Bosch Dishwasher E15 Error Code — What It Means & How to Fix It

The Bosch dishwasher E15 error code means water has been detected in the base of the dishwasher, and its leakage protection system has switched the machine off. In short, your dishwasher thinks it is leaking, so it stops the wash to protect your kitchen floor. Turn off the water supply to the dishwasher, switch it off at the socket or breaker, mop up any water you can see, and do not keep restarting it until you know where the water came from.

Bosch itself gives the same first instruction: if E15 appears, turn off the water inflow and contact Bosch Customer Support. That is the safest starting point, because water in the base can come from a small, harmless cause, such as too much detergent foam, or from a real leak inside the machine. This guide explains what E15 means, the most likely causes in order, the safe external checks you can do yourself, and when to stop and call a professional.

What the Bosch E15 error code means

On Bosch dishwashers, E15 (shown on some models as E:15) is a leak-protection fault. A safety switch in the base of the appliance has detected water where it should not be. When that switch is triggered, the dishwasher stops the programme, may run or try to run the drain pump, and will not start a normal wash again while the fault is present.

The water in the base may be only a small amount. It does not always mean the dishwasher is badly damaged, and it does not always mean you will see a puddle on the floor. In some cases the water is held inside the base tray, underneath the wash tub, so the outside of the machine looks dry even though the safety switch has tripped. Bosch uses E15 with this same meaning across its built-in and freestanding dishwashers, including the 300, 500 and 800 series sold in the United States. The way the code is shown can vary slightly, and some machines run the drain pump continuously while others simply stop, but the safe response is the same on every model.

What E15 does not mean

It is not a door or latch fault. A door that is not closed properly normally shows a different message or simply prevents the programme from starting.
It is not a water-supply fault on its own. A tap that is turned off or a blocked inlet normally causes a different error, such as E14 or E24 on some models.
It is not a blocked drain by itself. A drain fault can contribute to water ending up in the base, but E15 specifically points to water detected in the base, not to a blocked filter or drain hose.
It does not tell you exactly which part has failed. E15 is a symptom, water in the base, not a diagnosis of one named part.

Most likely causes of E15, in order

Too much detergent, or the wrong detergent, causing excess foam. This is the most common harmless cause. Foam can overflow inside the tub, run down into the base and trip the safety switch. It is more likely if you recently changed detergent or accidentally used washing-up liquid or a non-dishwasher detergent.
A leaking door seal or a damaged door gasket. If the seal around the door is split, flattened or covered in food debris, water can escape during the wash, run down the front of the machine and into the base.
A loose, damaged or perished inlet hose or hose connection. The hose that brings water into the dishwasher, and the joint where it meets the tap or the machine, can work loose over time or after the machine has been moved. A slow drip here may only show up during a wash, when the hose is under pressure.
A leaking drain hose or a drain hose that has come loose. If the drain hose is split, kinked, or has slipped off its connection, waste water can escape instead of draining away. Check where the hose joins the sink drain or the disposal unit.
A leak from the sump, the circulation pump or an internal hose. These parts sit low in the machine, close to the base. A worn seal or a cracked internal hose can let a small amount of water drip into the base tray. This kind of leak is not visible from outside and needs the machine to be opened by a professional.
A cracked or damaged wash tub, spray arm or internal pipe. This is less common, and more likely on an older machine or after the tub has been damaged by a dropped heavy item. Again, this is a professional repair, not a do-it-yourself job.
An overflowing sink or drain backing water up into the dishwasher. If the kitchen drain is partly blocked, waste water can be forced back towards the dishwasher during the drain part of the cycle. If your sink also drains slowly, the problem may be in the household drain rather than the dishwasher itself.

Safety STOP, read this before you start. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination. Turn off the water supply tap to the dishwasher and switch the machine off at the socket or at the breaker before you touch anything at the back or underneath it. Do not stand in water while you do this. Do not remove the base panel, the side panels or the bottom of the machine, and do not reach inside the base. The safety switch, the float and the parts inside the base are not user-serviceable on this fault, and Bosch advises customers to contact Bosch Support rather than open the machine. If you can smell burning, see smoke, or the socket or plug is hot or damaged, leave the machine switched off and call a professional straight away.

How to fix the Bosch E15 error code safely

Tools you will need: towels or a sponge, a torch, and a bucket. Time: about 30 to 45 minutes for the external checks and a test wash. Difficulty: easy for the checks in this section; the internal work is professional-only.

Turn off the water and the power. Turn the water supply tap to the dishwasher fully off. Switch the dishwasher off at its socket, or at the breaker if there is no accessible socket. Leave it off for at least 10 minutes.
Mop up any visible water. Open the dishwasher door and check inside the tub for standing water, foam or suds. Mop up any water on the kitchen floor and around the base. If there is a large amount of foam inside the tub, scoop it out and wipe the tub dry; do not run another wash until the foam is gone.
Check what detergent you used. If you used washing-up liquid, a laundry detergent, or far more dishwasher detergent than usual, that is a likely cause. Use only a dishwasher detergent, in the amount shown on the product, and run a short rinse cycle once the machine resets to clear any remaining foam. Do not add more detergent for that rinse.
Inspect the door seal. With the power off, run a finger along the door gasket and look for splits, flat spots, food debris or a seal that has come away from its groove. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth. A seal that is visibly damaged will need to be replaced by a professional; do not try to glue it back into place.
Check the hoses you can see without moving the machine. Look under the sink at the inlet and drain hose connections. They should be tight, dry and free from drips. Tighten a loose compression fitting gently by hand only, and do not disconnect a hose while the water supply is still on. If a hose is split, bulging or wet along its length, turn the water off and call a professional.
Check the drain and the filter. Lift out the filter at the bottom of the tub, as shown in your model manual, and remove any food or debris. Rinse the filter under the tap and refit it correctly. Check that the drain hose under the sink is not kinked or squashed, and that the sink drains freely.
Reset the dishwasher. With the water supply turned on again only if you are sure there is no visible leak, switch the power back on, close the door and press and hold the Start button for about 3 seconds to reset the machine. If E15 returns at once, or during the first fill, switch the machine off again, turn off the water supply and call a professional. Do not keep resetting it and running full washes while it is still leaking.
Run a test wash with nothing in it. If the reset clears the code and there is no visible leak or foam, run a short empty cycle with the correct amount of dishwasher detergent and stay nearby. If it finishes without E15 returning, the fault was most likely foam or a one-off overflow. If E15 returns, or you see water under the machine, stop the cycle, turn off the water and the power, and book a repair.

When to call a professional

Call a Bosch-approved appliance engineer, or Bosch Customer Support, if any of the following apply:

E15 returns after a reset, or returns on every wash.
You can see water dripping from under the machine, or the base tray is full of water.
A hose, seal or connection is damaged or leaking.
You suspect a leak from the sump, the pump, an internal hose or the tub, or you cannot see where the water is coming from.
The dishwasher is still under warranty. Opening the machine yourself can affect the warranty, so let Bosch or an approved engineer deal with it.
There is any sign of electrical damage, a burning smell, or water near a socket or plug.

You can contact Bosch by phone on 1-800-944-2904 in the United States, or through the Bosch Home Appliances support pages. Have your model number ready, together with a note of when E15 first appeared and whether it returns on every wash.

How much does it cost to fix a Bosch E15 error in the United States?

We could not verify a reliable, current price range for an E15 repair from Bosch or from a published United States repair source, so we are not publishing a figure here. The cost depends on the cause: excess foam and a reset cost nothing, a replacement door seal is a small part plus labour, and an internal leak from a pump or hose costs more because the machine has to be taken out and opened. Ask the engineer for a written quote before the work starts, and ask whether the call-out fee is included in the repair price.

Parts you may need

Parts are named here only, with no prices or links to sellers, because the right part depends on your exact model number:

Door gasket or door seal
Water inlet hose
Drain hose
Inlet valve
Circulation pump seal
Sump seal
Base float switch

Always check the part against your model number on the rating plate, which is usually on the edge of the dishwasher door. Do not order a part on the strength of the E15 code alone, because the code does not identify a single faulty part.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still use my Bosch dishwasher with the E15 error code?

No. E15 is a leak-protection fault, and the machine stops the wash on purpose. Running it again without finding the source of the water risks water damage to your kitchen floor and cabinets, and risks further damage inside the machine.

Will resetting my Bosch dishwasher clear the E15 error code?

Sometimes. If the water in the base came from excess foam or a one-off overflow, a reset after the foam has been cleared can clear the code. If the water came from a real leak, the code will return as soon as the machine fills again.

Can too much detergent cause the E15 error code?

Yes. Too much dishwasher detergent, or the wrong kind of detergent, can create excess foam that overflows inside the tub and runs down into the base, where it trips the safety switch. Use only a dishwasher detergent, in the amount the product recommends, and never use washing-up liquid in a dishwasher.

How do I know if my Bosch dishwasher is actually leaking?

Look for water on the floor around the base, dampness at the bottom corners of the door, drips from the hose connections under the sink, or a musty smell inside the machine. In some cases there is no visible water outside the machine, because the water is held in the base tray underneath the tub. If E15 keeps returning even though the outside is dry, that is still a sign of a leak inside.

Is the Bosch E15 error code covered by warranty?

It depends on the cause and on the terms of your warranty. A fault in a part, such as a leaking pump seal on a dishwasher that is still under warranty, is normally covered. Damage caused by using the wrong detergent, or by an installation problem, may not be. Do not open the machine yourself while it is under warranty.

Should I tilt my dishwasher to drain the water from the base?

No. Bosch does not advise tilting the machine, and tilting can spill more water, damage the floor, or move a built-in dishwasher out of its housing. Mop up the water you can reach, turn off the water supply and the power, and let a professional deal with the water held in the base.

Sources and last verified

Last verified: 14 November 2026.

Source: Bosch Home Appliances, E15 Bosch Dishwasher Error Code. Bosch states that the safety switch has detected water in the base of the dishwasher, that the leakage protection system has been activated, and that you should turn off the water inflow and contact Bosch Customer Support on 1-800-944-2904.