What Bosch ER08 error means on your washer
The Bosch ER08 error indicates that the heating time has exceeded its normal limits. The heater didn’t turn off when it should have, or the water temperature didn’t reach the target within the expected time. This is a safety code — prolonged heating can damage clothes and internal components. The control board stops the cycle to prevent overheating.
Symptoms
- The washer stops mid-cycle and displays ER:08
- Water inside may feel unusually hot, or the cycle may not have heated at all
- The cycle ran noticeably longer than normal before displaying the error
Common causes
- Failed heater element — the heating element has partially failed, heating slowly but never reaching target temperature
- Heater relay stuck on — the relay on the control board that powers the heater is stuck closed, causing continuous heating
- NTC sensor fault — the temperature sensor reads incorrectly, preventing the board from shutting off the heater at the right time
- Heater short to ground — the heater element is shorting to the metal tub, which the board detects as abnormal current flow
Troubleshooting steps you can try
- Power reset — turn off the breaker for 10 minutes. If the relay was temporarily stuck, a full power-off may reset it.
- Run a cold cycle — select a cold wash program. If it completes without error, the issue is specifically in the heating circuit. Check Bosch washer support for your model.
When to call a technician
ER08 involves the heating circuit and should be addressed promptly. A technician will test the heater element resistance, check for ground faults with a megohmmeter, and inspect the control board relay. Schedule Bosch washer repair. Our washer repair technicians can diagnose and replace heater assemblies same-day. See all Bosch washer error codes.