Bosch and LG Dishwasher Error Codes Explained

A dishwasher error code is your machine telling you exactly where it thinks the fault is, and on both Bosch and LG dishwashers most codes point to a drainage or water problem you can often check yourself before booking a repair. A Bosch E24 or an LG OE both mean the machine cannot drain, usually a blocked filter or a kinked hose. A Bosch E15 or an LG AE both mean water has leaked into the base. Below is a plain-English guide to the common Bosch and LG dishwasher error codes, the safe checks you can do at home, and the point where the fault needs a qualified technician.

Error codes look alarming, but they are a diagnostic gift. Instead of guessing, you get a specific pointer to the drain system, the water inlet, the heating circuit or a leak. The trick is knowing what each code means and which ones are safe to act on yourself. Note the exact code on your display before you do anything, because it is the single most useful piece of information you can give a technician when you book.

Common Bosch dishwasher error codes

Bosch codes usually appear as an “E” followed by a number (some models show them as “F”). These are the ones we see most often on Perth machines.

E15: water in the base (Aquastop)

E15 means water has collected in the base tray and triggered Bosch’s Aquastop anti-flood float switch, which shuts the machine down to prevent a leak. It often shows as the machine refusing to start and a constant drone from the pump. A small spill or an overfoaming detergent can set it off, and tilting the machine to drain the base and leaving it to dry sometimes clears it. If it keeps returning, there is a genuine leak inside, commonly a worn door seal or a cracked component, and that needs a technician.

E22: blocked filter

E22 points to a blocked or clogged fine filter, so water cannot pass through to be drained. This is the most DIY-friendly Bosch code of all. Cleaning the filter in the base of the tub usually clears it completely.

E24: the machine cannot drain

E24 means the dishwasher is unable to drain the water away. It is almost always a clogged filter, a kinked or blocked drain hose, or a blocked sink waste. All three are safe to check yourself, and clearing them fixes the majority of E24 faults.

E25: drain pump blocked or faulty

E25 is closely related to E24 but points at the drain pump itself, either blocked by debris or a piece of broken glass, or failing. A blockage in the pump can sometimes be cleared, but accessing the pump means going inside the machine, so E25 is generally a job for a technician rather than a DIY fix.

Common LG dishwasher error codes

LG dishwashers use two-letter codes. The most common ones mirror the Bosch drainage and water faults, just with different labels.

OE: outlet error (not draining)

OE is the LG equivalent of a drainage fault. It means water is not draining out of the machine, usually because the filter is clogged, the drain hose is blocked or kinked, or the sink waste is blocked. These are the same safe checks as a Bosch E24, and they resolve most OE errors.

IE: inlet error (not filling)

IE means the machine did not fill with enough water in time. Check that the tap supplying the dishwasher is fully turned on, that the inlet hose is not kinked, and that your water pressure is normal. A blocked inlet filter screen where the hose meets the machine can also cause it.

AE: leak detected

AE (shown as E1 on some models) means LG’s leak sensor has detected water in the base and shut the machine down, the same idea as a Bosch E15. If it does not clear after the base dries out, there is an internal leak that a technician should trace.

LE and tE: motor and temperature faults

LE points to the wash motor that drives water through the spray arms, and tE is a thermal fault where the water is too hot or the temperature sensor is misreading. Both are internal electrical faults rather than simple blockages, so they are not DIY jobs and need a qualified technician to diagnose.

Safe checks you can do yourself

Whatever the brand, several codes share the same handful of safe causes. None of these steps involve opening up the machine or touching electrical parts. Turn the dishwasher off at the power point first.

• Note the exact code. Write it down before you clear it, as it tells the technician where the fault is if the DIY checks do not fix it.
• Try a reset. Switch the machine off at the wall for a few minutes, then power it back on. A one-off electronic glitch will often clear with a reset.
• Clean the filter. For any drainage code (Bosch E22, E24, LG OE), twist out the filter in the base of the tub, rinse it under a hot tap, clear the well it sits in, and refit it firmly. This is the single most effective fix.
• Check the drain hose and sink waste. Straighten any kink in the drain hose, and run your kitchen sink to see whether it also drains slowly, which points to a plumbing blockage rather than a machine fault.
• Check the water supply. For a fill or inlet code (LG IE), make sure the dishwasher tap is fully open and the inlet hose is not kinked.
• Dry out the base for a leak code. For Bosch E15 or LG AE, a one-off overspill can trigger the float switch. Drying the base can clear it, but a code that keeps coming back means a real leak.

Anything beyond this, opening the machine, accessing the pump, testing the motor, sensors or control board, is not a DIY job. Those parts carry water and mains electricity together, so they need a licensed technician for your safety and to avoid damaging the machine.

When to call a professional

If the code keeps returning after you have reset the machine, cleaned the filter and checked the hose, the fault is inside the machine, the drain pump, motor, a sensor, the control board or an internal leak. That is where our team comes in. CAI Appliance Services provides dishwasher repairs across Perth, with fully qualified mobile technicians who come to you.

This is one area where CAI’s brand credentials genuinely matter. We are an authorised service agent for Bosch, Electrolux and their affiliate brands, and we regularly repair LG, Fisher & Paykel, Samsung, Miele and Westinghouse dishwashers as well. That means diagnostics done with the correct procedures and the right genuine parts for your machine, whether it is throwing a Bosch E-code or an LG two-letter code. We have repaired Perth appliances for over 25 years and hold a 4.8 star rating from more than 360 reviews. Quote the error code when you book and call CAI on 0415 343 413.

Frequently asked questions

Still stuck on a dishwasher fault? Read our related guides on a dishwasher that is not draining, how to clean a dishwasher filter and how to clean a dishwasher, or book a Perth technician with CAI.