Bosch Dishwasher Error Code E17 — Water Intake Too Hot

What Does This Error Mean?

E17 means the water entering your Bosch dishwasher is too hot. Bosch dishwashers are designed to fill with cold or warm water and heat it internally to precise temperatures. If the incoming water is already too hot (above roughly 60°C / 140°F), the dishwasher can't control the wash temperature accurately and stops with E17. This is usually caused by the dishwasher being connected to the hot water supply rather than the cold, or the hot water at your tap being set unusually high.

Affected Models

SMS46GI01A
SMS68MI02G
SMV68IX00E
SPV6ZMX23E
Most Bosch dishwashers — especially models sold in markets expecting cold-fill connection

Common Causes

Dishwasher connected to the hot water supply line instead of the cold water supply
Water heater set to an unusually high temperature (above 60°C / 140°F)
Hot and cold supply lines mixed up at the installation connection point
Thermostatic mixing valve malfunction sending near-boiling water to the dishwasher
Temperature sensor inside the dishwasher giving an incorrect high reading (false E17)

How to Fix It

Check what type of water supply the dishwasher is connected to. Trace the hose from the back of the dishwasher to the supply valve under the sink. It should be connected to the cold water pipe (usually the right pipe when facing the sink). In most regions, Bosch recommends cold-fill connection only.

In some countries (UK, Germany), Bosch dishwashers are designed to connect to hot supply — check your installation manual for your region.
If connected to hot water, the simplest fix is to reroute the dishwasher hose to the cold water supply. Turn off both valves, disconnect the hot hose, and connect to a cold water branch. This requires a plumber's help if there's no conveniently located cold supply.

Running a cold-fill dishwasher on hot water does not save energy — the dishwasher actually uses more energy because it can't precisely control the temperature it started with.
If connected to cold water but E17 still shows, check your water heater thermostat setting. It should be set to 49-60°C (120-140°F) maximum for household use. Settings above this cause water at the tap to be dangerously hot and can affect appliances.

Water heater thermostat access varies by model. Electric heaters usually have a panel on the side. Gas heaters have a knob on the gas valve. When in doubt, call a plumber.
Run cold water at the kitchen tap for 30-60 seconds to flush any residual hot water from the supply line before starting the dishwasher. If the cold line shares a branch with recently used hot water, residual heat can cause a temporary high-temperature reading.

This is especially relevant in kitchens where the hot and cold supplies run close together — heat from the hot pipe can warm the cold pipe over time.
If none of the above resolves E17, the NTC temperature sensor inside the dishwasher may be giving a false high reading. A technician can test the sensor with a multimeter. At room temperature, the sensor should read around 10-15 kΩ. A dramatically different reading indicates a failed sensor.

The NTC sensor is usually located on the sump or heating circuit. On most Bosch models, it requires partial disassembly to access.

When to Call a Professional

If you're confident the dishwasher is correctly connected to cold water and E17 still appears, the intake temperature sensor may need replacement. Also check whether the water heater needs its thermostat adjusted. A plumber or appliance technician can verify the supply water temperature and replace the sensor if needed. Expect $100-$200 for the inspection and sensor replacement if required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is E17 a serious error?

E17 has the lowest severity of most Bosch error codes. The dishwasher is simply protecting itself from running with water that's outside its designed temperature range. It won't damage the machine. Fix the water supply connection or reduce your water heater temperature and E17 will stop appearing.

Will connecting to hot water save energy on my Bosch dishwasher?

No — this is a common misconception. Bosch dishwashers heat water from whatever temperature they receive to precise target temperatures. Starting hotter doesn't help because the dishwasher has to carefully manage the exact temperature throughout the cycle. Cold-fill connection is designed to work with the dishwasher's internal heating system for best efficiency.

My neighbor has the same Bosch model and it's connected to hot water without issues. Why do I get E17?

Your neighbor's water heater temperature may be set lower, keeping supply water below the E17 threshold. Or their model may be a slightly different regional variant with different temperature tolerances. Bosch also releases updated firmware — older models may have different E17 trigger thresholds. Have your water supply temperature measured at the dishwasher inlet to get the definitive answer.