Bosch Dishwasher E15 Error Code: What It Means and How to Fix It
Updated · from manufacturer service documentation
The E15 code on a Bosch dishwasher means the Aquastop leak-detection system found water in the base pan and shut the machine down as a safety measure. Bosch doesn't publish a service manual with E15 in its diagnostic tables for current platforms — but the mechanism is the same protective system documented on older Bosch platforms under a different code number (E5, "safety float water level reached"): a float switch in the base detects standing water and stops the dishwasher before it can leak further.
What Causes the E15 Code
| Cause | Likelihood | DIY difficulty | Related part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water inlet valve not fully re-seated after closing | Common | Easy — check valve seating | Water inlet valve |
| Water already present in the base pan from a prior leak | Common | Easy — check and dry base | — |
| Float or float switch stuck/faulty | Less common | Moderate — check float assembly | Float switch |
| Aquastop supply hose damaged (dual-line leak into the base) | Less common | Pro repair | Aquastop hose |
How to Fix the E15 Error, Step by Step
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Check the float and float switch in the base
This is the documented first check for this class of leak-detection fault on Bosch's own diagnostic platform — the float should move freely and the switch should engage/disengage as expected.
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Check whether there's actually water sitting in the base
If you find standing water, dry it out and look for the source before restarting — running the dishwasher again without finding the leak just risks the same shutdown (or an actual flood).
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Check that the water inlet valve has re-seated properly after closing
A valve that doesn't fully reseat can let a small amount of water continue seeping in, eventually triggering the float switch.
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If your dishwasher uses an Aquastop supply hose, inspect it for damage
Per Bosch's own consumer-facing guidance, these hoses use a dual-line design — an inner water line inside an outer protective jacket. If the inner line develops even a pinhole or crack, water can collect inside the jacket and drain into the base through the hose coupling, triggering E15 without any visible external leak.
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Turn off the water supply and don't run the dishwasher again until the leak source is found
This matches Bosch's own published guidance for this code — if you can't identify the cause yourself, this is the point to contact Bosch support or a technician rather than repeatedly resetting.
Which Models This Applies To
Bosch doesn't currently publish a full service manual covering E15 specifically for recent platforms, so this page combines the safety-float mechanism documented on an older Bosch platform (SHE55P, where the equivalent fault is E5) with Bosch's own consumer support guidance for E15 on current models. If your unit shows E5 instead of E15, treat it as the same underlying leak-detection shutdown — the code number changed between platforms, but the float-switch mechanism is the same.
See also: Bosch dishwasher E24 (drain/flow fault, not a leak), How to reset a Bosch dishwasher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is E15 a dangerous error?
It's a protective shutdown, not damage in progress — the dishwasher stops specifically to prevent a leak from getting worse. But it does mean there's water somewhere it shouldn't be, so don't ignore it.
Can I just reset the dishwasher and keep using it?
Only after you've actually found and dried up the water in the base — clearing the code without finding the leak source means it can trip again on the next cycle, or the underlying leak can continue unnoticed.
What's the difference between E15 and E5 on a Bosch dishwasher?
They're the same type of fault — a float switch detecting water in the base — on different control platforms. Older Bosch dishwashers use E5 for this; newer ones use E15.
Do I need a technician for an E15 error?
For a simple case (valve not reseated, water already dried up), you can often resolve it yourself. If you can't find the leak source, or suspect the Aquastop hose itself has failed, that's worth a technician visit.
Based on the Bosch service documentation for the SHE55P platform (analogous E5 float fault) and Bosch's US consumer support guidance for the E15 error code. Last updated: .