Bosch F17 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 F17 actually means

The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped and flagged a fill fault.

Bosch machines allow a set window at the start of the cycle for the drum to fill to the right level. If the control board doesn't see that water arrive in time, it halts and shows F17 rather than running the wash dry. On newer models the same physical fault appears as E30-10, and on older ones as F29, E17 or E29 \not level or drain sensing.

What F17 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, F17 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Machine not draining
Water left in the drum 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

Water supply tap turned off or only part open
Kinked or trapped fill hose behind the machine
Blocked filter in the fill hose connection or a furred-up inlet
Faulty water inlet (solenoid) valve not opening
Low mains water pressure, or work being done on the supply

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.

Check the cold tap feeding the machine is fully open.
Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped against the wall.
Run a nearby cold tap to confirm you have normal mains pressure.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, switch back on and restart a cycle to see if the code clears.
On a washer dryer, note whether drying is also affected \u2014 the condenser needs water too, which is why a fill fault can stop it drying.

Common questions about Bosch F17

What does F17 mean on a Bosch washing machine?

The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped and flagged a fill fault. Bosch machines allow a set window at the start of the cycle for the drum to fill to the right level. If the control board doesn't see that water arrive in time, it halts and shows F17 rather than running the wash dry. On newer models the same physical fault appears as E30-10, and on older ones as F29, E17 or E29 \not level or drain sensing.

Can I fix Bosch F17 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the cold tap feeding the machine is fully open.
Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped against the wall.
Run a nearby cold tap to confirm you have normal mains pressure.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, switch back on and restart a cycle to see if the code clears.
On a washer dryer, note whether drying is also affected \u2014 the condenser needs water too, which is why a fill fault can stop it drying.

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

How much does it cost to repair Bosch F17?

£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 F17?

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 F17 error — washing machine