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Bosch · Washing Machine

Bosch Washing Machine E18 Error Code

Drain pump timed out with water still in drum

What this error means

E18 (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.

Common causes

  • Pump filter blocked by coins, hairpins, or lint sludge
  • Drain hose kinked where it passes through the cabinet cutout
  • Pump impeller jammed by a sock or underwire
  • Standpipe back-pressure from a pushed-in drain hose

Step-by-step fixes

  1. 1Place towels under the round access panel at the bottom front
  2. 2Drain the emergency hose into a shallow pan, then unscrew the filter cap slowly
  3. 3Remove debris from the filter chamber and rotate the impeller—it should spin freely
  4. 4Straighten the drain hose and rerun Spin/Drain only before a full wash

When to call a technician

If the pump hums with a clean filter and free impeller but E18 returns every drain, the drain pump motor or pressure switch likely needs replacement.

Affected models

  • Bosch WAT28400UC
  • Bosch WAW285H1UC
  • Bosch WGA12400UC
Easy10 min

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