Bosch F03 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 F03 actually means

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out, so it has stopped rather than carry on with a drum full of water.

F03 on a Bosch washer is a drainage fault ot emptying within the time the control board expects. You'll usually find the drum still full at the end of a wash, or the cycle stuck before the spin. It's closely related to F18, which is the other drain-related code on these machines.

What F03 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, F03 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 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ah in the pump filter \ coins, hair clips, screws
Kinked or blocked waste hose, or a blocked sink spigot where the hose connects
Blockage in the sump hose between drum and pump
Damaged pump impeller \ the pump runs but shifts no water
Failed drain pump or no power reaching it

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.

Switch off at the wall, then open the small hatch at the bottom front and clean the pump filter \ check for coins, clips and threads wrapped round the impeller housing
Make sure the drain hose isn't kinked, squashed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe
If the hose feeds into a sink trap spigot, check that spigot isn't blocked with grease \ it's a common one
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then restart on a short cycle to see if it drains

Common questions about Bosch F03

What does F03 mean on a Bosch washing machine?

The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out, so it has stopped rather than carry on with a drum full of water. F03 on a Bosch washer is a drainage fault ot emptying within the time the control board expects. You'll usually find the drum still full at the end of a wash, or the cycle stuck before the spin. It's closely related to F18, which is the other drain-related code on these machines.

Can I fix Bosch F03 myself?

There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Switch off at the wall, then open the small hatch at the bottom front and clean the pump filter \ check for coins, clips and threads wrapped round the impeller housing.
Make sure the drain hose isn't kinked, squashed behind the machine or pushed too far down the standpipe.
If the hose feeds into a sink trap spigot, check that spigot isn't blocked with grease \ it's a common one.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then restart on a short cycle to see if it drains.

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

How much does it cost to repair Bosch F03?

£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 F03?

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 F03 error — washing machine