E15Bosch · Dishwasher · Dishwasher

Bosch Dishwasher error code E15

Water in the base of the tub, leakage protection active

Stop using it

Also written as E-15

Which models this applies to. This page covers the Bosch dishwasher codes.

What is specific to the Dishwasher platform

Many codes carry a second number, such as E61-03 or E92 40, where the second part identifies which part of the circuit failed.

Your control board prints the code as text, for example F01 or EE3, so you read it off the display rather than counting blinks. The printed number is the fault itself, not a position in a table.

Quick answer

On Bosch Dishwasher (2000s onward), E15 is a fault. It means water in the base of the tub, leakage protection active. A first thing to check: Drain hose blocked, kinked, or sealed in the standpipe.

Applies to: Bosch Dishwasher; Bosch dishwasher codes · Dishwasher · 2000s onward
Type of code: Fault; Urgency: Stop using it
First safe check: Look in the floor of the tub and decide whether the water is clear or foamy. Foam points at detergent.

Checked 2026-09-26

What E15 means on this model

The safety switch under the tub has found water where it should be dry and has shut the machine down so it cannot pump a leak onto a floor. This is the one dishwasher code worth reacting to immediately, and the water supply should be closed before anything else is looked at.

Symptoms you will notice

Water in the bottom of the tub when the door is opened
Water on the floor or in the pan under the machine
Cycle stops and drains instead of continuing
Suds in the tub at the end of a wash

Common causes

The code tells you what the control detected, not which part failed. These are the causes we see most often, roughly in order of likelihood:

Drain hose blocked, kinked, or sealed in the standpipe
Garbage disposal knockout plug left in place
Pump not clearing the sump
Excess foam from too much detergent or from a non-HE formula
Inlet valve not closing
Filter housing not sealing, which lets the level drop rather than rise, so this is less common here than in a washer

What you can safely check

These are homeowner-level checks. None of them need you to open a live electrical compartment or work on gas.

Look in the floor of the tub and decide whether the water is clear or foamy. Foam points at detergent.
Check the drain route end to end, including the air gap at the standpipe.
Confirm the disposal knockout plug was removed.
Close the supply tap while you work, so a stuck valve cannot keep adding water.

Do not do these

×Do not leave the machine running with the supply tap open while the tub is over-filling.
×Do not reach into the base with the power connected.

When to call a technician

Stop using the appliance and call today

This one is a safety limit, not a nuisance. The control is shutting the unit down to prevent damage or a hazard, and it will keep doing that until the underlying cause is fixed. Running it anyway risks the expensive failure it was designed to prevent.

If the appliance has stopped mid-cycle, is making a noise you have not heard before, or smells burnt, stop reading here and call. Those are symptoms of something the fault code does not describe well enough.

Hoses, air gaps, and filters are owner work. Pump and valve replacement are moderate repairs.

What it costs to fix

Parts

Drain pump $60 to $160. Inlet valve $35 to $95. Drain hose $10 to $25.

Labor

One to two hours.

DIY or technician