Miele Dishwasher F13 Error — Cold Water Inlet

What Does This Error Mean?

F13 on a Miele dishwasher means the cold water inlet has failed to fill in the allowed time — supply is restricted or the inlet valve has failed. Check the tap is fully open, the inlet hose is not kinked, and the inlet strainer at the tap end is clean.

Affected Models

Miele G7104
Miele G7314
Miele G7566
Miele G5481
Miele G7965

Common Causes

Water tap not fully open
Inlet hose kinked behind the dishwasher
Strainer at the tap-end of the hose clogged with sediment
Failed inlet valve solenoid (less common, after several years)
Household water pressure too low for the dishwasher

How to Fix It

Confirm the cold water tap is fully open.

Locate the isolation valve under the sink and turn it fully anti-clockwise. Miele dishwashers often connect to the cold water supply only — confirm you are checking the right tap.
Carefully pull the dishwasher forward.

Ease the dishwasher out of its slot, taking care not to pinch the hose. Inspect the inlet hose route for kinks, twists, or sharp bends. Straighten any kinks.
Clean the inlet strainer.

Turn off the tap. Disconnect the inlet hose at the tap. Inside the threaded connector is a small mesh strainer — pull it out, rinse under tap water, and refit. Sediment build-up is the leading cause of F13.
Check household water pressure.

Miele dishwashers need 1–10 bar (15–145 PSI) inlet pressure. Run a tap nearby — if flow is unusually weak, supply pressure is the problem. Check the main stopcock and any building-wide pressure-reducing valves.
Restart the dishwasher.

Push back into position, restore power, and select a short rinse cycle. F13 should clear once water flow is restored. If F13 returns immediately, book Miele service to test the inlet valve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is F13 the same as F12 on a Miele dishwasher?

Both relate to the water inlet. F12 generally indicates the cold water inlet itself (valve fault), and F13 indicates the cold water inlet timeout (water did not arrive in time). Practical fix is the same: tap, hose, strainer, valve.

Will my Miele dishwasher resume on its own after F13?

No — F13 must be cleared manually after fixing the cause. Press Cancel/Reset (typically holding the Start key for several seconds) before restarting. Miele dishwashers do not auto-retry on water inlet faults.