One of the most common issues with Bosch dishwashers is that sometimes the door won’t close properly. This can be a real hassle, since the dishwasher won’t run with the door open at all. So, what causes this problem, and how can you fix it?

If your Bosch dishwasher won’t close, the overhead latch might be stuck in the closed position — or entirely broken. To fix it, try pulling your dishwasher’s latch outwards until it snaps back into position. If that doesn’t work, you may need to order a replacement latch.

These are just two of many potential issues that could prevent your Bosch dishwasher from closing. Let’s take a closer look at some of the things that cause your Bosch dishwasher door to malfunction so that you can finally get your dishwasher up and running again.

Why Won’t My Bosch Dishwasher Door Close?

Unfortunately, there are several issues that could prevent a Bosch dishwasher from closing properly. Let’s quickly go through the most common issues to help you determine what’s wrong with yours.

Tripped Overhead Latch

By far the most common issue that occurs with a Bosch dishwasher door is a tripped overhead latch. When you close your dishwasher door, the latch typically swings downwards to create a seal, allowing your dishwasher to proceed with the wash cycle.

However, a problem unique to Bosch dishwashers is that sometimes this latch can get stuck in the downwards position even when the door is actually open. This will completely prevent your dishwasher from closing properly (and from operating).

Broken Latch

Another possible issue with the latch is that is might be entirely broken. This typically happens when something hits your dishwasher door at an awkward angle.

As is the case with the stuck latch, if the latch is broken, you’ve basically got an unusable dishwasher.

Poorly Positioned Racks

This is a bit of a no-brainer, and not an issue exclusive to Bosch dishwashers, but it’s also not something that many people would think to check when their dishwasher won’t close properly.

If your dishwasher racks themselves are not following the tracks built for them at the bottom of the dishwasher, they could be preventing the door from shutting all the way. It’s that simple.

Damaged Door Hinges

The whole point of the door hinges in your Bosch dishwasher is to make sure that the door opens and closes smoothly. However, if your dishwasher is opened or closed too aggressively enough times, it’s possible for these hinges to crack or break off entirely.

How to Fix the Door on Your Bosch Dishwasher

Now that you know what the potential issues are, you’re probably ready to fix them. Let’s dive in:

How to Fix a Tripped Overhead Latch

Upon learning that their Bosch dishwasher door’s latch is stuck in the downwards position, many people will simply try to move it upwards in order to fix it. However, this isn’t actually the best solution.

The latch is held in place by a spring running horizontal away from the latch. That means that to fix it, you actually need to pull the latch outwards rather than upwards. This should pull your latch back into the upwards position and allow your door to close properly.

An important thing to note is that the spring you’re trying to pull is very resistant to change, and you may need to use a bit of effort to pull it out. Don’t worry about the latch breaking; this part is meant to move outwards.

How to Fix a Broken Latch

Unfortunately, if you can’t get the latch back in place, it might be because it’s broken. Luckily, this is still fixable, but you may need to order a replacement part.

These replacements aren’t usually hard to find, but you do need to order one that will fit your dishwasher specifically. This means you’ll need to stick with the Bosch brand. Thankfully, Bosch actually sells replacement door latches themselves.

For example, here’s a replacement door latch (on Amazon) for a Bosch dishwasher that should fit most models. Be sure to check that your exact model is compatible before purchasing though.

How to Fix Poorly Positioned Racks

This should be the simplest issue to fix. All you have to do is make sure that your dishwasher racks are properly aligned.

To do this, look at the bottom of the dishwasher and see if the wheels are properly following the tracks that they’re supposed to rest on. If they aren’t, you just need to adjust the racks until they’re in place.

You may also want to make sure that there’s nothing that could be knocking the racks off of the tracks. Sometimes, smaller things like forks can fall to the bottom of your dishwasher and knock the racks out of line.

To make sure there’s nothing blocking the way, you may want to remove your dish racks entirely and check for anything suspicious at the bottom of your dishwasher.

How to Fix Damaged Door Hinges

First off, you need to know if the door hinges are even the problem. To do this, close your dishwasher door and give it a good press. If it moves at all, then your dishwasher’s door hinges aren’t working properly.

Once again, the only real answer here is to order a replacement. The hardest part is that you need to find one that fits your model of Bosch dishwasher specifically.

For example, here’s a replacement door hinge (on Amazon) that will fit most (but not all) Bosch dishwashers. Be sure to check the models the hinge is compatible with your appliance before you order it.

What Are the Most Common Issues With Bosch Dishwashers?

Now that you’ve (hopefully) fixed your Bosch dishwasher’s door, you may want to know what other problems you could run into with your dishwasher. Let’s quickly go through some of the most common issues with Bosch dishwashers:

The Dishwasher Fills With Water By Itself

Oftentimes, Bosch dishwasher owners report that their dishwasher is suddenly filling with either clean or dirty water all by itself.

This is an important issue to fix quickly since you’ll probably be charged for the water usage, and the water could also spill out onto the floor, causing damage.

This problem could be due to one of two different issues, so to fix this, you first need to determine whether the water is clean or dirty.

If the water is clean, then the cause is likely that your water inlet valve has gotten stuck in the open position, causing water to flow through your dishwasher even when it’s off. In this case, you should get in touch with a repairperson and have the water inlet valve replaced.

If the water is dirty, then the cause is likely that your check valve has been damaged. This valve’s job is to drain the dirty water once your dishwasher is finished, but if it gets damaged, it could fail to do this job. Once again, your best option here is to get in contact with a repairperson to have the valve replaced.

The Dishwasher Won’t Fill With Water

Another issue that many Bosch dishwashers run into is the dishwasher not filling with water in the first place. In this case, you likely have a problem with either your water line or your filter.

To fix this issue, try removing any potential air bubbles in the water line by shutting off the water valve, removing the water line, and running water through it. You could also try removing and cleaning the filter that the water runs through.