Miele washing machine error codes
8 codes that Miele publishes for its washing machines, each with what it means, the likely cause, what you can safely check and when to call a technician. Tap your code:
Switch off and unplug before checking. Anything electrical, anything to do with gas, and any water leak at the mains: call a technician. Codes that need one are marked Technician.
Read this first
Current Miele washing machines (the manual cited is Miele's W1 operating instructions, M.-Nr. 11 618 191) write faults out in words rather than numbers; the only lettered code is 'Fault F'. The messages below are the ones that manual lists. Older Miele machines show numbered codes such as F10, F11 or F20; Miele's online support pages that explain those refused our requests (HTTP 403), so they are not listed here.
Fault F Technical fault
- What it means
- 'Fault F. If restart fails, call Service.'
- Likely cause
- There is a fault.
- What you can safely check
Switch off and unplug before checking.
- Switch off at the wall socket and unplug (or switch off at the circuit breaker), wait at least 2 minutes, reconnect, switch on and restart the programme.
- When to call a technician
- Technician If it appears again, call a technician.
Source: Miele, Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.
Drainage fault Not draining
- What it means
- 'Drainage fault. Clean drain filter and pump. Check the drain hose.'
- Likely cause
- A blocked or restricted outlet, or a drain hose fixed too high.
- What you can safely check
Switch off and unplug before checking.
- Clean the drain filter and the drain pump as the manual shows.
- The drain hose outlet must be no higher than 1.0 m.
- When to call a technician
- If it continues, call a technician.
Source: Miele, Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.
Water intake fault Water not coming in
- What it means
- 'Water intake fault. Open the stopcock.'
- Likely cause
- A closed stopcock, a kinked intake hose, low water pressure or a blocked intake filter.
- What you can safely check
Switch off and unplug before checking.
- Make sure the stopcock is fully open and the intake hose is not kinked.
- Clean the filter in the water intake.
- When to call a technician
- If supply and filter are fine, call a technician.
Source: Miele, Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.
Waterproof system activated Leak protection reacted
- What it means
- 'Waterproof system activated. Close stopcock and call Service.'
- Likely cause
- The water-protection system has reacted to a leak.
- What you can safely check
Switch off and unplug before checking.
- Close the stopcock.
- When to call a technician
- Technician Water leak: call a technician.
Source: Miele, Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.
The door will not lock Door will not lock
- What it means
- 'The door will not lock. Call Service.' The door lock could not engage.
- Likely cause
- The door is not closed properly.
- What you can safely check
Switch off and unplug before checking.
- Close the door again and restart the programme.
- When to call a technician
- If the message appears again, call a technician.
Source: Miele, Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.
Check dosage Too much foam
- What it means
- Shown at the end of a programme: too much foam built up during washing.
- Likely cause
- Too much detergent for the load and soiling.
- What you can safely check
Switch off and unplug before checking.
- Follow the dose on the detergent pack for the soil level; with automatic dispensing, reduce the set amount in 10 % steps.
- When to call a technician
- Not a fault on its own: no technician needed.
Source: Miele, Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.
Check hot water intake No hot water
- What it means
- Shown at the end of a programme on machines with a hot-water connection: the programme ran with cold water.
- Likely cause
- The hot-water inlet is blocked or turned off.
- What you can safely check
Switch off and unplug before checking.
- Check the hot-water stopcock is fully open, the intake hose is not kinked and the pressure is sufficient.
- When to call a technician
- If it continues, call a technician.
Source: Miele, Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.
Intensive flow Pumps or door jet dirty
- What it means
- 'Intensive flow: Clean the filter and jet or remove foreign objects from the pump housing.' The machine still works, with reduced function.
- Likely cause
- Dirty pumps, or fluff blocking the jet at the top of the door ring.
- What you can safely check
Switch off and unplug before checking.
- Clean the pumps as the manual shows.
- Remove fluff from the jet with your finger — no sharp tools — and restart the programme.
- When to call a technician
- If the message appears again, call a technician.
Source: Miele, Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.
A code that is not listed here
To clear a fault message after a programme has been interrupted, Miele's manual says to switch the machine off with the on/off button.
We list only codes the source below states. If your code is not here, it may belong to a model the source does not cover: your model’s manual is the authority.
Related pages
Source
Every code on this page comes from this page, published by Miele and read on the date shown. Meanings are written in our own words; nothing is taken from other makes, other models or third-party code sites.
- Miele: Miele — Operating instructions for washing machines, M.-Nr. 11 618 191: Problem solving guide (PDF) Checked 2026-09-28.