Bosch E18 washing machine: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What E18 actually means

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out within the time it allows, so it has stopped with a drum full of water.

E18 is a drain timeout on older Bosch machines (newer models show E36-10 instead). The control board runs the drain pump, waits for the water level to drop, and when it doesn't drop in time it halts the cycle rather than carry on washing or spinning in standing water. In practice this is nearly always a blockage in the filter, the outlet hose or the pump itself, not a fault with the electronics.

What E18 looks like on a Bosch washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Bosch washing machine, E18 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Machine not draining
Water left in the drum at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons, fluff
Blockage or kink in the drain hose, or the hose pushed too far into the standpipe
Failed drain pump — motor runs but the impeller doesn't turn, or nothing at all
Impeller jammed by a stray sock, wire or piece of debris
Wiring or connection fault at the pump (less common)

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the programme dial to off to stop the beeping, then switch off at the wall for a minute before doing anything else.
Clean out the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine — have a shallow tray and towels ready, there will be water behind it. Check the housing behind the filter for a coin or hairgrip you can lift out by hand.
Check the drain hose along its whole run for kinks, crushing behind the machine, or a sag full of standing water.
If it drains into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked — pour water down it and see how quickly it clears.
With the filter cleaned and the door shut, run a spin or drain programme and see whether water leaves the machine.

Which Bosch models show E18

E18 means the same thing on all 2 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

WAQ283S0GB/13 · WAS28440AU/27

Common questions about Bosch E18

What does E18 mean on a Bosch washing machine?

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out within the time it allows, so it has stopped with a drum full of water. E18 is a drain timeout on older Bosch machines (newer models show E36-10 instead). The control board runs the drain pump, waits for the water level to drop, and when it doesn't drop in time it halts the cycle rather than carry on washing or spinning in standing water. In practice this is nearly always a blockage in the filter, the outlet hose or the pump itself, not a fault with the electronics.

Can I fix Bosch E18 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the programme dial to off to stop the beeping, then switch off at the wall for a minute before doing anything else.
Clean out the pump filter at the bottom front of the machine — have a shallow tray and towels ready, there will be water behind it. Check the housing behind the filter for a coin or hairgrip you can lift out by hand.
Check the drain hose along its whole run for kinks, crushing behind the machine, or a sag full of standing water.
If it drains into a sink trap or standpipe, check that isn't blocked — pour water down it and see how quickly it clears.
With the filter cleaned and the door shut, run a spin or drain programme and see whether water leaves the machine.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Bosch E18?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E18?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most washing machine faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Bosch washing machine codes

All Bosch fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Bosch E18 error — washing machine