The most frequent appliance error codes
This ranking is based on repair interventions recorded in the proprietary Archimede management system (over 900,000 interventions, July 2019 – March 2026). For each error code: the appliance it appears on, the brand, the associated fault description, and the number of recorded occurrences.
For faults described in the customer's own words ("won't start", "won't cool", "leaking water") and for the full repair statistics overview, the Lab has dedicated pages.
Top 10 most frequent error codes
The Bosch dishwasher E15 is the single most recorded error code — nearly double the second-place entry. Dishwashers occupy 7 of the top 10 positions.
| Code | Appliance | Brand | Fault | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E15 | Dishwasher | Bosch | Alarm | 4,429 |
| E15 | Dishwasher | Siemens | Alarm | 1,275 |
| I30 | Dishwasher | Electrolux | Won't drain | 1,126 |
| F70 | Dishwasher | Miele | Water leak | 1,099 |
| E19 | Dishwasher | Bosch | Won't start | 1,052 |
| E18 | Washing machine | Bosch | Won't drain | 1,044 |
| F11 | Dishwasher | Miele | Won't drain | 1,037 |
| E09 | Dishwasher | Bosch | Won't heat | 1,029 |
| F05 | Washing machine | Ariston | Won't drain | 968 |
| E08 | Washing machine | Candy | Drum won't turn | 923 |
Bosch and Siemens belong to the same industrial group (BSH Hausgerate) and often share identical components. It is no coincidence that E15 appears for both brands with the same type of fault.
Dishwasher
The dishwasher generates the highest volume of error codes of any appliance (29,047 total occurrences). Bosch and Miele dominate the ranking — both brands with a strong presence across European markets.
| Code | Brand | Fault | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|
| E15 | Bosch | Alarm | 4,429 |
| E15 | Siemens | Alarm | 1,275 |
| I30 | Electrolux | Won't drain | 1,126 |
| F70 | Miele | Water leak | 1,099 |
| E19 | Bosch | Won't start | 1,052 |
Washing machine
In washing machines, error codes are less concentrated: the problems are spread across more brands and more fault types. The F05 code (won't drain) appears for Ariston, Whirlpool and Indesit alike — all brands within the Whirlpool group.
| Code | Brand | Fault | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|
| E18 | Bosch | Won't drain | 1,044 |
| F05 | Ariston | Won't drain | 968 |
| E08 | Candy | Drum won't turn | 923 |
| F06 | Whirlpool | Door won't open | 603 |
| E03 | Candy | Won't drain | 570 |
Tumble dryer
The tumble dryer is one of the fastest-growing appliance categories — and repair demand is growing with it. The E50 code (drum won't turn) is the most frequent, shared by Electrolux and AEG (same industrial group).
| Code | Brand | Fault | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|
| E50 | Electrolux | Drum won't turn | 206 |
| E50 | AEG | Drum won't turn | 109 |
| E90 | Bosch | Control board fault | 104 |
| E60 | Electrolux | Won't dry | 100 |
| E70 | Electrolux | Stalls / freezes | 66 |
Fridge and oven
Fridges and ovens produce far fewer specific error codes than dishwashers and washing machines. The problems tend to present as generic faults ("won't cool", "won't heat") rather than diagnostic codes on a display.
Fridge — the most frequent error codes: F02 Liebherr (alarm, 50 occurrences), A02 Ariston (won't cool, 48), A01 Ariston (won't cool, 46). Much lower numbers than other appliances: the fridge breaks down, but it rarely shows a code.
Oven — the most frequent codes: F01 Whirlpool (won't start, 79), F03 Whirlpool (won't turn on, 78), F01 Ariston (electrical problem, 55). Again, relatively modest numbers.
Explore the Lab
Full overview: appliance types, brands and most frequent faults
The most frequent problems for each appliance, in the customer's own words
Faults, brands, error codes and fault profiles by brand
Source and methodology
The data covers error codes recorded in appliance repair interventions tracked by the proprietary Archimede management system (July 2019 – March 2026, over 900,000 interventions). These figures do not represent the appliance repair market as a whole, but the activity of service centres that use the software.
A frequently occurring error code does not necessarily indicate a manufacturing defect: it may simply reflect the wide distribution of a particular model or shared component platform. For the full overview: appliance repair statistics.