Bosch Washer E18 and Water That Sits in the Tub

What E18 means

When E18 appears, usually with F18 on some displays, the washer has been unable to move any water out of the drum at all. Nothing drains, so the tub stays full of dirty water and the cycle cannot proceed. Among Bosch washer codes this is one of the most frequently seen, and the cause is usually something small that has found its way into the pump area.

Common causes of E18

Filter jammed with coins, buttons or other pocket items
Drain pump worn out or damaged
Drain hose pinched or clogged

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Unplug the washer. 2. Open the little door at the lower front. 3. Lay towels down and put a shallow baking pan under the filter. 4. Turn the filter slowly counterclockwise and let water trickle out; empty the pan as needed. 5. Remove coins, buttons and lint, rinse the filter, and seat it firmly. 6. Close the panel, restore power and test with a rinse and spin.

! Why to stop there

Dirty water behind the filter can run across the floor quickly, and mixing water with a plugged-in cord is a real hazard.
If the filter is clear and E18 persists, the pump is likely failing, and forcing the filter or probing the housing will not help.
Dropping the filter cap or fitting it crooked is a common way to turn a blockage into a leak.

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.

→Same appliance

Other Washer codes

dr:15Bosch Washer dr:15 Gives an Early Warning From the Power Limiter dr:19Bosch Washer dr:19 Shows That the Motor Phases Don't Match dr:20Bosch Washer dr:20 Signals a Shorted Inverter Output Stage dr:21Sustained High Voltage and Bosch Washer dr:21 dr:22Bosch Washer dr:22 Reports Failure of the Inverter's Own Temperature Sensor dr:11dr:11 on a Bosch Washer Means Supply Voltage Sags Under the Motor's Demand Er:21Bosch Washer Er:21 Reports Too Much Foam Er:22Er:22 on a Bosch Washer That Can't Lock On to the Power Supply

E18E18 questions

What usually causes the filter to clog?

Items that slip out of pockets and small fabric fibers. Coins, hairpins, buttons and tissue gather in the filter first because it was designed to trap them before they reach the pump.

Will this error come back after I clean the filter?

If the filter was the problem, it should not return until debris builds up again. Checking it every few months keeps it clear. A return within days suggests the pump or hose.

How much water should I expect to come out?

More than people expect. The filter sits below the water line, so a full tub can release a few quarts. That is why we suggest a pan, towels and slow turning of the cap.