Bosch Dishwasher Won’t Start: Door Latch, Delay Start, and Common Fault Codes

If your Bosch dishwasher won’t start, start with the boring checklist Bosch itself lists first: door fully latched, unit powered on, previous cycle canceled or finished, Delay Start cleared, breaker/outlet OK, Child Lock off (on models that have it), a wash cycle actually selected before you close the door, and the water supply turned on. Only after those fail does a displayed fault code become the useful clue — and even then, the codes that most often block a start or look like a “dead” machine are leak protection (E15 / E3100), fill problems (E16–E18 and cousins), drain/filter faults (E22–E25 and related codes), or a door-sensor fault (E06 / E8000).

This is not a claim to list every Bosch fault code ever shipped. Bosch’s own U.S. support pages already publish a long model-dependent list, and manuals for different families use slightly different wording. Below is a homeowner-first path for “won’t start,” plus a curated table of the common codes that show up in Bosch’s current U.S. dishwasher fault-code guides, with an honest pointer back to your model’s manual. This guide was substantially rewritten and re-fact-checked in August 2026.

Key takeaways

• Most “won’t start” calls are not exotic electronics — Bosch’s troubleshooting table and U.S. support page put door latch, Delay Start, power, Child Lock, cycle selection, and water supply ahead of board replacement.
• Many Bosch models pause if the door stays open more than about four seconds after you press Start; press Start again and close the door (unintentional-operation protection).
• A displayed code is model-family specific. Use Bosch’s published meaning for that code, then confirm in the PDF for your exact model number.
• E15 / E3100 means leak protection saw water in the base — Bosch’s guidance is turn off the water inflow and call support, not keep running cycles.
• E22–E25 (and related drain codes) are usually filter, pump cover, hose, air gap, or disposal knockout issues you can often clear yourself before paying for a service call.

Quick path when it has power but will not start

Bosch’s U.S. dishwasher troubleshooting page splits the problem into “has power but won’t start” versus “no power.” For the first case, their order is straightforward:

1. Door fully latched. An unlatched door will not start — Bosch also notes beeping-without-start is often the same issue. Shut until you feel/hear the latch engage.
2. Child Lock. If the panel ignores buttons, deactivate Child Lock using the hold-button sequence in your manual (often a few seconds until “CL” clears or the lock LED goes out). Button labels vary by model.
3. Latch / lock hardware. If the door seems closed but never “clicks,” or the latch is broken, Bosch treats that as a repair — not a software trick.
4. Power cycle. Disconnect power for at least five seconds (or longer if your manual’s reset steps say so), restore power, select a cycle, and try Start again.

U.S. use-and-care manuals expand the same idea into a formal “Dishwasher does not start” table. Across manuals such as Bosch’s 9001124247 use-and-care and the earlier 9000373507 instructions, the usual causes are: door not latched, unit not on, previous cycle not reset/completed, Delay Start engaged, power interruption, door closed without selecting a cycle, water supply off — and on select models, Child Lock active. That list is worth more than guessing at a control board.

Delay Start that looks like a dead machine

Delay Start is easy to miss. Some panels show a delay LED; others show something like H01 / h02 for a one- or two-hour delay. Bosch’s U.S. error-code guide explicitly notes that H01-style delay-timer displays are not fault codes — clear the timer back to 00 / h:00 per your manual, then press Start. If someone set a long delay last night and walked away, the machine will sit there looking “broken” until the timer expires.

The four-second Start / door rule

On many newer Bosch lines, the dishwasher is protected against unintentional operation: after you press Start, the door must close within a few seconds or the cycle pauses. Bosch’s quick reference / safety guide 9001831786 states that if the door stays open more than four seconds after Start (or the cycle is interrupted), press Start again and close the door. People often describe this as “it won’t start” when they pressed Start, got distracted, and never re-armed the cycle.

No power at all

If nothing lights up, Bosch’s support page starts with cord/outlet, testing the receptacle with another device, and checking the breaker or fuse. Top-control models often only illuminate the display when the door is open enough to see the console — a dark strip with the door shut can be normal. E27 / E9001 on Bosch’s code list means house supply voltage to the unit is too low; after a breaker reset, repeated occurrence is an electrician job, not a detergent problem.

How to read a Bosch fault code without overclaiming

Bosch publishes dishwasher fault codes on its U.S. owner-support pages (for example the master list at bosch-home.com dishwasher error codes and the parallel troubleshooting guide). Those pages cover classic Exx codes, longer Exxxx forms used on some electronics, LED flash patterns, and a few symbols. They also say: if your code is not listed, call Bosch with the model number ready.

Two honesty notes before the table:

• Same symptom, different code string. Leak-in-base shows as E15 on many machines and E3100 on others. Drain/filter issues appear as E22–E25, E6101–E6103, E9240, or “4 LEDs flashing,” depending on the control. Treat the meaning as what matters; do not force-fit a neighbor’s code onto your panel.
• Manuals can disagree across regions/years. Always prefer the PDF for your model number from Bosch’s owner-manuals lookup. The meanings below are taken from Bosch’s current U.S. support wording, not from third-party “complete code” blogs.

Common Bosch dishwasher fault codes (curated)

This table is a practical subset — fill, drain, leak, door, and low-voltage codes that either stop a start or stop a cycle early. It is not every code on Bosch’s site (board/heater/Zeolite codes exist too; those usually need a technician after a reset).

Code (examples)	Bosch’s published meaning (U.S. support)	Homeowner first move
E06 / E8000; flashing Clean lights	Door sensor circuit fault	Confirm door latches cleanly; power-cycle ~30 seconds at breaker; if it returns, service
E12 / E2060	Limescale build-up in the heat pump	Descale per Bosch instructions; use softener salt if your model has a softener
E14 / E3000	Flow meter failure or fill-system issue	Confirm water is on; then contact Bosch — not a casual DIY sensor swap for most owners
E15 / E3100; flashing Active lights	Safety switch detected water in the base (leakage protection)	Turn off water inflow; call Bosch at 1-800-944-2904
E16 / E17 / E3300 / E3400	Water cannot enter / fill-system issue	Check inlet hose for kinks or damage; verify shutoff is open
E18 / E3200	Water level too low or not pumped correctly	Inlet hose OK; supply on; Bosch cites ~10 L/min flow rate
E22 / E9240	Filter blocked (and related drain checks on some pages)	Clean filter; check pump cover, hose, air gap
E23 / E6101	Drain pump blocked, clogged, or faulty	Clear obvious debris; if it persists, call Bosch
E24 / E6103	Not draining / drain filter blocked (plus hose/pump/disposal checks)	Clean filter & pump area; unkink hose; remove disposal knockout if newly installed
E25 / E6102	Drain pump blocked or pump cover loose/missing	Seat pump cover until it clicks; clear pump debris carefully
E27 / E9001	House power supply to the unit too low	Breaker reset once; recurring = electrician
H01 / h02…	Delay-start timer menu — not a fault	Clear delay to 00 / h:00

Meanings above track Bosch’s U.S. dishwasher error-code pages. Individual self-help articles (for example E15 and E25) match that wording and are worth opening when you have that exact code.

What to do for the codes that actually stop starts

E15 / E3100 — water in the base

This is the one I would not “clear and ignore.” Bosch’s published guidance is consistent: the safety switch saw water in the base and leakage protection activated — turn off the water inflow and contact Bosch Customer Support (1-800-944-2904). A hard reset might blank the display temporarily, but if water is still in the base the code returns. Looking for the leak (loose hose clamp, cracked sump, oversuds overflow) is reasonable while you wait for service; running more wash cycles is not.

E16–E18 and fill cousins — won’t fill / low water

Bosch’s first homeowner checks are mechanical: inlet hose kinked or damaged, shutoff valve not fully open, and for E18/E3200 a supply that can deliver about 10 liters per minute. Also confirm the house water is actually on to that valve — after plumbing work or a vacation shutoff, dishwashers get blamed for a closed angle stop. If the hose and supply check out and the code remains, Bosch’s pages send you to support rather than a freehand flow-meter repair.

E22–E25 — filter, drain, pump cover

These are the highest-yield DIY codes. Bosch’s steps, summarized:

• Filter: Remove the filter system, wash under running water with mild soap and a soft brush, reinstall firmly. A packed filter can look like “won’t drain / won’t continue.”
• Pump cover: Under the filter, the drain-pump cover must click fully closed. A loose cover is specifically called out for E25 / E6102.
• Pump cavity: With power disconnected, clear debris and standing water. Bosch warns some debris can be sharp — glass shards show up here more often than people expect.
• Hose / air gap: Unkink the drain hose; clear an air gap if you have one; temporarily drain into a bucket to prove the hose is clear.
• New disposal: If the dishwasher drain ties into a garbage disposal, confirm the knockout plug was removed at install — a classic E24 cause on Bosch’s E24 guidance.

After cleanup, reset (see below) and run a short rinse or empty cycle. If E23 / E6101 returns with a clear pump, Bosch’s pages treat the pump as potentially faulty and point to support.

E12 — limescale / descaling

E12 / E2060 is limescale in the heat pump on Bosch’s U.S. list. Their fix path is descaling (Bosch sells a descaler) and, on softener-equipped models, using dishwasher salt. Hard-water areas see this more often. Descale with the tub empty and follow the product directions — do not improvise with random acids that can damage seals.

E06 / E8000 — door sensor

If the machine refuses to start and shows a door-sensor fault, re-check the latch strike and that nothing in the top rack is holding the door open a hair. Power-cycle at the breaker for about 30 seconds as Bosch suggests. Persistent E06 / E8000 is usually a sensor/lock or control issue for a technician — not something to bypass.

How to reset after you fix the cause

Clearing a code without fixing the cause is theater. Once you’ve addressed the latch, delay, filter, or hose, Bosch’s U.S. error-code guide describes a typical reset: power off (button or breaker), wait about a minute, restore power, then run a short empty test cycle. Some self-help pages say ~30 seconds at the breaker; your model’s manual may specify canceling a cycle by holding Start/Reset for several seconds. Use the sequence that matches your PDF if the generic reset fails.

When to stop and call a pro (or Bosch)

Call Bosch (1-800-944-2904) or a qualified appliance tech when:

• You have E15 / E3100 or other leak-protection indications (flashing Active lights on some panels) — shut the water off first.
• Door latch/lock is physically broken, or E06 / E8000 returns after a clean latch and reset.
• Fill or drain codes remain after hose, filter, pump-cover, air-gap, and disposal checks.
• Board/heater/Zeolite-style codes (E01–E05, E07, E09–E10, and many Exxxx cousins on Bosch’s list) return after a reset — those are not filter jobs.
• You smell burning, see scorched wiring, or breakers trip repeatedly — that leaves DIY territory.
• The unit is under warranty and you do not want a DIY step to complicate coverage — open a support ticket with the model and FD number from the door sticker.

I’m a homeowner researching manufacturer docs, not a Bosch-authorized technician. Electrical work inside the machine, sealed leak trays, and control-board diagnosis are where “I’ll just fix it myself” should hand off.

How this page was researched

Claims about won’t-start causes and fault-code meanings were checked against Bosch / BSH U.S. owner-support pages and sample U.S. manuals (linked above), not against forum folklore. The old “all error codes” framing is gone on purpose: Bosch’s published list is longer than a single blog post should pretend to own, and code text can shift by control generation. If your display shows a code not in the curated table, use Bosch’s full list and your model PDF before buying parts.