The short answer
E25 is a drain fault: the table records that the drain pump is blocked, or that its cover is loose or missing. The machine cannot get rid of its water. The cover is the part that catches most owners out — it has to be locked home, and a missing one is a standing fault.
Code table
Reference| code | meaning | owner-checkable |
|---|---|---|
| E25 | An E25 error code indicates the drain pump is blocked or the drain pump cover is loose or missing. | yes |
| E23 | An E23 error code indicates there is an issue with the drain pump. | see page |
| E27 | The house power supply to the unit is too low. | see page |
What you observe
- Dirty water standing in the bottom of the tub — The defining symptom of any drain fault.
- The pump cover is loose, out of place or missing — Exactly what the table names, and it is visible once the filter is out.
- NEAR MISS — the machine drains but leaves dishes dirty — Draining while washing badly is a spray-arm or filter problem instead.
Likeliest causes first
- The pump cover not locked home, or missing — First, because the table names it: the cover directs flow into the impeller, and without it the pump churns instead of pumping.
- Debris trapped at the impeller — Second: glass, stones and labels lodge where the cover was meant to protect, and they stop the impeller turning.
- A failed drain pump — Last: genuine motor failure, once the cover is correct and the impeller is clear.
Check in this order
- Bail out the standing water first — Nothing else can be done with a full tub, and the water will otherwise end up on the floor.
- Remove the filter and inspect the pump area — Check the cover is present and locked, which is exactly what the table points at.
- Check the drain hose and the waste connection — A new waste disposal or a sink trap full of fat blocks the machine from outside.
Owner-safe steps
- Bail the tub out with a jug and finish with a sponge — Get it as dry as you can before anything is unscrewed.
Tools: jug, spongeAbout 20 min
- Lift out the filter assembly and wash it thoroughly — Take it apart as the manual shows; the mesh and the coarse trap both need doing.
Tools: brushAbout 20 min
- Check the drain hose for kinks and the waste spigot for a blanking plug — A new disposal unit fitted with its plug still in place stops the machine draining completely.
About 20 min
Safety first
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. A dishwasher sits on a live circuit and a water supply at once: close the supply valve as well as the breaker, and expect standing water in the base of the tub.
When to call
Call when the filter is clean, the cover is locked home, the impeller turns freely and water still will not leave the machine. At that point the pump itself is the suspect, and it is reached from underneath. Tell the technician what you cleared and whether the pump made any noise — a silent pump and a straining one point at different repairs.
Neighbouring codes — E23 and E27 sit beside E25 and name overlapping hardware, so most checks here carry across. Read the two meanings side by side: where they differ in the part named, the order of the checks changes with them.
What this page does not cover
Read this as the class-level answer. The meaning of E25 here is the one the shared Bosch dishwasher table publishes, which applies to the model lines that use that table and to no others; a family- or model-specific page, where one exists, is linked below and outranks this one for your unit.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
