Bosch E20 dishwasher: 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 E20 actually means

The dishwasher has found an electrical fault in the main circulation pump — the motor that pushes water up to the spray arms — and has stopped rather than run without proper wash pressure.

The control board checks the resistance of the circulation pump motor windings. If that reading is out of range — either a short or a broken circuit — it logs E20 and abandons the programme, usually early on once it has taken water in. Unlike the drain codes in the same family (E24, E25), this one is not about blockages or filters, so cleaning things out rarely clears it.

What E20 looks like on a Bosch dishwasher

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Bosch dishwasher, E20 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Dishwasher not draining
Water left in the tub at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water
Standing water in the bottom
Tub not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only

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

Failed winding in the circulation pump motor
Damaged or corroded wiring or connector at the pump
Water damage to the pump from a small internal leak
Fault on the control module misreading the pump circuit

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 dishwasher off at the wall socket for a minute, then switch back on and start a fresh programme — occasionally a one-off electrical glitch is stored and clears on a reset
Cancel and drain any water left standing in the machine using the cancel/drain function if the programme will still respond

Common questions about Bosch E20

What does E20 mean on a Bosch dishwasher?

The dishwasher has found an electrical fault in the main circulation pump — the motor that pushes water up to the spray arms — and has stopped rather than run without proper wash pressure. The control board checks the resistance of the circulation pump motor windings. If that reading is out of range — either a short or a broken circuit — it logs E20 and abandons the programme, usually early on once it has taken water in. Unlike the drain codes in the same family (E24, E25), this one is not about blockages or filters, so cleaning things out rarely clears it.

Can I fix Bosch E20 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the dishwasher off at the wall socket for a minute, then switch back on and start a fresh programme — occasionally a one-off electrical glitch is stored and clears on a reset.
Cancel and drain any water left standing in the machine using the cancel/drain function if the programme will still respond.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Bosch E20?

£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 E20?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. 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 dishwasher 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 dishwasher 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 E20 error — dishwasher