Bosch Dishwasher error code E19
Detergent dispenser solenoid circuit fault
Quick answer
On Bosch Dishwasher (2000s onward), E19 is a fault. It means detergent dispenser solenoid circuit fault. A first thing to check: Dispenser solenoid or its board circuit failing.
- Applies to
- Bosch Dishwasher
- Bosch dishwasher codes · Dishwasher · 2000s onward
- Type of code
- Fault
- Urgency: Book a technician
- First safe check
- Open the compartment by hand and check it releases and closes freely.
What E19 means on this model
The circuit that opens the detergent compartment at the right moment in the cycle has failed, which means detergent is released late or not at all. Dishes come out clean but with a gritty or chemical film that a second rinse does not fix.
Symptoms you will notice
- Dishes come out with a gritty or filmy residue
- Detergent still sitting in the compartment after a cycle
- Sudsy water left standing in the bottom of the tub
- Code appears at the start of the wash rather than at the end
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:
- Dispenser solenoid or its board circuit failing
- Old detergent and dried residue locking the compartment lid
- Wrong detergent used, or a compartment not seated correctly
- The flap not being clear of a spray arm when the cycle demands it open
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.
- Open the compartment by hand and check it releases and closes freely.
- Rinse out dried detergent residue with warm water and a soft brush.
- Check that a spray arm can pass the compartment without catching it.
- Use detergent intended for the machine, and check the load has not blocked the compartment lid.
Do not do these
- ×Do not force the compartment open with a screwdriver while the cycle is running.
- ×Do not put detergent into the prewash cup on a machine that uses a single compartment, because it will not be rinsed at the right time.
When to call a technician
Worth scheduling, and worth your own checks first
You can usually keep living with this for a short while, but it will not fix itself. Do the safe checks below first, because a tripped switch or a blocked airflow is a five-minute fix that would otherwise cost you a service call.
- 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.
Cleaning the compartment is a homeowner task. A failed solenoid or a board relay is a technician job.
What it costs to fix
Parts
Dispenser assembly $40 to $110. Board relay $30 to $90.
Labor
Fifteen minutes to clean. One to two hours if the dispenser assembly is replaced.
DIY or technician
Cleaning the compartment is a homeowner task. A failed solenoid or a board relay is a technician job.
Typical US part and labor ranges, 2026. They vary by region, model and contractor, so treat them as a planning figure, not a quote.
Scope of this code
- Code table
- Bosch dishwasher codes
- Models in scope
- Bosch Dishwasher, 2005 onward
- Checked
- Confirm on your own unit
- Find the model number on the data plate, then check this code in the service manual for that model. Manufacturers revise code tables between model years, and a revised board can renumber a fault.