Bosch E25 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 E25 actually means

The dishwasher can't pump the dirty water out, so it has stopped mid-cycle and is holding water in the bottom.

E25 is a drain fault on Bosch dishwashers. The machine has run the drain pump and not seen the water leave in the time it expects, so it halts the programme rather than carry on washing in dirty water. On newer Bosch models the same fault is reported as E61 instead \u2014 it's the same story: water in, nothing out.

What E25 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, E25 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
Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle

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

Something small jamming the drain pump impeller \u2014 a chip of china or broken glass is by far the most common find
Blocked filters in the base of the tub
The waste hose kinked or trapped behind the machine
The sink spigot or waste connection clogged with fat and debris
Drain pump worn out or only running intermittently

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.

Take out the filter assembly in the bottom of the tub, rinse it under the tap and clear the coarse strainer, then refit it so the arrows line up and it locks
Bail out the standing water with a jug and a sponge before anything else
Pull the machine forward a little and check the waste hose isn't kinked or squashed against the wall
If the hose runs into a sink trap or spigot, check that connection isn't blocked with grease
Turn the dishwasher off at the wall for a minute, then power up and start a rinse programme to see if the fault returns

Common questions about Bosch E25

What does E25 mean on a Bosch dishwasher?

The dishwasher can't pump the dirty water out, so it has stopped mid-cycle and is holding water in the bottom. E25 is a drain fault on Bosch dishwashers. The machine has run the drain pump and not seen the water leave in the time it expects, so it halts the programme rather than carry on washing in dirty water. On newer Bosch models the same fault is reported as E61 instead \u2014 it's the same story: water in, nothing out.

Can I fix Bosch E25 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Take out the filter assembly in the bottom of the tub, rinse it under the tap and clear the coarse strainer, then refit it so the arrows line up and it locks.
Bail out the standing water with a jug and a sponge before anything else.
Pull the machine forward a little and check the waste hose isn't kinked or squashed against the wall.
If the hose runs into a sink trap or spigot, check that connection isn't blocked with grease.
Turn the dishwasher off at the wall for a minute, then power up and start a rinse programme to see if the fault returns.

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

How much does it cost to repair Bosch E25?

£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 E25?

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 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 E25 error — dishwasher