The short answer
On an AEG dishwasher, unusual noise most often comes back to debris in the drain pump, with a hard object in the sump or the chopper area close behind. Because the machine measures so much of its own behaviour, most faults arrive as a code that is really a timeout — a fill, a drain or a temperature that did not arrive in the window the program allows. That puts the first move in your hands rather than a technician’s: work the checks below in order and stop at the first one that explains what you are seeing.
What you are seeing
- What this fault looks like, and which observations point somewhere else.
- a grinding or rattling that comes and goes with the wash phase
- a hard knock at the start or end of a fill
- a buzz or whine during the drain that was not there before
- Not this fault: if the noise ends with the cycle stopping, read the cycle page
Ranked causes on this platform
- Ranked for an AEG dishwasher, which runs a sensor-driven controller that reports a fault code on the display. No measured frequency exists for this address, so the order is platform judgement rather than a share.
- Debris in the drain pump — Why: The drain pump runs briefly and often, so a piece of grit in it makes a noise that arrives on a schedule rather than continuously.
- A hard object in the sump or the chopper area — Why: A fruit stone, a shard of glass or a bone fragment is the single most common cause and it is free to fix.
- A machine that is not level or not secured — Why: A cabinet with nothing to brace it drums the counter and the cabinetry, and every internal noise is amplified by the install.
- A spray arm striking the load — Why: Tall items in the lower basket and handles hanging through the upper basket stop the arm, and the machine sounds mechanical while the cause is loading.
What to check, in order
- The order follows the ranking above: most likely and cheapest first, nothing needing a meter until everything else is eliminated.
- Debris in the drain pump — Because: the drain pump runs briefly and often, so a piece of grit in it makes a noise that arrives on.
- A hard object in the sump or the chopper area — Because: a fruit stone, a shard of glass or a bone fragment is the single most common cause and it is.
- A machine that is not level or not secured — Because: a cabinet with nothing to brace it drums the counter and the cabinetry, and every internal noise is amplified by the install.
Checks you can safely do yourself
- Isolate the appliance before any panel comes off, and stop at the first step that explains the fault.
- Remove the filter assembly and clear the pump inlet by hand with the machine isolated. — Tools: a torch and gloves — Time estimate: allow half an hour
- Lift out the filter, sponge the sump dry and feel around the impeller cover for anything hard. — Tools: a sponge and gloves — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Check the feet, the level across the tub and whether the mounting brackets are actually fixed. — Tools: a level and a screwdriver — Time estimate: a quarter of an hour
- Stop condition: Stop there: the next step means metering live terminals or opening a sealed system.
Safety first
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel, because a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Isolate the circuit before reaching into the sump, and treat the water in a machine that has just run as hot enough to scald. Never defeat the door latch to run the machine open; the latch switch exists to stop the wash the moment the door moves.
When to call a technician
Call a technician when the noise is a steady bearing whine from the wash pump, when something is audible inside the pump that cannot be reached from the sump, or when the machine has to come out of its cabinet to be opened. Anything that means disconnecting the supply and the drain behind the machine is service work.
The fact bundle for this address was empty, so no warehouse figure appears. Every number on the page is a program safety constant, cited to its publisher. — Sources
General guidance- 1910.147 — The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) — Occupational Safety and Health Administration, fetched 2026-09-06
Other faults documented for this brand and appliance. — Nearest pages of the same kind
What this page does not cover
This page is generalized across every AEG dishwasher family and model number: no family fault list, no model parts list, and no measured figure from the program warehouse. Where a family- or model-specific page exists it goes deeper, and it should be preferred over this one.
Links: - [Common AEG Dishwasher Problems](/blog/aeg-dishwasher-problems) - [AEG Dishwasher: Does Not Clean or Dry](/blog/aeg-dishwasher-cleaning-performance) - [AEG Dishwasher: Controls, Display or Error Code](/blog/aeg-dishwasher-control-fault)
Adjacent pages for what this one rules out. — Where to go next
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
