Siemens 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 has not managed to get the water out of the drum in the time it expects, so it has stopped with a drum still full or part full of water.

Siemens washing machines (and the Bosch-built Neff, Balay and Constructa equivalents) use F03 as a drain fault, closely related to F18. The control board asks the drain pump to empty the tub and then checks whether the water has actually gone; if the level hasn't dropped, the cycle halts rather than trying to spin a full drum. You'll typically see it at the end of a wash or as the machine tries to move into the spin, with clothes sitting in water and the door locked.

What F03 looks like on a Siemens washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Siemens 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

Debris in the pump filter — coins, hair clips, screws, a bra wire
Blocked or kinked drain hose, or a blocked sink spigot / standpipe where the hose connects
Damaged or jammed pump impeller, so the pump runs but shifts no water
Failed drain pump motor, or no power reaching it
Blocked sump hose between the tub and the pump (a common one on these machines, and easily missed when the filter looks clean)

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 switch back on — if the drain was only briefly obstructed, the code can clear.
Empty and clean the pump filter behind the kick strip flap at the bottom front, using the small drain hose to let the water out into a bowl first. Have towels ready — there can be a lot of water.
Feel along the drain hose at the back for kinks, crushed sections or a sharp bend where it meets the waste pipe.
If the hose runs into a sink spigot or standpipe, check that connection isn't blocked with grease or lint.
Once the water is out, run a short rinse and spin to see whether the fault returns.

Common questions about Siemens F03

What does F03 mean on a Siemens washing machine?

The machine has not managed to get the water out of the drum in the time it expects, so it has stopped with a drum still full or part full of water. Siemens washing machines (and the Bosch-built Neff, Balay and Constructa equivalents) use F03 as a drain fault, closely related to F18. The control board asks the drain pump to empty the tub and then checks whether the water has actually gone; if the level hasn't dropped, the cycle halts rather than trying to spin a full drum. You'll typically see it at the end of a wash or as the machine tries to move into the spin, with clothes sitting in water and the door locked.

Can I fix Siemens F03 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch back on — if the drain was only briefly obstructed, the code can clear.
Empty and clean the pump filter behind the kick strip flap at the bottom front, using the small drain hose to let the water out into a bowl first. Have towels ready — there can be a lot of water.
Feel along the drain hose at the back for kinks, crushed sections or a sharp bend where it meets the waste pipe.
If the hose runs into a sink spigot or standpipe, check that connection isn't blocked with grease or lint.
Once the water is out, run a short rinse and spin to see whether 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 Siemens 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 Siemens washing machine codes

All Siemens 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.

Siemens F03 error — washing machine