Why Is Bosch Dishwasher Red Light Blinking?(+5 Quick Fixes)

Bosch has different models of dishwashers, but most of them come with a red light, notifying users when the washer needs some attention.

When the light blinks, it usually results in the dishwasher stalling and not working until you address the problem.

Typically, all you have to do is close the latch of the dishwasher or restart it to reset the light.

Make sure the door is closed properly and nothing is pushing against it.

Reset the dishwasher by pressing and holding the start button for about 5 seconds.

We highlight the steps you need to take when your Bosch dishwasher’s light blinks red. 

Why Is The Bosch Dishwasher Red Light Blinking?

As we mentioned above, there are two common reasons why your Bosch dishwasher red light blinks, either the door needs to be latched properly or you need to reset the dishwasher.

Let’s look at how you can do both.

1. Close the Door Properly

Think of the red light as an alert signal. It notifies users when the door is not properly closed.

Like all dishwashers, you can’t run the machine on unless the door is completely shut.

Otherwise, water and soap would spill out, making your kitchen floor a mess. 

The door latch on Bosch dishwashers has a sensor that is linked to the red light.

When the door is not properly latched, the system will turn the red light on, blinking to inform you of the issue.

The latch has a specific mechanism as it ensures that the dishwasher is sealed so water or soap doesn’t seep through. 

The solution to this is quite simple, checking to ensure the door is closed. If you have trouble closing the door, that means there is an issue.

First, check if the racks are properly in the machine and there are no dishes preventing the door from closing.

If it still refuses to close, then it is probably due to damaged hinges, a broken door latch, or worn-out springs.

To fix that, you would either need to contact Bosch, if the product is still in warranty, or a repairman. 

Door Closes But The Light Still Blinks

There are two things you need to do if the door closes fine but the light still blinks.

2. Empty the Dishwasher

First, empty out the dishwasher. Remove all the dishes and utensils.

Try to start the dishwasher to see if it works. If it does, you can stop it and put the dishes in again, and run it. 

3. Reset the Dishwasher

If it still doesn’t work, then you need to reset the dishwasher.

Manually resetting the appliance is fairly simple, and the process will reload its setting and clear it of any programming error preventing it from starting.

To reset the machine, you need to do the following:

1. Locate the “Start” button and hold it down for 5 seconds. 
2. You should notice the display showing “0:00”. 
3. The machine will then automatically drain the water out and reset the system. 

On some older Bosch dishwashers, the reset feature may be called “Cancel” or “Drain”.

Related Post: How To Reset/Hard Reset Your Bosch Dishwasher?

4. Hard Reset the Dishwasher

There is another way to reset the machine, you can unplug it from the power source, wait for 5 minutes for the electrical charge to clear out of the dishwasher, and then power it up again.

When you turn it back on and restart the machine, it will reset.

We recommend going with the first option of a usual reset and if that doesn’t work you can try the hard reset one. 

5. Contact Professionals

This is our last solution in case other methods listed above failed to work.

You can contact Bosch directly or opt for calling your local plumber to see what the root of the issue is.

Dishwashers are complicated machines, so if you have tried a basic reset, it’s best to let the professionals do the rest of the work.

Can I Replace The Door Latch Myself?

Like most mechanical appliances, certain parts of the Bosch dishwasher will wear down after years of use.

It is very common for the door latch to not close properly which results in the red blinking light and the washer not working.

You can tell when the latch needs to be replaced because the dishwasher door won’t close tightly and the light will continuously blink red when you try to wash dishes. 

If you have some experience using tools, then you can replace the door latch yourself.

To do that, you need to follow the steps below:

1. Turn the dishwasher off by unplugging it, so there are no chances of it turning it on. 
2. Remove the front panel by unscrewing the screws that attach it to the dishwasher. 
3. Look inside the dishwasher and locate the screws that attach it to the countertop.
4. Remove these, so you can easily slide the dishwasher out a little. This will let you work more freely with it. 
5. You now need to locate the latch assembly, this is usually on the left side of the dishwasher.
6. When you fully remove the panel, you should notice a screw holding the latch assembly. 
7. There are two parts to the door latch, the latch, and the sensor.
8. Unscrew the sensor first, and then you can easily take the latch out. 
9. Take the replacement latch and sensor and put them in exactly how you took the old sensor and latch out. 
10. Now, you can resemble this by screwing the latch assembly, panel, and dishwasher back into the countertop. 
11. Close the door to make sure it latches properly.
12. Plugin the dishwasher and use it.

Bosch Dishwasher Is Flashing Red Light With Brush Symbol

The brush symbol on a Bosch dishwasher indicates that the machine is in the washing process.

As it goes from washing to drying, the symbol will turn off.

There are instances when the brush may start to blink, which results in the machine freezing.

You will need to restart it in that case.

It is in rare cases that the red light turns on with the brush symbol on.

Usually, the brush symbol will go off. The red light turns on due to issues with the latch, which means that the washing stops when that happens.

You will need to ensure that the door is latched properly before the machine starts working again. 

Bosch Dishwasher Keeps Flashing 2:10

Bosch dishwasher display errors with the panel on the display.

If you notice it flashing 2:10, that means there is an issue with the control panel.

Make sure the door is closed properly and nothing is pushing against it.

Reset the dishwasher by pressing and holding the start button.

If that doesn’t help, the panel might need replacing.

Working with the control panel can be tricky and would void your dishwasher’s warranty.

So, we recommend you contact Bosch and have one of their technicians come and replace the control panel. 

Final thoughts

The red blinking light on a Bosch dishwasher can be an annoyance since it results in the dishwasher not starting up.

However, if you know what it means, you can easily stop it from blinking.

The first thing is to make sure that the door latches properly, if it does, then reset the machine.

Both these are simple solutions that you can easily do on your own.

For those that try these solutions, yet the light continues to blink, your best bet is to call Bosch and seek their support.