When your Bosch dryer shows a code, it is pointing at the part of the cycle that failed. This page lists the 12 codes we could confirm in Bosch's own owner's manuals and support articles: what each one means, the checks that are safe to do yourself, and the point where a technician should take over.
Book Bosch dryer repair
Monday - Friday: 8 AM to 10 PM
Saturday: 8 AM to 10 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 10 PM
Diagnostic visit: $75, or $115 for a double unit.
Credited toward your repair when you approve the quote.
Covers Bosch 24-inch compact dryers sold in the US (condensation models such as the 300/500/800 Series WTG864xx and heat-pump models such as WTW87NH1UC), based on Bosch US support pages, which do not say which codes apply to which models. E03 only applies to dryers that drain condensate through a hose. Bosch's E12 vent advice is for vented models.
The code appears on the dryer's display. Bosch's support page suggests unplugging or switching off the breaker for at least 5 minutes and then restoring power; if the code comes back, book service.
| Code | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | Lint filter is blocked and needs cleaning | Usually a quick fix |
| E03 | Condensate drain hose is blocked or kinked | Check, then call if it returns |
| E04 | Dryer is overloaded | Usually a quick fix |
| E06 | Heating circuit fault | Needs a technician |
| E08 | Electronics fault (Bosch groups all these codes together) | Needs a technician |
| E12 | Overheating from restricted airflow | Check, then call if it returns |
| E16 | Door was opened during a cycle | Usually a quick fix |
| E56 | Moisture sensor problem | Check, then call if it returns |
| E63 | Heating element failure | Needs a technician |
| dr | Door not closed properly, or door switch problem | Check, then call if it returns |
| CrE | Not an error: time to run the appliance care program | Usually a quick fix |
| Key symbol | Not an error: child lock is on | Usually a quick fix |
Safety first. Switch the appliance off at its power button and unplug it or turn off the breaker before you clean a filter or check a hose. If you smell gas, leave the home and call your gas utility from outside. If there is a burning smell, smoke, sparking or water near wiring, stop using it and keep it off until it has been checked.
Call a technician if: Code returns with a clean, dry filter
Call a technician if: Hose is straight and clear but the code repeats
Call a technician if: Code shows with a normal-size load
Source: [1]
Call a technician if: Always; Bosch says only a technician can fix it
Source: [1]
Call a technician if: Always; Bosch says only a technician can fix it
Source: [1]
Call a technician if: Filters and condenser clean but code repeats; ducts may need professional cleaning
Call a technician if: Door is shut but the code keeps appearing
Source: [1]
Call a technician if: Code repeats after cleaning the sensor
Call a technician if: Always
Source: [1]
Call a technician if: Door closes properly but the code stays
Source: [1]
Call a technician if: Not needed
Source: [1]
Call a technician if: Not needed
Source: [1]
If a code comes back after the safe checks, or the table says it needs a technician, the fault is usually a sensor, valve, pump, motor or control board, and diagnosing it means opening the dryer. Our technicians repair Bosch appliances across Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland, seven days a week until 10 PM. Tell us the code when you book and we bring the parts that code usually points to.
Book Bosch dryer repair $75 diagnostic, credited toward the repair.
Every code on this page was checked against Bosch's own documentation: owner's manuals, use and care guides, support articles or Bosch technical sheets. Codes we could only find on third-party sites are left out. Meanings are paraphrased; your model's manual is the final word.
Bosch is a trademark of its owner. Appliance Surgeon is an independent repair company and is not affiliated with Bosch.