Bosch Dishwasher E25 Error: Clear the Drain Pump in 20 Minutes

E25 is one of the more annoying Bosch codes, because it tends to appear mid-cycle, with a tub of grey water and dishes you still need. The good news: on most machines it has one cause, and it sits inside the dishwasher where you can reach it. You do not need to pull the machine out or buy anything before you have looked.

First tell E25 apart from its neighbours. E24 means the water did not leave in time, usually a hose or filter problem, and E22 means the filter is clogged. E25 points at the pump itself: something is stuck in the impeller, or the pump cover is loose or missing. If you just cleaned the filter for E22 or E24 and now see E25, the cover is the first suspect.

Start With These 30-Second Checks

1. 1If you smell burning or the breaker has tripped, stop here: leave the breaker off and call a technician.
2. 2Note whether the tub has standing water. Water in the bottom plus E25 almost always means a jam, not an electrical fault.
3. 3Think back: did a glass break, or did you wash jars with labels, fruit, or anything with toothpicks lately? That is usually the culprit.
4. 4If you cleaned the filter recently, remember whether the small white pump cover under it went back in. A missing or loose cover shows E25 on its own.
5. 5Cancel the stuck program the way your manual describes; on many Bosch models you hold Start for about three seconds. If the pump then drains and the code clears, something may have shaken loose, so clean the pump anyway before the next wash.

1. Bail Out the Water and Lift Out the Filter

You cannot see the pump cover through standing water, and scooping blind is how people cut their fingers.

1. 1Unplug the dishwasher or turn off its breaker, let hot water cool for 20 minutes, and put on rubber gloves.
2. 2Pull the lower rack all the way out and set it aside.
3. 3Bail the water into a bucket with a cup, then soak up the rest with a sponge or an old towel until the sump is empty.
4. 4Twist the round filter in the middle of the floor counterclockwise and lift it out; the flat mesh plate around it comes out with it or right after.
5. 5Rinse both under a warm tap and set them aside. If they were clogged, that was part of the problem, but keep going: E25 lives one level lower.

2. Remove the Pump Cover and Clear the Impeller

In the sump under the filters there is a small white or translucent plastic cover with a tab. The impeller, a small plastic wheel with vanes, sits right beneath it.

1. 1Unplug the dishwasher or turn off its breaker if you have not already, put on rubber gloves and bail out any water. The impeller must not be able to turn while your fingers are near it.
2. 2Prise the cover up at its tab with a teaspoon, grip it by the lug, pull it upwards until it resists, then pull it forwards and out. It clips in; it does not unscrew.
3. 3Shine a flashlight into the opening and look for glass, fruit seeds, bone, bottle labels, lids or toothpicks between the vanes.
4. 4Pick the debris out with needle nose pliers or tweezers rather than bare fingers. Glass shards hide under the vanes.
5. 5Turn the impeller gently with a gloved fingertip or the end of the spoon. It should turn freely, with a slightly notchy feel that is normal for this type of pump. If it will not move at all, something is still wedged in it.
6. 6Press the cover back down until the tab clicks. A cover left sitting proud, or left out, triggers E25 by itself.

3. Refit the Filter and Run a Test Drain

Once the impeller turns freely, put everything back in the right order and test with a short program before you load dishes.

1. 1Keep the dishwasher unplugged or its breaker off while your hands are in the tub.
2. 2Lay the flat mesh plate back so it sits flat in the floor, then drop the round filter in and twist it clockwise until the arrows line up and it locks.
3. 3Slide the lower rack back in and close the door.
4. 4If the breaker had tripped along with E25, or you smelled burning, leave it off and call a technician. Otherwise, with your hands clear, plug the dishwasher back in or turn its breaker back on.
5. 5Run the Rinse or Pre-rinse program if your model has one, otherwise the shortest program. Listen for the pump humming and the water leaving within a few minutes.
6. 6Open the door at the end. A dry sump and no code means you are done.

4. Check the Pump Cover Is Not Cracked

If E25 comes straight back after the test, look at the cover itself. A cracked cover or a broken tab lets the pump suck air and throw the code even with nothing jammed.

1. 1Unplug the dishwasher or turn off its breaker again, and put on gloves, before you reach in.
2. 2Lift out the filter and unclip the cover as before.
3. 3Check the tab and the rim for cracks, and the soft sealing lip for splits.
4. 4If it is damaged, order a new pump cover by your model number, printed on the label on the inside edge of the door. It is a small plastic part, usually around $10 to $20.
5. 5Press the new cover in until it clicks and refit the filter, then restore power with your hands clear and run a rinse to test.

5. When the Impeller Is Clear but E25 Stays: the Drain Pump

If the impeller turns freely, the cover is intact and the code still returns, the pump motor may have failed, or its wiring has a fault. That is a different job.

1. 1With the dishwasher unplugged or its breaker off and gloves on, check once more that nothing is stuck below the impeller. A toothpick can wedge across the outlet where you cannot see it.
2. 2Click the pump cover back in and refit the filter, then restore power with your hands clear, close the door and run a rinse. Silence where the pump hum should be, or a hum with no water moving, points to the pump.
3. 3Note the model number from the door label and look up a replacement drain pump. The part usually runs roughly $40 to $80.
4. 4Fitting it means turning off the breaker and the water valve under the sink, disconnecting both hoses and laying the dishwasher on its back with a helper. If that is further than you want to go, a technician typically charges around $100 to $200 to fit it.

6. When to Call a Pro

Call a technician if any of these apply, or if you would rather not tip a heavy appliance.

1. 1The impeller will not turn even with nothing visible in it.
2. 2E25 appears together with a burning smell or a tripped breaker. Leave the breaker off until someone has looked at it.
3. 3There is water under the dishwasher, or E15 shows alongside E25.
4. 4The new pump cover will not click in, or the pump housing is cracked.
5. 5The dishwasher is still under warranty. Opening panels yourself can void it, while the steps above only use parts you are meant to remove.