What is actually happening
This is different from a machine that will not spin: here the drum does not move at all, even at slow wash speed. On a belt-driven machine the belt has almost always come off or snapped, and the giveaway is that the motor can be heard running with nothing happening. On a direct-drive machine there is no belt, so the fault is the motor or its control.
The Bosch fault codes that point at this
A Bosch washing machine will usually tell you what it thinks is wrong before anyone opens it up. These are the codes we hold for this make that relate to drum not turning:
- E03 — Your Bosch hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time it expects, so it has stopped with a drum still full.
- E13 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water away within the time it expects, so it has stopped and flagged a drainage problem.
- E16 — The machine thinks the door isn't shut, so it won't start or carry on with the wash.
- E17 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it allows, so it has stopped before the wash can start.
- E18 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out within the time it allows, so it has stopped with a drum full of water.
- E29 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped the cycle before washing.
- E30 — The machine has tried to fill with water and not enough has arrived in the time it allows, so it stops at the start of the cycle.
- E30-10 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it stops rather than carry on with a dry drum.
If yours is showing one of those, that is a much shorter conversation than a general fault — tell us the code when you book and the engineer can often carry the part.
The usual causes on a Bosch washing machine
- A snapped or dislodged drive belt
- Worn motor carbon brushes, leaving too little power to turn a loaded drum
- A seized drum bearing
- A failed motor or motor control board on direct-drive machines
- An item jammed between the inner and outer drum
What you can safely check yourself
- Turn the empty drum by hand — very free movement suggests a belt, stiffness or grinding suggests bearings
- Listen during a cycle for a motor running with no drum movement
- Check nothing is jammed at the drum edge
Still drum not turning?
Most of these need an engineer once the checks above are done. £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 engineers work on Bosch machines week in, week out, so they arrive knowing the machine rather than reading the back of it. Local engineers across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need
Common questions
Why is my Bosch washing machine drum not turning?
The machine fills and the cycle runs, but the drum never rotates. This is different from a machine that will not spin: here the drum does not move at all, even at slow wash speed. On a belt-driven machine the belt has almost always come off or snapped, and the giveaway is that the motor can be heard running with nothing happening. On a direct-drive machine there is no belt, so the fault is the motor or its control.
Can I fix a Bosch washing machine drum not turning myself?
Turn the empty drum by hand — very free movement suggests a belt, stiffness or grinding suggests bearings. Listen during a cycle for a motor running with no drum movement. Check nothing is jammed at the drum edge. Beyond those checks this one normally needs an engineer.
What Bosch error codes mean drum not turning?
Bosch washing machines report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at drum not turning are E03, E13, E16, E17, E18, E29. If your machine is showing one of those, that narrows it down considerably — each has its own guide on this site.
How much does a Bosch washing machine repair cost?
£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.
Other Bosch washing machine faults
- washing machine not draining
- washing machine not spinning
- washing machine leaking water
- washing machine making a loud noise
- washing machine not heating the water
- washing machine door will not open