When your Bosch washer shows a code, it is pointing at the part of the cycle that failed. This page lists the 25 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.
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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 front-load washers sold in the US: 300/500/800 Series WAT28400UC/WAT28401UC/WAT28402UC show symbols plus E:93, E:18, E:32 (and E:23 on the 800); newer compacts such as 300 Series WGA12400UC and 800 Series WAW285H2UC show two-part codes (e.g. E:36 then -10); the two-digit E/F codes (E19, E20, E25, E26, E28, E56) come from Bosch US support pages that name no models.
Older compacts show a door or tap symbol or a short code like E:18; newer ones flash a code in two alternating parts (e.g. E:36 / -10). Bosch's documented reset for unlisted codes is to switch the washer off, wait a few seconds (support site: unplug at least 30 seconds if it persists) and switch it back on, then call service if the code returns.
| Code | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Tap symbol | Cold water supply problem | Check, then call if it returns |
| E:93 | Hot water supply problem | Check, then call if it returns |
| Door symbol (flashing) | Door is not closed properly | Usually a quick fix |
| E16 | Door is open or not locked properly | Check, then call if it returns |
| E17 | Water took too long to fill | Check, then call if it returns |
| E18 | Water not pumping out: drain or pump blocked, or oversudsing | Check, then call if it returns |
| E19 | Heating took too long | Needs a technician |
| E20 | Unexpected heating detected | Needs a technician |
| E:23 | Leak protection triggered: water in base or AquaStop activated | Stop using it |
| E25 | Turbidity (water clarity) sensor problem | Needs a technician |
| E26 | Water level (pressure) sensor problem | Needs a technician |
| E28 | Flow sensor problem | Needs a technician |
| E:30/-10 | Water supply or water-level sensing problem | Check, then call if it returns |
| E:30/-20 | Too much detergent, water added by hand, or valve fault | Check, then call if it returns |
| E:30/-80 | Drain problem | Check, then call if it returns |
| E:32 | Load is unbalanced; spin was stopped | Usually a quick fix |
| E33 | Too much detergent foam detected | Usually a quick fix |
| E:36/-10 | Water not draining | Check, then call if it returns |
| E:38/-25 | Drain pump is blocked | Check, then call if it returns |
| E56 | Internal communication error | Needs a technician |
| E:60/-2B | Laundry is unevenly distributed | Usually a quick fix |
| E80 | Fault in the motor drive circuit | Needs a technician |
| E:92/-01 | Low water pressure or blocked inlet filters | Check, then call if it returns |
| E:10/-00 | Automatic detergent dosing (i-Dos) pump is blocked | Check, then call if it returns |
| CL | Not a fault: 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: Taps open, hoses straight, strainers clean, still showing
Call a technician if: Hot supply confirmed but code repeats
Call a technician if: Door is shut firmly but the symbol keeps flashing
Call a technician if: Door closes properly but the code returns
Call a technician if: Supply is good but code repeats; low pressure may need a plumber
Call a technician if: Hose and pump are clear but water still won't drain
Call a technician if: Code repeats after a restart
Call a technician if: Code repeats after a reset
Call a technician if: Always; a leak must be found and fixed by a technician
Call a technician if: Always
Call a technician if: Always
Call a technician if: Always
Call a technician if: Code returns after these checks
Call a technician if: Code repeats with correct dosing
Source: [6]
Call a technician if: Hose and pump are clear but it still won't drain
Source: [6]
Call a technician if: Even mixed loads still won't spin
Call a technician if: Foam code repeats with correct HE dosing
Call a technician if: Hose and pump are clear but it still won't drain
Call a technician if: Pump is clean but the code repeats
Source: [6]
Call a technician if: Code repeats after a restart
Source: [7]
Call a technician if: Mixed loads still trigger it
Call a technician if: Always; Bosch says only a technician can fix it
Source: [6]
Call a technician if: Strainers clean but pressure still low (may need a plumber)
Call a technician if: Code returns after cleaning, or the program won't start
Source: [6]
Call a technician if: Not needed
Source: [6]
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 washer. 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 washer 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.