Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes: Complete 2026 Troubleshooting Guide

How Bosch Error Codes Appear on Your Dishwasher

Not all Bosch dishwashers show codes the same way. The method depends on the series:

• 300, 500, 800 Series (digital display): The error code appears directly as E:15, E:24, etc. The colon is a Bosch formatting quirk — other brands use a dash or just the letter-number.
• 100 and 200 Series (no display): The active program LED blinks. Count the number of blinks: one pause-separated group is the tens digit, a second group is the units digit. Three blinks + five blinks = E35, for example.
• Older pre-2012 models: Some use a different LED flash pattern where a single sequence of blinks encodes the full code number. Consult the model-specific service manual if the count method doesn't match any code in this guide.

Once you have the code, hold the Start button for 3–5 seconds to cancel the current cycle. This clears the error display. If the underlying fault is not resolved, the code will return in the next cycle.

Complete Bosch Dishwasher Error Code Reference

Drain Errors: E24, E25, and E22 (DIY Step-by-Step)

The three most DIY-resolvable codes on any Bosch dishwasher all involve the same drainage path. Diagnosing them in sequence takes about 15 minutes and resolves the majority of drain-related service calls without a technician visit.

E22 — Blocked Filter

E22 is the simplest fix. The multi-mesh filter assembly sits on the floor of the dishwasher tub. Bosch recommends monthly cleaning; in practice, many owners never clean it.

1. Pull the lower rack out fully.
2. Turn the cylindrical filter counterclockwise and lift it out together with the flat mesh screen beneath it.
3. Rinse both pieces under warm running water, using a soft brush to scrub grease and debris from the mesh.
4. Inspect the sump recess (the hole the filter sits in) for hard debris and wipe it clear.
5. Reinstall, run a short rinse cycle, and confirm E22 is gone.

E25 — Drain Pump Cover Blocked

With the filter removed, the circular drain pump cover is visible in the sump. E25 fires when debris has jammed the pump impeller or the cover is not fully seated.

1. After removing the filter, insert a spoon into one of the slots on the pump cover and lever it up until it clicks free.
2. Grip the cover and pull straight up to remove it fully.
3. Reach into the impeller cavity and remove any debris — glass shards, cherry pits, and twist-ties are common culprits.
4. Manually spin the impeller with a finger to confirm it rotates freely.
5. Reinstall the cover (it should click positively into place) and run a drain cycle.

E24 — Drain Blocked (Hose or Disposal)

If the filter and pump cover are clear but E24 persists, the blockage is downstream in the drain hose or at the garbage disposal connection.

• Drain hose kink: Trace the corrugated drain hose from the pump outlet to where it connects to the sink drain or disposal. A kink behind the cabinet wall is a common cause, especially after moving the dishwasher for servicing.
• Drain hose height: The hose must loop up to within 18 inches of the underside of the countertop before dropping to the drain connection — this high loop prevents backflow. If the hose drops straight down, water siphons back and can trigger E24.
• Garbage disposal knockout plug: On new installations, the plastic knockout plug inside the disposal's dishwasher inlet port is often left in place. The dishwasher will not drain at all until this plug is knocked out with a screwdriver and hammer and removed.
• Clogged drain air gap: If a drain air gap is installed on the countertop, pop off the cap and check for buildup.

E15: The AquaStop Code (Most-Searched Bosch Error)

E15 is consistently the top-searched Bosch dishwasher error code online. It means the float switch in the base tray has been triggered — water has leaked into the pan beneath the dishwasher and the AquaStop valve has closed to prevent a flood.

Why water gets into the base tray: A small amount of condensation or spray accumulates over time in normal use and does not trigger E15. E15 fires when enough water accumulates to float the sensor. Common sources include a deteriorated door gasket, a cracked spray arm, a loose hose clamp on an internal connection, or an overfilled rinse aid dispenser that has been overflowing.

DIY first step — drain the base tray:

1. Disconnect power to the dishwasher (or trip the circuit breaker).
2. Tilt the dishwasher forward approximately 45 degrees and hold for 15 seconds. This drains the base tray back through the front seal area onto the floor. Have towels ready.
3. Return the unit to upright, reconnect power, and run a short cycle.
4. If E15 does not return immediately, inspect the door gasket for tears and check the hose connections visible from the front kick panel.
5. If E15 returns within one cycle, there is an active leak. Identify and fix the source before continuing use — operating with an active base-tray leak will eventually reach the electronics mounted in the base.

When tilting doesn't help: If the base tray refills quickly, the AquaStop inlet hose itself may be the leak source. The outer sleeve of the hose is designed to contain a failed inner hose and direct water to the base tray sensor rather than onto the floor. If the hose sleeve is wet but the hose looks intact from the outside, the inner liner has failed — the entire AquaStop hose assembly requires replacement (not a user-serviceable repair on most installations).

Heating Errors: E09, E12, and E13

E09 — Heating Element or Heat Pump Not Heating

E09 is the most technically demanding fault in this guide. The control board monitors water temperature in the first few minutes of a wash cycle and trips E09 when it detects less than approximately 2°C of temperature rise — meaning no heat is reaching the water.

Likely causes by frequency:

• Failed heating element (most common in older units): A burnt-out coil reads as an open circuit on a multimeter (should read 15–30 Ω depending on model; infinite resistance = failed).
• Failed heat pump (800 Series CrystalDry models): Bosch's zeolite-based CrystalDry uses a heat pump rather than a conventional heating element. Heat pump failure is more complex and almost always requires a certified Bosch technician.
• Cracked solder joint on the main PCB: A known failure mode on several dishwasher PCBs is a cold solder joint on the relay that switches the heating circuit. An experienced repair technician can reflow the solder; this is not a user-serviceable repair.
• Temperature sensor (NTC) failure (see also E11): A failed sensor can report falsely low temperatures and trigger E09 even when the element works. Test NTC resistance: a 10 kΩ NTC sensor should read approximately 10,000 Ω at 25°C; values very far from this indicate a bad sensor.

E12 — Limescale Buildup in Heat Exchanger

E12 is one of the few service-level-looking codes that often resolves itself with a descaling cycle. Limescale (calcium carbonate) accumulates on the heating element and heat exchanger in hard-water areas, reducing heat transfer efficiency until the element can no longer keep up and the board trips a slow-heat fault.

Fix: Run an empty dishwasher cycle with a commercial dishwasher descaler or a cup of citric acid placed in the detergent dispenser. Products designed for this include Bosch's own descaler, Finish Dishwasher Cleaner, or Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner. After one or two cycles, E12 typically clears. If the code persists after descaling, the element itself may need replacement.

Prevention: Use a rinse aid and, in hard-water areas, check whether your dishwasher has a built-in water softener (most European-spec Bosch models do; most North American models do not). If yours lacks a built-in softener, consider installing an inline water softener or using detergent with added softening agents.

E13 — Incoming Water Temperature Too High

E13 fires when the NTC temperature sensor reads the incoming water as too hot to safely run the wash program — typically above 75°C (167°F). This is almost always a plumbing issue, not a dishwasher fault: the unit was connected to a hot water supply line rather than a cold water line, or the building's water heater is set dangerously high.

Bosch dishwashers in North America are designed to heat their own water from cold. Confirm the supply connection goes to the cold water shutoff under the sink. If the plumbing is correct, the NTC sensor itself may be reporting falsely high temperatures and require replacement.

Control Board and Sensor Codes: E01, E03, E06

These codes indicate faults within the dishwasher's electronics rather than in the wash system itself. User-side fixes are limited to power cycling, but it is worth attempting before scheduling a service call.

Universal power-cycle procedure for board faults:

1. Trip the dishwasher's circuit breaker (or unplug if cord-accessible).
2. Wait a full 30 seconds — not 5 or 10. Modern dishwasher control boards have capacitors that take time to fully discharge.
3. Restore power and start a short cycle.

• E01 (pump control circuit): The board's internal relay or TRIAC controlling the circulation pump has failed. If a 30-second power cycle does not clear it, the main board requires replacement or professional repair.
• E03 (relay fault): Similar to E01 — a relay on the control board has tripped. Often occurs after a power surge. A whole-home surge protector reduces this risk substantially.
• E06 (door sensor circuit): The door latch switch is not reading as closed, or the circuit between the switch and the board has an open connection. Check that nothing is preventing the door from fully latching (a warped door, misaligned strike, or item blocking the top of the lower rack are common causes). If latching is normal, the micro-switch in the door handle assembly has likely failed.

How to Reset Any Bosch Error Code

The reset procedure is the same across the entire Bosch line:

1. Press and hold the Start button for 3–5 seconds. The cycle will cancel and the display will return to the home screen.
2. For stubborn codes on older models, turn the dial to the Off position, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
3. For board-level codes (E01, E03, E09), use the hard reset at the circuit breaker as described above.

Resetting only clears the display. If the fault condition has not been fixed, the error code will return the next time the cycle reaches the point that triggered it (usually early in the main wash or drain phase).

Repair vs. Replace Math for Bosch Dishwashers

Bosch's exceptional reliability changes the repair-or-replace calculation compared with budget dishwasher brands. Because Bosch units tend to run well past the 9-year median, it is often economical to repair them at ages when other brands would be discarded.

For context, a comparable Bosch replacement dishwasher (300 or 500 Series) costs $700–$1,100. The 50% rule — replace when repair exceeds 50% of replacement cost — would set the threshold at $350–$550. Apply that against the repair costs above to determine your decision point. For a detailed workflow including recall status, see our repair vs. replace decision tree.

Also check age and recalls before committing to a repair. Knowing the exact manufacturing date of your Bosch from its serial number (see our Bosch serial number decoder) tells you the true age of your unit, not just the model introduction year. And before investing in an expensive repair, run the model number through a recall check — a unit under an active CPSC recall may have a free manufacturer remedy available.