Bosch Dishwasher Buttons Not Responding (9 Surefire Ways to FIX It!)
Bosch brand dishwashers come packed with exciting features, making them some of the most sought-after dishwashers on the market. However, all appliances will become faulty at some point. In this case, you may notice Bosch dishwasher buttons not responding.
Bosch dishwasher buttons typically stop responding because of a problem with the power, the door, or the control panel. Start by ensuring it’s plugged in with no electrical interruption. Check the child lock setting and the manual lock. Hold down the reset button for 3-5 seconds or unplug the dishwasher for 30 minutes to reset the control panel.
Keep reading for all the top reasons your dishwasher buttons might not be working, plus what you can do to fix it without spending big money on a service call!
Reasons and fixes for Bosch dishwasher buttons not responding
If your household is anything like mine, the dishwasher is a critical component to ensuring the kitchen stays relatively clean. Dishes that have to be washed by hand pile up after dinner so it’s devastating in a first-world-problem kind of way when the dishwasher stops working. If the buttons on your dependable Bosch dishwasher have stopped working, what do you do?
Your Bosch dishwasher buttons may have stopped responding for a variety of reasons. To find out the problem, ask yourself these questions:
- Does it have power? Just like rebooting your computer if there’s an issue, before you dive into serious troubleshooting for your dishwasher, you should make sure it’s plugged in! Before moving on, check your breaker as well.
- Are any buttons responding? If none of the buttons respond, check if the child lock has been activated. If some buttons are responding, either your touchpad or your control panel may need to be replaced.
- Is the door closing completely? This may seem obvious, but you may need a multimeter to confirm if the door latch and microswitch are activated. If the dishwasher is not registering as completely closed, none of the buttons will work.
Let’s look at all the potential reasons your Bosch dishwasher buttons might not be responding.
Bosch dishwasher is not getting power
Of course, you know that your dishwasher needs electricity to run, but determining if it has power isn’t always as easy as looking around to find out if the lights are still on.
If your dishwasher isn’t responding, it’s possible that the appliance has come unplugged or that the associated circuit breaker has been tripped.
Admittedly, pulling out your dishwasher to check that it’s still plugged in isn’t always the easiest job, but it’s certainly quicker than calling a professional!
How to fix this problem
Since there are several reasons your dishwasher might not be receiving power, you may need to take several steps to fix the issues.
To restore lost power to your dishwasher, you should:
- Reset the breaker
- Plug the dishwasher back in
- Confirm the outlet is working
Reset the breaker
If something has tripped the power, you’ll need to reset the before you can use anything that’s on that on that line.
Find the breaker box in your house. Hopefully, everything is labeled so it’ll be easy to find the one that supplies power to the dishwasher. If not, try running your hands along the sides of the breakers – if one of them stands out as facing the wrong way, that’s the problem.
It’s important to remember that circuit breakers trip in order to protect the circuit. Typically this happens when you’re trying to draw too much power at once. (Think adding an extra air conditioner in the middle of the summer.) If the circuit breaker trips again, either you’ve got too many things plugged in or there’s an issue with your circuit.
Plug the dishwasher back in
If your first reaction is asking why this isn’t the first step, you’ve probably never tried to pull your dishwasher out!
Slide your dishwasher out of its alcove. If it’s unplugged, plug it back in. Confirm that the control panel is responsive before returning the dishwasher to its proper place.
If possible, slide an old towel under the dishwasher before trying to slide it out. Most fit snugly into place and you don’t want to risk scratching your floor.
Ensure your hands are dry before plugging the dishwasher back in. While you’re back there, you should also check the cord for any damage. Don’t plug the cord back in if any wires are exposed.
Confirm the outlet is working
If plugging the dishwasher back in doesn’t help, test the outlet while it’s still pulled out.
To confirm the outlet is working, test it out with either an electrical tester or something small that you already know works.
If you happen to have a GFCI tester on hand, the lights will indicate if the outlet is functioning. Unless you’re planning on using it again, I don’t recommend buying even this relatively inexpensive tool just to check your dishwasher.
Instead, plug a nightlight or other small item into the outlet in question. If it lights up, the outlet works; if it doesn’t, chances are you need an electrician.
Bosch dishwasher buttons not working
Once you’ve confirmed that the dishwasher has power, it’s time to dig into the buttons themselves. Depending on which ones are or aren’t working, you may be able to at least narrow down the problem.
If the buttons aren’t working at all, the child lock may be activated. However, if some or all of the buttons aren’t responding, the problem may be with either the control panel or touchpad.
Given that the best way to determine if the issue is the touchpad or the control panel, you probably won’t be able to repair that issue yourself unless you’re prepared to disassemble your dishwasher and install the replacement elements.
The child lock feature could be active
Most of the time, Bosch’s child look feature is helpful. When activated, the child lock makes it impossible for children to change the dishwasher’s setting in the middle of a cycle.
Once the child lock is activated, all of the buttons are unresponsive.
Even if you don’t remember activating the child lock, it’s a good practice to check both the control panel and manual locks to ensure something wasn’t triggered accidentally.
How to fix this problem
If the child lock is activated, the buttons will be unresponsive, but CL will appear on the control panel.
To deactivate the child lock on your Bosch dishwasher, hold down the lock button for 3-5 seconds.
Consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions on how to activate and deactivate your child lock.
You can download a PDF of your owner’s manual on the Bosch website. You’ll need the model number, but this can be very helpful if you’ve misplaced yours!
Faulty main control board
If your Bosch dishwasher’s button isn’t responding, there is a chance that the main control board is the culprit.
The main control board is a vital part of the dishwasher. It regulates nearly all the functions of the appliance.
If your control board is faulty, don’t expect the buttons on the machine to respond.
How to fix this problem
The dishwasher’s main control board is often misdiagnosed. Nevertheless, it is a crucial part of the machine. If you have the technical knowledge and wouldn’t mind fixing your dishwasher’s main control board problem yourself, start with testing the components on the board.
You’ll find several components on the main control board. Test each of them to know which one has a problem. If you find any blown or damaged components on the control board, get a new one to replace it.
You’ll need a multimeter and the wiring diagram for your dishwasher to check the individual components.
Faulty touchpad
Just like with the control panel, a faulty touchpad can render an otherwise good dishwasher completely nonfunctional.
A faulty touchpad can lead to some or all of the Bosch dishwasher buttons not responding. Turn on the dishwasher and press various buttons. If some of them work and others don’t, chances are the touchpad is faulty.
Unfortunately, if the touchpad is found to be faulty, it will need to be replaced.
While the information may be applicable to other brands, this article specifically addresses what to do if your Bosch dishwasher buttons aren’t responding.
Here are 8 reasons your Samsung dishwasher touchpad might not be working – and how to fix them!
How to fix this problem
While you may be disappointed to learn that your touchpad needs to be replaced, it’s still better than replacing the whole dishwasher!
The only way you can fix the touchpad and get your dishwasher’s buttons to start working is to replace it. Note that you can’t repair a defective touchpad.
Some manufacturers may decide to sell the touchpad and control panel separately, while others often bundle them. Given the option, it’s wise to replace both of them since the only way to determine which one is defective is often to replace one and find out if it fixes the problem.
Dishwasher door is not properly closed
While your dishwasher is definitely a kitchen workhorse, it’s likely not given enough credit for everything it does beyond simply getting your plates clean. In this case, it protects your floor, your entire kitchen, and your family by not starting with the door open. Unfortunately, this can turn into an inconvenience if you don’t realize the door isn’t completely closed.
Your dishwasher door may be registering as open because of a(n):
- Blockage
- Activated manual child lock
- Malfunctioning door latch
Since your Bosch dishwasher buttons might not be responding because the door is open, let’s check out all the ways it might be stuck open.
Dishwasher door is blocked
If your Bosch dishwasher’s buttons don’t respond when pressed, you should check its door, as there’s a chance that the door wasn’t properly closed.
In some Bosch dishwashers, you’ll discover that the start button won’t respond when you don’t properly shut the door.
Note that the start button isn’t the same as the on and off switch on the appliance.
How to fix this problem
The first thing you need to do is to find out why the door isn’t properly shut.
Common reasons the door isn’t closing completely is a pan handle or similar pushing against the door or an uneven adjustable rack. Adjust the contents of the dishwasher and correct the rack setting if necessary.
This may sound like an obvious one, but that rack issue has gotten me several times!
Activated manual child lock
We addressed the panel-based child lock setting previously, but this section applies specifically to the manual lock found on some Bosch dishwasher models.
The manual child lock is a physical latch that ensures the child can’t open the dishwasher either during or after the cleaning cycle.
If the child latch has been switched into the active position while open, it will impede the door’s closing.
How to fix this problem
Once you’ve figured out where the child lock latch on your Bosch dishwasher is, this is an easy check.
If your manual child lock is activated while the door is in the open position, deactivate it, close the door, and attempt to start the dishwasher again.
Consult the user’s manual for your specific model dishwasher for exactly how to activate and deactivate the manual lock.
Malfunctioning door latch
The final thing you should check when your bosch dishwasher control panel isn’t responding is the mechanical door latch.
The door latch clicks into place, but it can wear out or become displaced.
The good news is replacing the door latch isn’t expensive or difficult if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and get your DIY on.
How to fix this problem
Replacing the door latch on your dishwasher is relatively easy.
To replace the dishwasher latch
- Turn off the power – Either flip the breaker or unplug the dishwasher.
- Slide the dishwasher out from under the counter. A couple of inches should be fine.
- Remove the latch assembly cover that is located on top of the body of the dishwasher to reveal the latch.
- Remove the screw from the latch assembly and lift it out.
- Install the replacement latch, being sure to screw it back in to the assembly. It’s a good idea to test the latch before putting everything back.
- Replace the latch assembly cover.
- Put the dishwasher back in place and turn the power back on.
Before dissembling your dishwasher, make sure you have the new latch ready to go!
Why can’t I change the settings on my Bosch dishwasher?
Even if the power and start buttons on your dishwasher are working, it’s possible you might not be able to change the settings.
You can’t change the settings on your Bosch dishwasher because the control board might be faulty or require a reset.
You can also fix this problem by allowing the control panel to hard reset itself.
How do I reset the control panel on my Bosch dishwasher?
It’s not possible to repair a damaged dishwasher control panel, but you may be able to reset it.
You have two options when resetting your Bosch dishwasher:
- Manual reset – Hold down the reset button on your dishwasher for 3-5 seconds. You may need to hold it down in conjunction with the start button.
- Hard reset – Sometimes even your dishwasher needs a break! Unplug the appliance from the wall and leave it that way for 39 minutes. This will allow the control panel to discharge any residual
A Handy Tip: Newer models don’t have a separate reset button and you will only need to hold down the start button.
Bosch support and warranty
If the above fixes did not work for you, please contact Bosch customer care.
Tel: 1-800-944-2904
Text “SUPPORT” to 21432 for quick access to online resources such as owner manuals, servicer finder, FAQs, how-to videos, warranties, and parts & accessories search.
Conclusion
There are several things that can cause your Bosch dishwasher buttons to stop responding.
It’s possible that the power supply has come unplugged or that a breaker has been tripped. While less likely, the wall outlet itself may need to be replaced.
If the dishwasher is getting power, it’s possible that either the child lock setting or a manual child lock is engaged. The former will render all buttons nonfunctional until it’s turned off, while the manual lock may block the door from closing completely.
Finally, the problem might be a component that needs to be replaced. This could be the control board, the touchpad, or the door latch.
Before you start ordering parts or calling in a professional, try resetting the control panel.
Even if you’re not up to a full disassembly, there are several easy steps you can take yourself that are likely to get your dishwasher up and running again!
