Bosch washing machine E18 error code
What E18 means on a Bosch washing machine
Drain fault, the machine cannot empty the drum.
Meaning checked by NAC's engineers, 9 November 2026.
What our engineers say
E18 on a Bosch washing machine is a drain fault. It means the machine cannot empty the drum, so you will usually find it has stopped draining and water may be left inside.
Engineers sometimes find a blockage somewhere along the way out: in the filter, the drain pump, the drain hose or the pipe at the bottom of the drum. Small items such as coins, buttons or a colour catcher sheet can get lodged there and stop the water leaving. Sometimes the machine itself is fine and the blockage is in the waste pipe under the sink, or there is an air lock in the drain pipe. Engineers also sometimes find that the drain pump itself has failed.
An engineer typically checks the filter, makes sure the pump turns freely, looks along the drain hose and the waste connection under the sink, and tests the pump. The usual fix is clearing the blockage and then running a rinse and spin to make sure the machine drains properly. If the pump has failed it is replaced. A filter cap that is jammed tight can break as it is freed and need replacing. Either part may have to be ordered and fitted at a second visit.
Written by our engineers from NAC's own jobs.
Faults this code turns up with
What our engineers found and fixed for each, from NAC's own repair records, with Bosch's own figures where we have enough of them.
What our engineers found and fixed
These figures come from NAC's own repair records: 58 washing machine jobs our engineers attended where the appliance showed this code. Here is what they found, what fixed it and what it typically cost.
- Jobs attended
- 58
- Confirmed repairs
- 42
- This is not a success rate. Jobs inside their 60-day window, jobs still being classified, jobs held for review and visits that didn't end in a repair aren't counted.
- Fixed at the first appointment
- 60%
- about 3 in 5 of our repairs
- Typical total paid by customers
- £102 to £148
- including parts and VAT, from 39 repairs
No single cause has enough confirmed repairs behind it yet to show for this code.
About the price. £102 to £148 is the typical total paid by customers, including parts and VAT: the middle half of what customers paid on 39 of these repairs. Repairs paid for by manufacturers and insurers aren't counted, because that work is charged at contract rates. It's a guide, not a quote. Your engineer confirms a fixed price before any work starts.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the washing machine off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- An error code tells you where to look, not that it's safe to take the washing machine apart. Don't remove panels or covers to get at the parts it points to: that's an engineer's job.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
Rather leave it to us?
- Fixed-price quote before any work starts
- Same or next-day visits where available
- UK-wide engineer coverage