or dirty and controls the water turbidity.

Error Code E9

The E09 error code on a Bosch dishwasher is caused by a burnt-out heating element. The element itself might have failed, or the control board has failed and isn’t supplying the heating element with any power. In some cases, it may be caused by solder joint on the heater relay on the control board.

If the error code appears alongside the salt LED (on some models). In that case, it’s also possible that the root cause is a dirty salt sensor sending the wrong signals to the dishwasher.

Just follow this video to see how to fix it.

Error Code E15

This error code means, that your dishwasher leaking and triggered a flood sensor. It can be caused by one of the water hoses been slipped off or one of the clamps that holds these hoses got weak.

The “Tilt Fix” for E15: If you see code E15, it means water has leaked into the bottom tray. Some users resolve this by safely pulling the unit out and tilting it backward at a 45° angle to drain the tray, though you should still find the source of the leak.

Read more details to fix Error Code E15 here.

You need to pull the dishwasher out from its place and remove side panels to see where its leaking from. This video can help to identify your cause of leakage.

Error Code E22

This error is caused when there is residual water left in the sump due to blockage of the fine filter. If your Bosch dishwasher displays the E22 error code, that means the fine filter is blocked or clogged, and water cannot correctly drain out of the machine like it’s supposed to.

This error is usually caused by a clogged or calcium buildup in the drain filter. However, it can also be caused by a blocked drain hose, non-return valve, or circulation pump.

Error Code E24 or E25

If you see the error code E24 or E25 on your Bosch dishwasher, it’s because the appliance cannot drain water out of the machine. Even though both error codes point to a draining failure, each of them points to a different root cause.

E24 suggests that the drain filter is blocked, while E25 suggests that the root problem is the drain pump.

If you can hear pump running but not draining, check back valve or check valve to make sure nothing got stuck in there.

if you hear pump humming and not spinning, then drain pump impeller jammed by broken glass or bones, or something else.

Service Code H24

24 hour delay, unplug the dishwasher then press and hold the start button for around 10 seconds to reset it once turned back on

Bosch Dishwasher Troubleshooting:

Your Bosch dishwasher can run a test cycle that will quickly go through each stage of a wash program in order to find out at what point a fault is occurring.

It will only give you a general idea of where the problem is, but its a useful first step in diagnosing the issue.

The steps to start the test cycle vary depending on what model you have but the basic method is similar across the range. It might be that your dishwasher doesn’t have the same button labeling as described in the steps below.

In that case, try holding down the buttons which have similar names. After a little trial and error, you’ll find the right combination.

  • Make sure the dishwasher is switched off.
  • Press and hold the Power Scrub Plus and Regular Wash buttons
  • Turn on the dishwasher, then release the two buttons.
  • The light above each of these buttons should flash
  • Start the test cycle by pressing the Power Scrub Plus and Regular Wash buttons again
  • The test program will begin and an error code will be displayed at the end of the cycle if a fault has been detected

Fault Codes E01, E02, E03, E04, E05

Cause: The E01, E02, E03, E04, E05 faults codes mean that the dishwasher has suffered a power module failure.

The programming of replacement power modules has been locked down by Bosch, so in the event of an error code of this type, it’s recommended that you contact a Bosch approved dishwasher engineer.

Entering service test program

Controls contain codes for factory tests, customer service test programs, dishwasher configuration and error codes.

Consult test programs and error codes for your dishwasher before using the codes from this manual.

Bosch Dishwasher Service Test

While pushing (and holding) any two wash cycle buttons, turn the dishwasher on with the on/off switch.

After releasing the buttons, LED “B” will be lit and LED “C” will flash, confirming you’re in the special programs menu.

To enter the test program, push button “B” repeatedly until the digital display shows “P1” or until LED “C” is lit. Push button “C” to start the program — LED “C” will blink.

The steps will show on the digital display (e.g.”S:01″) – push button “B” to skip a step.

Stored error codes will show on the digital display and LED’s (see Error code displays). The test program can only be stopped / reset by pushing the on/off button – it can’t be done by turning off the power.

Error codes can be found using the customer service test program. Most dishwashers will show the following error codes.

For dishwashers without digital displays, the “LED’s” column will show the light displays for each error code.

Bosch Error Codes explanation

If there is more than one error code, the display shows the one with the higher priority.

Dishwasher controls store error codes from the last wash cycle (units w/o digital displays) or from the last eight wash cycles (units w/ digital displays).

Error code E5 depends on the model, either safety float water level reached or motor speed error. Check the test program for the particular model.

  • If error code E5 is safety float water level reached, check the float and float switch, check if the water is in the base and check if the water inlet valve has re-seated after closing.

To clear error codes, run the customer service test program.

How to Enter Bosch Dishwasher Diagnostic Mode:

  1. Press and Hold the ‘Cycle’ and ‘Start’ buttons simultaneously (ensure the dishwasher is off first).
  2. Press the Power button while still holding the other two.
  3. Release all buttons when the display flashes or lights up.
  4. Press ‘Cycle’ to scroll through stored error codes or ‘Start’ to begin a test cycle.
  5. Turn the unit off to exit Diagnostic Mode.

Reader Comments (71)

  1. Our SHE6APO6UC/06 Dishwasher is flashing Refill Rinse Agent. It’s the only light that is lite up on the display. Cannot get any other lights to come on and we have refilled the dishwasher. We have turned it off from breaker but cannot reset. Please advise. Thank you

    Reply
    • Is the child lock activated by chance? If so, hold the small padlock icon for 5 or so seconds and it should deactivate.

      The float switch could be stuck so that the dishwasher thinks it is flooded.

      Could be a control board glitch.

      Rinse aid sensor could be stuck, dirty, or blocked by dried detergent or sediment.

      Hopefully, one of these suggestions can point you in the right direction.

      Reply
    • Yes, that indicates a delayed start timer. It’s not an error, but rather telling you that a 1-hour delay is scheduled. h:02 would indicate a 2-hour delay, and so on.

      Reply
  2. Hi, I have a Bosch dishwasher smu46kw03s/04 and I need to set some of the factory settings (water hardness, attached to hot VS cold water setting and such) differently, but as soon as I get into the menu the display stops working correctly and I can’t get anything of the buttons to change any of the settings. I also can’t find a way to factory reset the dishwasher to original settings, and I can’t unplug it without pulling the power to my home,

    Is there a way to make a factory reset for the dishwasher without cutting the power? (which last times I tried didn’t even work..)

    And I can’t find a service manual for the dishwasher either, nor repair manual for repair it myself,

    I’d be absolutely over the moon if you could tell me how to factory reset using the buttons on the machine, and even more if you can lead me to a service /repair /troubleshooting the control module and such.

    The machine doesn’t have a single problem except for not being able to access and use the factory settings to adjust water hardness etc, EVERYTHING else works perfectly.

    But I really need to access and change the factory settings, so I can get the dishes done really well and have the correct settings, because of changes in the tap water etc. Plus the factory original settings are wrong for where I live, so even if I know the settings after a factory reset I need to fix this problem.

    Thank you for this page and in advance for taking your time to reply, or try to help me with this.

    /Alex

    Reply
    • This is a tough one. Bosch doesn’t make their user manuals available to the public, as far as I know.
      Try this:
      Turn the dishwasher OFF (standby mode).
      Press and hold the “Start” button (or Start/Reset on some models).
      While holding the “Start” button, turn the dishwasher ON by pressing the Power button.
      Continue holding the “Start” button for 3-5 seconds until the display shows a reset symbol (usually “0:01” or “RESET”).
      Release the button and wait for the dishwasher to reset.
      The dishwasher should return to factory default settings, allowing you to reconfigure water hardness and other settings.

      If you don’t have success, you may have a touch panel or control board problem.
      Try a hard reset by holding the Start and Power buttons for 20 seconds. Your model may not have these buttons, though.

      You may be able to run a diagnostic by pressing the Program and Start buttons simultaneously.

      Hopefully something here is helpful!

      Reply
  3. Dear, i’ve a BOSCH smv25ex00e.
    After removed the front wood panel, display wont turn on.
    I got 2 messages:
    1) 1 Long beep (on first power press)
    2) 2 Short beep ( on second power press)
    Any Hint?

    Reply
  4. Hi Eugene – Excellent excellent thread! I have a Bosch SHXM78W55N/01 dishwasher that I needed to replace both the power plug (main) module and the programming module; the latter being the module incorporating the push buttons. The cycle times associated with each wash cycle are now different than the original values. How does one enter programming mode to change the values to those originally stored? Thanks! Ed

    Reply
  5. My Bosch dishwasher serie 6 shows E06. I’ve followed the advice in the manual page 12 to no effect. I’ve also tried switching it off and on again – no effect. Help please!!

    Reply
  6. i just brought a bosch sms21t102a dishwasher . installed myself. when switched on all panel lights come up red and stay on . the 3hr 6hr and 9hr light is in white same with the wi-fi light on display. The machine wont do anything

    Reply
  7. Hi Eugene,
    We have a 3yr old Bosch SMS25AB00G. The code E19 appeared on the display, I have spoken to Bosch and apparently this code doesn’t exsist, it is E09 and means tablet dispensing problem. This I am affraid to say is nonsence it is E19. We have now replaced 2 heat exchange sensors as everyone on the net says it is this, but we still have error E19. We have pressed all the buttons and managed to get a code of 02 in the display. When you press the start knob it runs through lights on the displays, but as soon as you turn it off and on again E19….any ideas??? Thanks Fiona

    Reply
    • Error Code E19
      There is a detergent dispenser solenoid circuit fault/error.
      Reset power to breaker for 30 seconds. If not resolved, call Bosch Customer Support at 1-800-944-2904 for assistance.

      Reply
  8. Hello Eugene,

    We got a Bosch SHE45R55UC Dishwasher that wont power up what so ever!
    Confirmed voltage coming to the unit, on/off switch & the control board. Board wont light up.

    I’ve pulled out the PCB board and nothing seems odd there. Checked all the resistors with multimeter, got resistance but got no spec sheet to compare it with.

    I was wondering if the door latch switch is the culprit here!? Is there a service manual flow chart I can follow and troubleshoot?

    Reply
  9. Hi Eugene,
    I have Bosch sgs4682/07 and suddenly it gives on the screen AA and it didn’t work. I tried to reset it, cleaning filter but still not working.

    Reply

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