(Water in the Base Pan)
E:15 is not a part code — it's a base-pan leak trip. The float switch under the dishwasher hit water and locked the unit into continuous drain mode. Resetting the code without finding the leak source repeats the trip within days and slowly destroys the floor. We find the source first.
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Quick answer
E:15 on a Bosch 300 / 500 / 800-series dishwasher (SHX / SHP / SHE / SHEM / SGX models) means the leak-pan float has tripped. The four sources we check first are: door gasket fatigue (years 4–7), wash-motor shaft seal (years 7–10), drain hose chafe at the cabinet pass-through, and a slow inlet-valve weep. We dry the basepan, find the source, replace OEM, and verify two full cycles before closing the ticket. Most Bosch E15 repairs land $215–$685 all-in depending on which part is leaking. Flat $149 trip fee, credited toward the repair when you approve it. 1-year written parts-and-labor warranty.
Common causes
What it is: The lower door gasket flattens and the dishwasher leaks a small amount during the dry cycle when the door is closed and sealed. Water tracks down inside the door panel into the basepan over weeks until the float trips.
Fix: Replace OEM Bosch lower door gasket and (when worn) the door-side seal. Dry basepan, reset float, run two full cycles to verify.
Typical all-in: $245–$345 all-in
What it is: The mechanical seal on the wash-motor shaft fails and weeps a few mL per cycle directly into the basepan. The dishwasher otherwise washes fine until the float trips.
Fix: Pull the dishwasher, replace OEM wash-motor seal kit (or full wash-motor assembly on platforms where the seal isn't serviced separately). Dry basepan, reset float.
Typical all-in: $385–$525 all-in
What it is: The corrugated drain hose abrades against the metal cabinet opening or the disposal tailpiece and pin-holes. Tiny weep during the drain phase fills the pan over weeks.
Fix: Replace OEM Bosch drain hose, install a grommet/sleeve at the pass-through, dry basepan, verify two cycles.
Typical all-in: $215–$315 all-in
What it is: The water inlet solenoid valve diaphragm fails closed-but-not-fully — drips during the off-cycle. Drips run down the inlet line and pool in the basepan.
Fix: Replace OEM Bosch inlet valve assembly. Dry basepan, reset float, verify pressure.
Typical all-in: $235–$345 all-in
What it is: Hairline stress crack on the plastic sump base — typically on older units. Constant slow leak under the bottom rack.
Fix: Replace OEM sump assembly (4–5 hr job) or quote against replacement honestly.
Typical all-in: $485–$685 all-in
Need appliance repair? Call 7am–9pm, every day.
Diagnostic order
With power and water off, pull the dishwasher forward and shop-vac the plastic base pan completely dry. The float resets when the water clears. Have a second person help; the machine is heavy.
Look for flattening, cracking, or a wet line on the inside of the lower door. Door-gasket leaks track down inside the panel and are easy to miss without a flashlight.
With the dishwasher pulled and a tray underneath, run cancel-drain then a 30-second fill. Watch for drips at the inlet valve, drain-hose pass-through, and sump.
Run a normal wash cycle for 5 minutes and watch the shaft seal area for weeping. A small weep each cycle is enough to trip E15 over a few weeks.
Once the source is replaced, dry the basepan a second time, reset the float, and run two full normal cycles back-to-back. E15 should not return.
FAQs
You can clear the pan: with power and water off and a second person helping, dry the base pan and the float resets. But unless you've found and fixed the leak source, the code returns within days and the slow leak continues damaging your floor and cabinets.
Bosch covers the dishwasher 1 year parts + labor from purchase. Wash-motor and sump components carry a longer parts-only warranty on some platforms — bring the model and serial when you call and we'll check it before quoting.
Bosch E15 repairs range from about $215 to $685 all-in depending on the cause. Door-gasket and drain-hose work runs lower; wash-motor seal and sump work runs higher. Flat $149 trip fee is credited to whatever repair you approve.
All current SHX, SHP, SHE, SHEM, and SGX platforms use the same Aquastop / leak-pan float system. We see E15 most on SHE / SHX / SHP units 4–10 years old — door gasket at year 4–7, wash-motor seal at year 7–10.
Resetting itself is fine — but resetting without fixing the leak means water continues to weep into the basepan, eventually damaging the cabinet base and the subfloor. Find the source first.
Yes — OEM Bosch lower door gaskets, inlet valves, drain hoses, and float-switch assemblies are stocked. Wash-motor and sump assemblies are ordered overnight when needed.
Related coverage
See all Bosch repair services.
What will this cost?
Trying to decide repair vs. replace? These pages break down real all-in pricing by brand, model class, and failure mode — so you know the number before we knock.
E15 on a Bosch dishwasher means water has been detected in the base pan beneath the tub. Bosch builds a leak-protection system into the machine, often called Aquastop, so a leak shuts the dishwasher down and triggers the drain pump before water can reach your floor. The code is a warning that something upstream of the pan is leaking, not a fault in the electronics.
Central Minnesota Appliance Repair treats E15 as a leak hunt. The machine may run normally after you dry the pan, but if the source of the water is still there the code will return, and the water that passed the pan can do damage to cabinets and subfloor.
| Code | General meaning | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| E15 | Water in the base pan, leak protection tripped | Door seal, hoses, pump seal, inlet valve, pan float |
| E24 | Drain problem | Drain hose, filter, air gap or disposal connection |
| E25 | Drain pump blocked | Pump impeller, debris in sump |
| E09 | Heating fault | Heating element and temperature sensor |
Code meanings can differ slightly by model line. Check your manual if your display does not match.
You can try, but only after you find out why the water is there. Shut off power at the breaker, pull the lower rack and remove the filter. Check the tub floor and door seal for visible water or debris. If you can safely reach the front of the base pan, look for moisture and dab it up with towels.
Do not pull the machine out by its hoses, and leave the lower kick panel and the wiring behind it to a technician. Dry the pan only with power and water off, with a second person helping. If the code returns after a drying and a test cycle, a leak is active and it is time to call.
A worn or dirty door seal can let water run down the inside of the door into the pan, especially at the lower corners.
Inlet and drain hose fittings can loosen over time. A weeping clamp may only drip during one phase of the cycle.
A seal at the circulation pump or sump can weep a small amount each cycle and fill the pan over weeks.
A valve that does not seal fully can drip into the pan between cycles.
Too much detergent or the wrong type can push foam out around the door and into the pan. If suds are the cause, correct the dosing before replacing parts.
Bosch dishwasher repairs in the Twin Cities typically range from about $215 to $685 all-in, depending on which part is leaking (a drain hose is at the low end, a cracked sump at the high end). The $149 trip fee is credited toward the repair when you approve it, and the work carries a 1-year written parts-and-labor warranty. See Bosch dishwasher repair and the list of Bosch dishwasher error codes for related information.
The leak-protection system runs the drain pump to clear water from the pan. The pump keeps running until the sensor is dry or the power is cut.
The base pan has a float that senses water. Once the pan is dry and the float drops, the lockout can be cleared, but only the source repair stops it coming back.
Yes. Using it with an active leak risks damage to the floor and cabinets. Wash by hand until it is looked at.
Need appliance repair? Call 7am–9pm, every day.
