Bosch E16 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
Water is running into the machine continuously, whether or not it is switched on. Bosch give the same instruction as for a leak: tap off, call service.
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What E16 means
Bosch word E16 as water running continuously into the appliance, and they treat it exactly as seriously as the leak codes — the owner instruction is the same two lines, turn off the water tap and call customer service, with no steps offered in between. It gets far less attention than E15 and it arguably deserves more. A leak is water escaping from inside the machine, which the base tray is designed to catch and report. E16 is the opposite problem: the valve that lets water in from your mains has stopped closing, so water keeps arriving that nothing asked for. Nothing about that depends on the machine running. An appliance that is switched off, finished, or sitting there overnight can keep taking water indefinitely, and how bad that gets depends entirely on whether it drains away quietly through the waste or fills the tub until it overflows. The tap is the thing that stops it, which is why Bosch put that first. Siemens describe the same code slightly differently, as a fault detected in the filling system or the water inflow, and give the same instruction to turn off the tap.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Inlet valve stuck open | Scale or grit holding the solenoid off its seat so it cannot close when it is de-energised. The usual mechanism. | Common |
| Water level sensing failed | The machine cannot tell it has enough water, so it keeps calling for more. Different component, same presentation. | Occasional |
| Control board holding the valve open | The board rather than the valve, keeping the circuit energised when it should have dropped out. | Occasional |
| Siphoning through the drain hose | An installation fault rather than a component failure. A waste hose routed too low can siphon continuously, and it is worth mentioning if the machine was recently fitted or moved. | Occasional |
Can you fix it yourself?
Stop — this needs an engineer
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£80–£220
A replacement inlet valve is typically £90 to £160 fitted. A level sensor is similar. Re-routing a siphoning waste hose is usually a short visit at the low end of that range.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated August 2026. Your quote may differ.
What other owners found
Nobody has shared what worked for them on this code yet. If you have had it, you would be the first — and it genuinely helps the next person.
Related Bosch fault codes
- E15Stop — call an engineerThe water protection system has activated — there is water in the base of the machine. Turn the tap off and call service. Do not tilt it, whatever else you read.Related: flood protection
- i30Stop — call an engineerThe anti-flood device has triggered — water has collected in the base of the machine. AEG say to close the water tap and call service.Related: flood protection
- F01Stop — call an engineerAnti-flooding overflow. The one code in the Hotpoint list that offers no owner check at all — it goes straight to an engineer.Related: flood protection
- F70Stop — call an engineerThe Waterproof System has activated. Miele give the clearest emergency instruction of any dishwasher manufacturer — close the stopcock, switch off, unplug, call.Related: flood protection
- E4Stop — call an engineerA water leak. Candy specifically warn against tilting or moving the machine, which rules out the fix most often recommended online.Related: flood protection
- AEStop — call an engineerLG’s leak code. LG tell you to call for service if it happens again — we think that is the wrong advice and explain why.Related: flood protection
Common questions about Bosch E16
How is this different from E15?
E15 means water has escaped inside the machine and collected in the base tray. E16 means water is arriving from your mains supply and not stopping. Bosch give both the same instruction because in both cases the tap is what puts you back in control, but they are different faults with different repairs.
Do I need to do anything if the machine is switched off?
Yes, and this is the important part. The inlet valve is on your mains supply and does not care whether the appliance is powered. Turn the tap off rather than assuming that switching the machine off has stopped it.
It was installed recently. Could that be relevant?
Very possibly. A waste hose routed too low can siphon water through continuously, which produces the same symptom without any component having failed. Say when it was fitted when you book — it changes what the engineer looks at first.
My machine shows E:34-00. Same code?
Yes, and E:3400 on a text display. Bosch use different renderings across display generations and they all mean the same thing.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer technical and service documentation
- Manufacturer support portal
Checked by Appliance technical reviewer (Qualifications to be displayed on appointment) on 5 August 2026.