Bosch E60-21 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 E60-21 actually means

The machine has told the motor to turn the drum, the drum hasn't moved, so it has stopped to protect itself.

E60-21 (the older code was E43) is a locked rotor fault. The control board sends power to the motor but sees no rotation, or rotation that's badly restricted, so it shuts the cycle down rather than keep pushing current into a stalled motor. In practice you'll notice the drum sitting still, often at the start of a wash or as it tries to build up to a spin.

What E60-21 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, E60-21 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
Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves

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

Drum physically jammed by a tightly packed or bunched-up load
Something small apped stuck between the inner drum and the outer tub \u2014 a coin, wire or underwire
Worn drum bearings making the drum stiff and rough to turn
Failed motor or motor carbon brushes
Fault on the control and power module driving the motor

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 machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and try a short cycle
If the door will open and the drum is safe to reach, remove the laundry and try turning the drum by hand \u2014 it should spin freely and quietly
Redistribute a heavy or twisted load rather than cramming it back in
Wash a smaller load to see whether the drum will turn at all

Which Bosch models show E60-21

E60-21 means the same thing on this model. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

WAT28421GB/01

Common questions about Bosch E60-21

What does E60-21 mean on a Bosch washing machine?

The machine has told the motor to turn the drum, the drum hasn't moved, so it has stopped to protect itself. E60-21 (the older code was E43) is a locked rotor fault. The control board sends power to the motor but sees no rotation, or rotation that's badly restricted, so it shuts the cycle down rather than keep pushing current into a stalled motor. In practice you'll notice the drum sitting still, often at the start of a wash or as it tries to build up to a spin.

Can I fix Bosch E60-21 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then back on and try a short cycle.
If the door will open and the drum is safe to reach, remove the laundry and try turning the drum by hand \u2014 it should spin freely and quietly.
Redistribute a heavy or twisted load rather than cramming it back in.
Wash a smaller load to see whether the drum will turn at all.

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

How much does it cost to repair Bosch E60-21?

£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 E60-21?

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 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 E60-21 error — washing machine