Bosch Washing Machine Error Codes
Bosch compact front-load washers use E18 drain, E13 leak, and E01 door lock codes. 500 and 800 series share diagnostic entry via spin and temperature buttons.
General troubleshooting
Try these checks before opening a specific error code page—they resolve many Bosch washing machine faults without parts.
- 1Clean the pump access and filter on WAW28440UC and WAT28400UC models
- 2Check the drain hose for kinks—Bosch requires a specific height loop
- 3Dry the base pan if E13 appeared and tilt the unit slightly to drain residual water
- 4Use HE detergent marked for front-loaders only
- 5Run a 90°C sanitize cycle empty monthly to reduce odor and suds residue
Common symptoms
Owners often search for a code after noticing one of these issues on their Bosch washing machine:
- E18 drain timeout with water in the drum
- E13 leak protection with water in the base tray
- E01 door lock not engaging before fill
- E17 or E19 fill faults when supply is restricted
- Excessive vibration on spin with unbalanced loads
All Bosch washing machine error codes
| Code | What it means | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| E02 | Drive motor blocked or not turningE02 (F02) indicates a motor fault—the control module commanded rotation but the brushless drive motor did not reach expected speed. You may hear a brief hum, then the cycle aborts before wash or spin begins. | View fix → |
| E04 | Motor module communication failureE04 means the main control board lost CAN-bus communication with the motor inverter module at the rear of the tub. The washer may flash E04 at startup or mid-cycle when the motor module stops responding. | View fix → |
| E11 | Motor overheated during operationE11 logs motor thermal overload—the inverter detected the stator temperature rising faster than allowed, often after repeated start attempts on a jammed drum or an overloaded cycle in a warm laundry room. | View fix → |
| E13 | Drain pump exceeded its run timeE13 reports the same drain-time failure as E18 on many Bosch platforms—the pump ran but water did not leave the drum within the allowed interval. Some firmware shows E13 where others show E18; the troubleshooting path is identical. | View fix → |
| E16 | Door not closed or lock not confirmedE16 (F16) appears when the door lock switch never confirms a locked position before fill or spin. Bosch front-loaders refuse to run with an open or unlatched door to prevent water escape during wash. | View fix → |
| E17 | Water did not fill within the time limitE17 (F17) is Bosch's insufficient-fill fault. The inlet valves opened but the flow meter never registered enough liters within the programmed window—often within the first two minutes of a cycle on Serie 4 and 6 front-loaders. | View fix → |
| E18 | Drain pump timed out with water still in drumE18 (also shown as F18 or d02 on some Axxis displays) means the drain phase exceeded its time limit. Water stays visible behind the door glass and the cycle stops before spin. Bosch logs this when the pump runs but the water level sensor never sees an empty tub. | View fix → |
| E19 | Water did not reach target heat in timeE19 (F19) means heating time exceeded—the NTC sensor never reported wash water reaching the programmed temperature within the allowed window. Cotton programs at 140°F are a common trigger when limescale coats the element. | View fix → |
| E20 | Unexpected heating detected in drumE20 (F20) means unexpected heating—the board detected the heating element energizing without a heat command, or water temperature rising when only cold fill was requested. This is a safety code that can appear after control board relay failures. | View fix → |
| E21 | Motor speed sensor signal missingE21 indicates the motor tachometer never saw the expected RPM after the inverter applied drive—distinct from E02 where the motor is commanded but blocked. The drum may not move at all, or may jerk once then stop with E21. | View fix → |
| E23 | AquaStop detected water in the base panE23 (F23 on some models) means the AquaStop float in the sealed base pan detected water. Bosch cuts inlet valves and locks the display to prevent floor flooding from a hose, tub seal, or suds overflow. | View fix → |
| E25 | Turbidity sensor fault during washE25 (F25) flags the turbidity sensor that measures wash water clarity for automatic program adjustment. On models with ActiveWater or i-DOS, a failed turbidity reading stops the cycle because the board cannot judge soil level. | View fix → |
| E26 | Analog pressure sensor out of rangeE26 (F26) reports a fault in the analogue pressure sensor circuit—the air dome tube from the tub to the pressure switch sent resistance outside calibrated limits, so the board cannot confirm fill or drain level. | View fix → |
| E28 | Inlet flow meter not detecting waterE28 (F28) means the inlet flow sensor did not register water passing during fill—the reed switch or turbine in the inlet path reported zero flow while valves were open. Related to E17 but specifically flags the flow meter circuit. | View fix → |
| E29 | Load too unbalanced to reach spin speedE29 means unbalanced load—the drum speed sensor detected excessive wobble before reaching final spin RPM. Bosch aborts high-speed spin rather than walk the machine across the floor or stress suspension components. | View fix → |
15 codes documented with causes, fixes, and affected models.