Miele Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide: Problems, Solutions & Error Codes

If you own a Miele dishwasher you know you have a great piece of engineering and technology. Miele has a great name within the industry for their reliability and durability so you can be sure that your appliance will last for many years.

However, even the best can develop some faults occasionally. In this article we list the most commonly reported faults for Miele dishwashers and look at the best ways to get them running properly again. 

We also look at Miele dishwasher error codes, what they signify and how to solve any issues. If you own a Miele dishwasher, you might want to bookmark this page for future reference.

Miele Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide

Below we have listed the most commonly reported faults with Miele dishwashers and solutions to the problems they represent.

Miele Dishwasher Fault	Most Likely Cause	Solution
Dishwasher fails to drain	Clogged filter	Clean the filter
Dishwasher fails to turn on	No power supply, faulty door switch, interior fault or the control panel is faulty	Make sure the power supply is connected and switched on, check and replace the door switch, check the control board for a loose connection or check the control panel and replace if necessary
Water intake fails	Inlet hose is twisted or the water supply tap isn’t fully open	Straighten the inlet hose or replace if damaged or ensure the water supply tap is turned fully on.

Let’s look at each of these faults in more detail;

Miele Dishwasher Fails To Drain

Miele makes some of the best appliances available worldwide and their dishwashers are no different. If your Miele dishwasher doesn’t drain, it’s usually caused by something simple.

The most likely problem here is that the filter is clogged. You will need to remove the filter and give it a good clean using warm water and a brush (we find a toothbrush works well). You should then make this a part of your regular cleaning schedule for your Miele dishwasher and clean the filter on a weekly basis.

To clean the filter all you need to do is;

1. Remove the lower rack
2. Remove the filter by turning the spray arm anti-clockwise
3. The filter will then simply lift out
4. Wash the filter using warm water and a toothbrush
5. Before replacing the filter, push the plastic clips on the sides of the dishwasher to open the filter flap and rinse this using warm water
6. Replace the filter, and listen for it to click into place
7. Then put the filter back in and turn it clockwise to lock into position
8. Replace the spray arm
9. Replace the rack

Miele Dishwasher Fails To Turn On

There are several reasons why your dishwasher fails to start which include;

• No Power
  Check that your home has power, then check that the plug is fully inserted into the socket, the socket works and the wall switch is turned on. You should also check that the circuit breaker is switched on.
• Door Switch Faulty
  If your Miele dishwasher detects that the door isn’t fully closed, it will not start. This is a safety feature to prevent your kitchen from becoming flooded. The problem here could be the door latch itself which isn’t shutting properly and if there’s no obstacles preventing it from shutting, will need to be replaced. Or it could be the sensor is faulty and is not sending the correct message to the control board. If this is the case, the sensor will need to be replaced.
• Interior Malfunction
  There are several components that could be causing this issue including;
  • The Motor Start Relay
    which if malfunctioning could prevent the dishwasher from starting 
  • The Drive Motor
    If the drive motor is malfunctioning, it could stop water from circulating around your dishwasher which means the dishwasher wouldn’t start. 
  • The Thermal Fuse Has Blown
    This is likely to happen if the appliance was overheating to prevent any serious damage. The thermal fuse will need to be replaced before the appliance will work again.
• Faulty Control Panel
  The control panel is where all of the buttons are situated and is where all controls come from. If it develops a fault it could be the cycle has stuck from a previous cycle, the timer is faulty, the start button has failed or the rest of the buttons are sticking. The best solution here is to replace the control panel.

Miele Dishwasher Water Intake Failure

This is more often than not caused by the inlet hose becoming kinked or twisted. To solve this, inspect the water inlet hose and ensure it is straight. Or it could be the supply tap isn’t fully open or the inlet valve is faulty.

If it is the inlet valve, it will need to be replaced and this is best done by a qualified technician.

Miele Dishwasher Display Turns Off

In most cases, if the display turns off it’s because the appliance is in standby mode. All that is needed is to press any button to get the display working again.

If the display remains blank however, and you can hear the buttons clicking as you press them, it usually indicates there’s a software fault which needs updating. This is a job best done by a qualified dishwasher technician.

Water Intake/Drain Indicator Flashing

If the water intake/drain indicator light is flashing, it indicates that there’s a problem with the water drainage system. It could be caused by a number of things including;

• Drain Hose Twisted Or Clogged
  You will need to inspect the drain hose for any twists or kinks and straighten the hose before checking for any blockages.
• Filter Clogged
  Check and clean the filter (see above) and make the filter a part of your regular scheduled maintenance.
• Drain Pump Faulty
  The drain pump could have a broken impeller or some other fault and will probably need to be replaced.
• Motor Issues
  If the motor is malfunctioning, it will most likely need to be replaced.

Miele Dishwasher Error Codes

Now that we’ve covered all of the most commonly reported and less common faults connected with Miele dishwashers let’s take a look at Miele dishwasher error codes.

Error Code	Indicates
F01 & F02	Temperature sensor fault
F11	Drainage fault
F12, F13 & F15	Water intake fault
F14	Heater pressure switch fault
F18 & F19	Flow meter fault
F24	Heater relay fault
F25	Temperature fault
F26	Temperature sensor fault
F32, F33, F36	Door lock fault
F40	Electrical fault
F42	Power supply fault
F47	Electronic interface faulty
F51 & F52	Heater relay fault
F67, F68, F69, F78 & F79	Circulation fault
F70	Float switch fault
F86 & F87	Softener fault
F88	Turbidity sensor fault
F91	Load size sensor fault

Let’s look at these error codes in more detail;

Miele Dishwasher Error Codes F01, F02

Temperature Sensor Fault

There are several things that could be affected if either of these error codes are displayed. All of which are connected to the temperature sensor or thermistor as it is also known.

We advise that you contact a qualified technician to solve this problem.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F11

Drainage Fault

This is one of the most common error codes displayed on Miele dishwashers. It relates to the dishwasher not draining correctly. This is usually caused by a twisted or blocked drain hose, a clogged filter, a blocked drain pump or a jammed sump return valve. 

You can check the drain hose and the filter yourself, but all other issues should be checked by a qualified technician.

Miele Dishwasher Error Codes F12, F13, F15

Water Intake Fault

If any of these error codes are displayed, your dishwasher is suffering from a problem with the water intake. This could be due to the inlet hose, inlet valve or the flow meter.

This is another set of faults best left to a qualified technician.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F14

Heater Pressure Switch Fault

This error code usually refers to a fault with the heater pressure switch or it could also be connected to the water intake. A technician will be needed to check the heater pressure switch, the circulation pump motor, the flow meter, wash pump and the motor capacitor.

Miele Dishwasher Error Codes F18 & F19

Flow Meter Fault

If either of these error codes are displayed your technician will know it’s a problem connected to the flow meter. The inlet valve could be faulty, it could be the flow meter is faulty or it could be the flow sensor is faulty.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F24

Heater Relay Fault

There are several causes for a fault in the heater relay which include; the supply voltage is connected to the electronics output, the heater relay contacts have fused, there’s moisture in the heater relay or there is a fault in the plug on the exit side of the heater relay.

The technician will check all of this and if the heater relay is found to be faulty it will need to be replaced.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F 25

Temperature Fault

This error code usually indicates a faulty heater relay, a defective heater or too much detergent or rinse aid dispensed. The technician will need to check the heater, the heater relay solenoid, and the control board.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F26

Temperature Sensor Fault

This error code indicates that the temperature sensor has malfunctioned because the water temperature has reached temperatures in excess of 90 C. This could be caused by a malfunctioning control board, the temperature sensor or the heater relay.

All of which will need to be checked by a qualified technician who will replace any defective parts as necessary.

Miele Dishwasher Error Codes F32, F33 & F36

Door Lock Fault

This can indicate the door lock won’t close, the door lock won’t open or simply the door lock is defective. In some cases all that is needed is to clean the door lock and latch or replace the spring in the door lock.

However, in most cases the door lock assembly will need to be replaced.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F40

Electrical Fault

This error code typically signifies an electrical fault usually related to the control board. In most cases, the control board will need to be replaced.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F42

Power Supply Fault

This error code indicates a fault with the main power supply. It is usually to do with line frequency which should be within certain parameters. If the correct frequencies cannot be established this error code will be displayed.

You will need to get the main power supply checked by an expert to solve this issue.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F47

Electronic Interface Faulty

This error code indicates a faulty interface between the selection display and the main control board. This can often be resolved by switching the appliance off and then on again.

However, if this fails to solve it you might need to replace the control board which is a task best done by a technician.

Miele Dishwasher Error Codes F51 & F52

Heater Relay Fault

These error codes indicate that the dishwasher’s control module is not receiving the correct messages from the temperature sensor. The technician will need to check the heater relay, the heater relay solenoid and the heater pressure switch. If any of these proves to be faulty, they will need to be replaced.

Miele Dishwasher Error Codes F67, F68, F69, F78 & F79

Circulation Fault

These error codes indicate there is a problem with the dishwasher’s circulation system. This means the wash pump isn’t working for some reason. This could be due to the heater pressure switch being faulty, the wash pump is blocked, the heater relay is faulty or there is a problem with the wiring system that connects these parts.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F70

Float Switch Fault

The F70 error code indicates the float switch has detected water in the drip tray. This is a safety feature designed to prevent the dishwasher from flooding your home. This will start the drain pump operating and it will continue to operate even after the appliance has been turned off.

The only way to deactivate the drain pump in these circumstances is to disconnect the power supply. The float drip tray will need to be cleaned and dried to solve this but the technician will also check the appliance for any leaks etc.

Sometimes inferior detergent can be the cause of this problem and the best way to prevent it in the future is to use better quality detergent that doesn’t produce so many soap suds.

Miele Dishwasher Error Codes F86 & F87

Softener Sensor Fault

This can be caused by a lack of salt, or the sensor could have developed a fault. You should start by topping up the salt level but if this doesn’t solve the issue, you will need to get a technician to solve this problem.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F88

Turbidity Sensor Fault

This error code indicates that there has been a false reading or no reading at all from the turbidity sensor. It could be that the sensor is clogged, the connection between the turbidity sensor and the control module is broken or the sensor has burnt out.

This is another issue best solved by a qualified technician.

Miele Dishwasher Error Code F91

Load Size Sensor Fault

This error code indicates a fault in the sensor that determines how many dishes are in the dishwasher’s baskets. Most of the time, this fault doesn’t prevent the dishwasher from operating and after it has paused for a while, it will start again.

It usually means that the sensor will need to be replaced to solve this problem. Although it can be caused by dishes or bowls being placed the wrong way which allows them to fill with water and affect the weight of the basket. Ensure that dishes are always stacked in the correct way to prevent this from happening.

SEE ALSO: 

• Whirlpool Dishwasher Troubleshooting
• LG Dishwasher Troubleshooting
• Bosch Dishwasher Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions