Fault Code Reference

Miele dishwasher F12 error

Usable, but not working properly

Not enough water is reaching the appliance, so it stops rather than running a programme it cannot fill. The manufacturer publishes several numbers for this same condition and gives them the same remedy. The stopcock serving the appliance is shut or only part open is the most common cause.

Difficulty
DIY
Time needed
About 30 min
Checks
5 steps

The same fault is shown as F13, F15, F173 on some Miele series, depending on the display and the model year.

Before you start

What it means

Not enough water is reaching the appliance, so it stops rather than running a programme it cannot fill. The manufacturer publishes several numbers for this same condition and gives them the same remedy.

Most likely causes

Ordered from most to least common, with what each one looks like:

Cause How likely What you would see
The stopcock serving the appliance is shut or only part open high Plumbing work was carried out recently, or the valve has never been opened since installation
The mesh screen inside the water connection has silted up with grit and scale high The appliance has been in service for years without that screen ever being cleaned
The inlet pipework is kinked or trapped behind the appliance medium There is a hard bend or a crushed length where the machine meets the wall
The pressure available at the appliance is below what it needs to fill in time low Taps nearby also run weakly, particularly at busy times of day

Fix steps

Tools needed

  1. Check the stopcock feeding the appliance is fully open. This is the single most common cause and costs nothing to rule out.

    Expected result The valve is open to its stop rather than sitting part way. If it does not, go to step 2.

  2. Open a nearby cold tap fully and watch how hard it runs, to judge whether the supply itself is weak.

    Expected result A strong steady flow, which points the investigation back at the appliance rather than the plumbing. If it does not, go to step 5.

  3. Ease the appliance out and follow the inlet pipework, releasing anything pressing on it or bending it sharply.

    Expected result The pipework runs in easy curves with nothing resting on it. If it does not, go to step 4.

  4. Close the stopcock, unplug the appliance, then uncouple the inlet at the tap over a basin and clean the mesh screen in the connection until it runs clear.

    Expected result The screen is free of sediment and the coupling is refitted firmly by hand.

  5. Reopen the stopcock, check the joint stays dry, reconnect the power and start a programme, listening for filling to begin.

    Expected result Water enters within the first minute and the programme carries on past the filling stage.

Parts needed

Part Part number Typical cost
Water inlet hose Varies by model Varies by supplier

When to call a technician

Call a qualified technician if you work through every step above and the code comes back, if you find water where it should not be, or if any part of the job needs the machine powered up with panels removed. A repeat fault after a correct repair usually points at the control board rather than the part you replaced.

Common questions

What does F12 mean on a Miele dishwasher?

Not enough water is reaching the appliance, so it stops rather than running a programme it cannot fill. The manufacturer publishes several numbers for this same condition and gives them the same remedy. The stopcock serving the appliance is shut or only part open is the most common reason for it.

Can I keep using the dishwasher?

You can usually still run the machine, but it will not be working correctly and the fault will keep coming back until it is fixed.

Is this something I can fix myself?

Yes, for most people. The checks below need basin and cloth and take about 30 minutes.

Models this applies to

Related codes on the same machines

Sources