Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes — E15, E22, E24, E25, E09, E01 Complete Repair Guide

Common Symptoms

• Error code on Bosch display or red LED indicator at bottom of door
• E15 — dishwasher stops mid-cycle and will not restart
• E22 — dishwasher drains slowly or not at all, filter indicator light
• E24 or E25 — standing water at bottom of tub after cycle
• E09 — dishes are cold and wet after a heated dry cycle
• E01 — dishwasher does not respond or displays immediately at power-on

Most Likely Causes

1. 1

   E15 — AquaStop Anti-Flood System Triggered

   Bosch AquaStop is a two-stage flood prevention system: a fail-safe hose with a built-in shutoff solenoid, and a polystyrene float switch in the base pan. When any water enters the base pan — even a few tablespoons from condensation or a door seal drip — the float rises and the AquaStop solenoid cuts off all water supply. E15 will not clear until the base pan is fully drained. The fix on most E15 codes is tilting the dishwasher left 45° to drain the base pan; E15 then clears and the machine runs normally without any part replacement. If E15 recurs after tilting and drying, there is an active leak that must be found and sealed.

2. 2

   E22 — Filter Clogged

   Bosch uses a two-part filter: a cylindrical fine mesh filter (quarter-turn removal) and a flat coarse pre-filter mesh beneath it. When clogged with food debris and grease, the drain pump cannot move water and E22 triggers. Bosch recommends cleaning these filters monthly — most homeowners never do it. E22 is the most common Bosch dishwasher fault and the most preventable. After cleaning, run a rinse cycle to confirm drainage.

3. 3

   E24 — Drain Hose Blocked or Kinked

   E24 means the drain cycle did not complete in the expected time — water remains in the tub. Primary causes: drain hose kinked behind the unit, the hose inserted too deeply into the standpipe creating a water seal, garbage disposal knockout plug not removed during installation, or a clogged air gap on the sink. E24 differs from E25 in that E24 is an external flow restriction (hose/connection) rather than an internal blockage at the pump.

4. 4

   E25 — Drain Pump Impeller Blocked

   E25 means the drain pump is obstructed — the impeller cannot rotate to move water. Glass shards, cherry pits, bone chips, and toothpick fragments are the most common impeller-blockers. The pump may hum loudly during drain phase with E25 as the motor tries to spin against the obstruction. Access the pump impeller through the filter opening in the sump — remove filter assembly, look into the sump cavity, and extract debris with needle-nose pliers.

5. 5

   E09 — Heating Element or NTC Thermistor Fault

   E09 means the water is not reaching target temperature. Primary cause is a failed heating element — test resistance across the element terminals with power off: spec varies by model (typically 20–40Ω, but Bosch element resistance depends on wattage which varies by model year). Use the FD (Fabrication Date) number stamped on the door jamb to identify the exact replacement part number — Bosch elements are model and FD-specific because Bosch changes heater specs across production runs. The FD number is a 4-digit code (e.g., FD 9612) stamped on the label inside the door frame. A failed NTC thermistor can also cause E09 — the thermistor mounts in the sump and reads approximately 5,000–10,000Ω at room temperature depending on the specific part. Low rinse aid can also cause E09 on some models by affecting thermistor-based cycle termination logic.

6. 6

   E01 — Control Board Communication or Internal Fault

   E01 is a general control board fault — the main board failed its self-check at startup or lost communication with a subsystem. Causes: power surge, moisture on the board connector, or board component failure. A 5-minute full power-off reset clears E01 in most cases. If E01 returns after reset, inspect the main harness connectors at the control board for corrosion or looseness before condemning the board — a partially seated connector mimics board failure.

Quick DIY Checks

1. 1Power-cycle reset and diagnostic mode entry: unplug the Bosch dishwasher for 5 minutes. Restore power. If E01 clears, the fault was transient. To enter diagnostic mode on 500 and 800 series models (SHPM88Z75N, SHPM65Z55N, SHEM63W55N, SHP65TL5UC, SHSM63W55N): close the door and press and hold the two rightmost buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds or more until all program indicator lights illuminate. The dishwasher will run through a complete self-test including fill, wash motor, heater, and drain pump. Fault codes from the self-test cycle identify which subsystem is actually failing.
2. 2Fix E15 — AquaStop base pan drain procedure: unplug the dishwasher. Open the door and place thick towels in front of the unit. Tip the dishwasher to the left at approximately 45 degrees — tilt it left (not forward) so the base pan water drains out through the gap at the bottom front. Hold for 20–30 seconds. Water draining from the base indicates the float was triggered by accumulated condensation or a small one-time drip rather than an active leak. Return the dishwasher to upright position, plug in, and run a short rinse cycle. E15 should clear. If E15 returns within a few cycles, there is an ongoing drip — inspect the door seal perimeter, all hose connections inside the door, and the sump gasket.
3. 3Fix E22 — Bosch filter cleaning procedure: open the dishwasher and remove the lower rack. At the center-bottom of the tub, locate the cylindrical fine filter with the raised handle — rotate it counterclockwise approximately a quarter-turn and lift it out. Beneath it is a flat coarse mesh filter — lift this out as well. Rinse both filters under hot running water. Use a soft toothbrush on the fine mesh cylindrical filter to clear grease buildup — soap helps. Bosch filters must be fully seated and locked when reinstalled: insert the flat filter first, then seat the cylindrical filter and rotate clockwise until it clicks. Run a short rinse cycle to confirm E22 is cleared.

1. 4Fix E24 — drain hose and connection check: pull the dishwasher forward from its cabinet bay to access the drain hose. The hose must not have any kinks or sharp bends behind the unit. Trace the hose to its connection point — either at a garbage disposal inlet or at the sink drain tailpiece. At the disposal: confirm the knockout plug was removed when the disposal was installed (a common oversight; if missing, water cannot enter the disposal chamber). Check for grease buildup at the connection point. If a drain air gap is installed on the sink, remove the chrome cap and clear any debris from the gap body. Reinstall the hose with a minimum high loop to 20 inches before the drop to the connection.
2. 5Fix E25 — drain pump impeller obstruction: power off and unplug. Remove the lower rack. Remove the filter assembly (quarter-turn the cylindrical filter, remove the flat mesh). Use a flashlight to look down into the sump cavity below where the filter sat — you will see the pump impeller housing. Use needle-nose pliers to probe for and extract any debris: glass shards (most common on E25), bone fragments, fruit pits, or small plastic pieces. The pump impeller should spin freely when a thin object is inserted to rotate it — no hard stop. After clearing, reinstall filters, restore power, and run a drain cycle only to test.
3. 6Diagnose E09 — find FD number and test heating element: open the dishwasher door fully. The FD (Fabrication Date) number is stamped on the label inside the door frame on the left side near the door hinge — it reads as FD followed by 4 digits (e.g., FD 9612 means 12th week of 1996 production year, or per Bosch's current system, FD YYWW). Use this FD number when ordering replacement heating elements — Bosch changed the heater spec across production runs and an incorrect heater element will not fit or will be the wrong wattage. With power off, locate the heating element in the base of the tub. Disconnect both element leads and measure resistance with a multimeter — OL = failed element, replace with the FD-matched part number from Bosch's parts catalog or your appliance parts supplier.
4. 7E09 thermistor and rinse aid check: before replacing the heating element, verify the NTC thermistor. On Bosch dishwashers the thermistor is a small probe inserted into the sump housing. Disconnect the thermistor connector and measure resistance at room temperature — typically 5,000–10,000Ω depending on the part number. OL = failed thermistor. Also check the rinse aid reservoir — running without rinse aid affects the drying cycle thermistor logic on some Bosch models and can trigger E09 even with a functional heating element. Fill the rinse aid reservoir and run a full cycle before condemning the heater.

Repair vs Replace

Recommended Tools & Parts

• Bosch Dishwasher Fine + Coarse Filter Set

  Replacement two-part filter kit for Bosch 500 and 800 series dishwashers. Includes cylindrical fine mesh filter (quarter-turn) and flat coarse pre-filter. Clean monthly to prevent E22. Confirm compatibility with your SHPM or SHEM model number.

  $20–$45

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• Bosch Dishwasher Drain Pump — 12014980

  Replacement drain pump motor for Bosch dishwashers. Part 12014980 fits many 500 and 800 series models (SHPM88Z75N, SHPM65Z55N, SHEM63W55N). Required when E24/E25 persists after clearing impeller obstructions. Verify model compatibility before ordering.

  $40–$80

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• Bosch Dishwasher Heating Element (FD-specific)

  Replacement heating element for Bosch dishwashers. Must be ordered using the FD (Fabrication Date) number from the door jamb label — Bosch changes heater specifications across production runs. Common part numbers include 9000706449 and 00263552. Fixes E09 heating errors.

  $35–$80

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• Bosch AquaStop Inlet Hose Assembly

  The complete AquaStop water supply hose with integrated flood-protection solenoid. Required if E15 recurs after base pan draining and leak source is traced to the AquaStop hose itself. Model-specific — use your SHPM or SHEM model number to identify the correct part.

  $45–$90

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• Bosch Dishwasher Door Seal / Gasket

  Perimeter door gasket for Bosch dishwashers. A cracked or pulling gasket allows water into the base pan and triggers E15. Inspect for deformation at the bottom corners — most common failure point. Replacement requires no special tools.

  $20–$50

  Buy on Amazon →

Links are Amazon affiliate links (tag: fixitfastai-20). Prices are estimates.

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