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Bosch Dishwasher E25 Error Code: Pump Blocked or Cover Loose

Fix soonUpdated Checked against Bosch US Owner Support

Also shown or searched as: E:25, E-25

E25 on a Bosch dishwasher means the drain pump is blocked, or the pump cover under the filter is loose or missing. Unplug the dishwasher, take out the filter, pry off the pump cover with a spoon, carefully clear out food and glass, and press the cover back until it clicks. If E25 returns, the pump needs a technician.

What to try first

Safety: Unplug the dishwasher before you reach into the sump. Bosch warns that glass fragments can block the pump, so go slowly and wear gloves; the water can also still be hot right after a cycle.

  1. 1

    Unplug the dishwasher

    Switch it off, then pull the plug or turn off its breaker. Bosch's manual puts this first, before any work at the pump.

  2. 2

    Empty the bottom of the tub

    Pull out both racks, remove the filter system, and soak up the standing water with a sponge so you can see the sump clearly.

  3. 3

    Pry the pump cover off with a spoon

    The pump cover is the small plastic lid at the bottom, under the filter. Bosch's steps: lever it up with a spoon until it clicks, grip it, pull up until you feel resistance, then pull it forward and out. Your owner's manual shows the exact movement for your model.

  4. 4

    Clear the impeller area slowly

    Pick out any food or small objects around the impeller. Bosch warns that sharp debris such as glass can block the pump, so work slowly and wear gloves. Turn the impeller gently to check it moves freely, as Bosch's guidance for other markets asks.

  5. 5

    Check the cover, then press it home until it clicks

    Look the cover over for cracks or broken clips. Set it in place and press down until it clicks. Refit the filter system so the arrow marks line up, and slide the racks back in.

  6. 6

    Power up and run a short cycle

    Plug the dishwasher back in and run a rinse or short cycle while you listen for steady draining. If E25 comes back, Bosch's next step is its customer support.

Most likely causes of E25

  1. 1. A pump cover that is loose or not locked in place (most common)

    You find no blockage under the cover, yet it shifts when you press on its edge instead of staying locked, or E25 appeared soon after someone cleaned the filter area.

  2. 2. Food scraps, glass or a small object jamming the pump (most common)

    You find something caught under the cover when you lift it, or the pump buzzes without moving water.

  3. 3. Hair, floss or string wound around the impeller (common)

    The impeller under the cover feels stiff or stops short when you turn it, with strands wrapped around its hub.

  4. 4. A damaged pump cover whose clips no longer hold (less common)

    The cover will not click in, or it pops back up after you press it down.

  5. 5. A failed drain pump, or a replacement pump that does not match (less common)

    The cover is locked, the impeller turns freely, and E25 still comes back.

When to call a pro

  • E25 returns with the cover locked down and the impeller turning freely.
  • The cover will not lock, or a clip is broken; a technician can confirm the right replacement part.
  • The impeller will not turn, or something is lodged deeper in the pump than you can reach safely.
  • The pump runs in short bursts and stops, or the Clean light comes on although the cycle never finished.

What a E25 repair costs

$100–$400

HomeGuide's 2026 national range for replacing a dishwasher drain pump, parts and labor; the part alone costs $20 to $100. Reseating a loose cover or clearing debris yourself costs nothing; minimum service fees run $70 to $130.

Source

E25 points at the pump, not the hose

Bosch's US support page gives E25 a single sentence: the drain pump is blocked, or the drain pump cover is loose or missing. That names one spot, the small pump at the very bottom of the tub, under the filter. Bosch's general not-draining code is E24, which covers the hose, the sink and the disposal as well.

Bosch's own error-code list gives E24 and E25 the same three checks: the pump, the drain pump hose, and the air gap or drain hose. So if E25 survives a pump cleaning, the hose under the sink is the next place to look.

Bosch's parts note: a loose cover that looks like a dead pump

In 2010 BSH, the company behind Bosch, issued a spare-parts note about Ascenta dishwashers. It says a drain pump cover that was not completely seated and locked lets more water flow to the pump, which raises the pump's load and current draw and sets E:25, with E:23 and E:24 showing now and then as well. The Clean light could come on as if the cycle had ended when it had not.

The note adds that drain pumps and controls had been replaced for nothing because of this. Its repair: remove the cover, check it for damage, clean out debris, and refit it so it locks solidly.

Bosch calls it not an appliance error

The use and care manual for a newer Bosch model with four-digit codes (SHE53B75UC) describes the same situation: the drain pump cover is loose or a foreign object is blocking the pump. That entry, E:61-02, opens with the words not an appliance error, and the fix it gives is to secure the cover so it clicks into place or to clean the pump. On a repair forum thread about a Bosch 300 Series SHE53TF5UC, a technician explains why the click matters: the cover creates the pressure the pump needs to push water out.

When the pump itself is the problem

Sometimes E25 does mean the pump. In that same forum thread, the owner fitted an open-box replacement that ran in short bursts and showed E25 about ten minutes into a cycle. A pump with the same impeller design as the original fixed it. If a pump is replaced, the part should be matched to the E-Nr on the dishwasher's rating label, not just to the look of the old one.

What a technician will check

  • The seat and locking tab of the pump cover: BSH's own parts note shows how a cover can look closed while it is not sealing.
  • The drain pump with the pump taken out, including strands wound around the shaft and whether the impeller is intact.
  • Whether a replacement pump matches the original impeller design, since a mismatched pump can run and still not drain.
  • Power to the pump and the connection to the controls, if the pump does not run at all.

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Questions people ask about Bosch E25

Where is the drain pump cover on a Bosch dishwasher?

It sits in the bottom of the tub, directly under the filter, so you only see it once the filter system is out. It is a small plastic piece that clicks into the sump. Bosch points you to your model's owner's manual for the exact spot, and manuals can be found by model number on Bosch's US owner support site.

The cover is back, but the display still shows E25. What now?

Cancel the cycle first. Bosch's reset is to hold Start, or Reset on some models, for about four seconds; the dishwasher drains what is left and ends the program after roughly a minute. Then open the door, press On/Off, and start a fresh cycle.

How much does it cost to fix a Bosch E25 error?

Nothing, if reseating the cover or clearing debris works. If the pump has failed, HomeGuide's national figures put a replacement at $100 to $400, parts and labor included.

Sources