Bosch Washer E27 Error Code: Causes, Cost & Fix

What is the Bosch Washer E27 error?#

E27 on a Bosch washer is a door-lock error: the machine cannot confirm the door is locked, so it will not start the cycle. Most often the cause is the door lock mechanism or its actuator, but there is a subtle failure worth understanding — Bosch locks use a bimetal element that takes a couple of seconds to heat and engage, and if you hear the lock click but still get E27, the mechanical lock is working and it is the detect microswitch inside the assembly that has failed, leaving the board with no confirmation signal. It is not a hazard, but the washer is fully out of service until the lock reports closed. The first thing to try is the simplest: push the door firmly until it clicks and make sure nothing — a bit of laundry, a warped strike — is keeping it from seating.

E27 on a Bosch Washer: likely causes and repair cost#

On a Bosch Washer, the E27 code signals: door lock error.

Typical professional repair: $120–$250 · Difficulty: moderate · usually a technician job

Symptoms that often accompany E27: Door will not lock; Unit will not start; Lock clicks but cycle does not begin

Technician diagnostic sequence for E27:

1. Ensure door is fully closed — push firmly until it clicks
2. Inspect door strike for alignment — bent strike prevents proper engagement
3. Test door lock assembly continuity (3 terminals: lock/unlock/detect)
4. Check wiring harness at hinge — flex damage is common on door wires

Parts a technician may check or replace: door lock assembly / interlock; door strike plate

Field note: Bosch door locks have a bimetal element that takes 2-3 seconds to heat and engage. If the lock clicks but E27 still appears, the detect microswitch inside the lock assembly is failing — the mechanical lock works but the board gets no confirmation signal.

How to troubleshoot the E27 error yourself#

The table above rates E27 as "moderate" and "usually a technician job," but the first checks are squarely owner territory and sometimes solve it. Begin by closing the door with real firmness — push until you hear and feel it click, since a door that is merely resting looks unlocked to the board. Look along the door strike, the metal hook that enters the lock, and make sure it is straight; a bent strike from a knock or an overstuffed load can stop the latch from fully engaging, and gently correcting alignment can clear E27 with no parts. Check that laundry is not caught in the door boot holding the door proud of its seal. Beyond that, the diagnosis needs a meter. A technician tests the door lock assembly across its three terminals — lock, unlock, and detect — and inspects the wiring harness at the hinge, where repeated flexing every time the door opens is a common cause of a broken conductor. The tell I mentioned matters here: if the lock audibly clicks but E27 stays, the detect microswitch is the failure and the whole lock assembly is usually replaced, since that switch is not sold separately.

Is the Bosch Washer E27 error worth fixing?#

E27 is almost always worth repairing — a washer you cannot start is unusable, and the fix is a contained one. The table above puts it at $120 to $250, covering the door lock assembly and, if needed, the strike plate, plus labor. At the low end, especially if it turns out to be a misaligned strike or a simple lock swap, this is an easy yes on any working machine. Even at $250 for a full lock assembly on a machine that otherwise runs perfectly, the repair is well below the price of replacing the washer. There is rarely a replace argument for E27 as a standalone fault; the only time I would reconsider is if the lock failure lands on a machine already facing other significant repairs and the total approaches half the cost of a new one. For a healthy Bosch, a lock repair restores full use and is money well spent.

Bosch Washer E27: frequently asked questions#

What does the E27 error mean on a Bosch Washer?#

E27 is a door-lock error: the board cannot confirm the door is locked, so the cycle will not start. The cause is usually the lock mechanism or actuator, but sometimes the detect microswitch inside the lock fails while the mechanical lock still works.

Is it safe to keep using a Bosch Washer that shows the E27 error?#

There is no hazard, but the washer will not start at all until the lock reports closed, so it is effectively out of service. Try closing the door firmly and checking the strike alignment before assuming a failed part.

Can I clear the E27 error myself, or do I need a technician?#

You can try closing the door firmly, straightening a bent strike, and clearing laundry from the boot. If the lock clicks but E27 stays, the detect microswitch has failed and the lock assembly needs replacing — that testing and swap is a technician job.

How much does it cost to repair the E27 error on a Bosch Washer?#

The table above lists $120 to $250, covering the door lock assembly or interlock and, if needed, the strike plate, with labor. A misaligned strike can be corrected for far less or nothing.

Which parts usually fail when a washer throws the E27 code?#

The door lock mechanism is the most common failure, followed by the lock actuator, with a wiring fault less common. A distinctive case is the detect microswitch failing inside the lock — the door locks audibly but the board never gets confirmation.

Is a Bosch Washer with the E27 error worth repairing?#

Almost always. A washer that will not start is unusable, and the $120 to $250 lock repair in the table above is far below replacement. Only if it coincides with other major faults on an old machine would replacement come into play.

Why does door lock mechanism failure trigger the E27 error?#

Before starting, the board waits for the door lock to report that it is engaged. When the mechanism or its detect switch fails, that confirmation never arrives, so the board raises E27 and refuses to start for safety. Replacing the lock assembly restores the confirmation signal.