The short answer
E16 on this washing machine means the control sees the door as open — that is what the manufacturer published for it, and no more. The machine will not run a programme it cannot prove the door is shut for, so treat it as out of use. One of the checks below is an owner check, and the rest of the work is behind a panel.
Error codes
Reference| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| E16 | These error codes indicate that the door is open. |
What the machine does alongside the code
- Pressing the door firmly makes the code clear — That pattern points squarely at the latch rather than at the control.
- The door feels shut but the latch does not click home — A door that rests against the seal without engaging reads as open to the control.
What triggers E16, most likely first
- Laundry caught in the door line — It goes first because it is the commonest and it costs nothing: a sleeve or a corner of a duvet through the seal holds the door a fraction off its catch, and a fraction is all the switch needs.
- A failed door switch or lock solenoid — The switch is a consumable on a part that moves every cycle, and when it fails the control sees an open door on a door that is closed.
- A control board that no longer reads the lock circuit — It ranks last because it is the least common of the five and the only one that cannot be confirmed without ruling out the other four first.
Check in this order, and why
- Look at the latch tongue and the striker in daylight — Wear, a bent tongue or a cracked catch is visible and explains the code on its own.
- Run a hand round the seal for a load fouling the door — A sleeve, a tall item or a swollen gasket holds the door off its catch by the small amount the switch needs.
The reset, then the owner-safe checks
- Cut power at the breaker for a minute and restore it — A latched fault that survives a full power cycle is a real fault and not a stored one.
About 5 min
- Push the load back from the seal, close the door with one firm movement and restart — Feel for the catch engaging rather than trusting the sound of the door.
About 5 min
- Check the hinge for sag by watching the gap as the door closes — A door that drops as it swings is a hinge problem presenting as a lock problem.
About 10 min
- STOP HERE if the next move is a meter on the lock terminals — That is the line between an owner check and a service call on this fault.
Before anything is opened
Safety
Unplug the machine or switch off its breaker before any panel comes off — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Close the supply tap before touching a hose, expect standing water when a filter comes out, and never work round the door interlock.
When this is a service call rather than a reset
Call if the latch or the striker is visibly worn, if the harness at the hinge shows chafing, or if the code returns after a full power cycle on a door that closes cleanly.
Neighbouring codes on Bosch washing machines
What this page does not cover
This reading applies to the Bosch washing machine line as a whole, not to one family or model. It does not cover what differs between model lines — wiring colours, connector positions, part numbers and service-mode sequences — which are in your own model manual and which a technician matches to the rating plate rather than to this code. Where a family- or model-specific page for this code exists, it is linked from the code index below and it is the more specific answer.
Links: - [Bosch washing machine error codes](/blog/bosch-washer-error-codes)
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.
