Lower Cavity Meat Probe Socket Problem on a Bosch Oven, E216

What E216 means

This is the lower-oven twin of the probe socket error. The control sees the probe connect and drop off several times in a row, which Bosch describes as the hot wire shorting to ground. That cavity's probe is turned off while the oven keeps cooking, and a control reset clears the message. Dirty socket contacts and a connector touching cavity metal are the suspected causes.

Common causes of E216

Carbonized spills inside the lower probe socket
Probe connector touching bare cavity metalwork
Probe lead damaged so the connection comes and goes

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Wait until the bottom oven is completely cool, then pull the meat probe out. 2. Shine a flashlight into its socket; grease or a crust of cooked-on food there can bridge the contacts. 3. Wipe it out with a dry cotton swab, no liquid cleaner. 4. Leave the probe out for the next few cooks and see whether the code stays away.

! Why to stop there

Metal tools poked into a socket can short or bend the contacts.
A damaged connector behind the wall will keep triggering the code however clean the socket is.
Moving a built-in oven to reach the back is heavy and risky.

Opening a panel yourself does not automatically cancel a manufacturer warranty, but it can cause accidental damage, and some manufacturers set their own service conditions. Check your warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.

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Other Oven codes

E223Lower Probe Reads Colder Than Allowed (Bosch Oven E223) E226Bosch Oven E226 After the Lower Door Latch Signal Is Lost E207Bosch Oven E207 and a Lower Cavity Door That Refuses to Unlock E215Lower Cavity Overheated and Locked Itself: Bosch Oven E215 E222Bosch Oven E222 Where the Lower Probe Reads Hotter Than Allowed E309Control Module Failed Its Program Memory Check: Bosch Oven E309 E310Bosch Oven E310 Signals a Settings Memory Failure on the Control Module E312The Control Board's Own Heat Sensor Died (Bosch Oven E312)

E216E216 questions

Can I keep baking in this cavity?

Yes. Only the probe function is disabled, and the oven itself works normally. Use a separate thermometer for roasts until the socket is sorted out, and keep the probe unplugged.

Why is the lower socket dirtier?

Drips and splatter from the lower cavity land close to the socket and bake onto the contacts. Wiping spills sooner helps keep the signal clean.

What if the socket is clean and E216 stays?

Then the connector or lead is the likely cause. We inspect both inside the cavity and quote a written price before replacing anything, so you can decide what makes sense.