Miele Dishwasher F11 Troubleshooting (Drain Fault Quick Fix Guide)

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What This Error Means

F11 on a Miele dishwasher means Drain Fault.

The machine tries to pump the water out, almost nothing moves, so it times out and throws F11.

Translation: water isn’t leaving the tub fast enough because the drain path is blocked or the drain pump is weak or stuck.

Official Fix

Here’s the clean, manual-style route. Start simple, then move deeper.

  • 1. Let it try to drain once
    • Press Start/Stop (or Stop on older models) to cancel the program.
    • The drain pump should kick in. Give it a minute.
    • If it clears once and doesn’t come back, you just had a small temporary clog.
  • 2. Clean the filters in the bottom
    • Open the door, pull out the lower basket.
    • Twist and lift out the round filter unit from the bottom of the tub.
    • Take it apart. Rinse all screens under hot water. Scrub off grease and sludge.
    • Look down into the sump hole. Remove glass, bones, labels, pasta, whatever you see.
  • 3. Check the non-return (check) valve in the sump
    • With the filters out, find the plastic flap/cover where water exits to the drain pump.
    • On many models it clips out or is held by a small screw. Pop it out carefully.
    • Clear seeds, glass bits, food chunks blocking the opening.
    • Make sure the flap moves freely and can close flat when you put it back.
  • 4. Inspect the drain hose and under-sink connection
    • Go under the sink. Find the dishwasher drain hose.
    • Make sure it isn’t kinked, crushed, or pinched behind the cabinet.
    • If it connects to a garbage disposal, run the disposal hard for 30 seconds to clear it.
    • If the disposal is new, confirm the knockout plug at the hose port was actually punched out.
  • 5. Check the house drain, not just the dishwasher
    • Run the sink faucet. If the sink backs up or drains slow, that’s your problem.
    • A blocked P-trap or wall drain will make the dishwasher show F11 even if the machine is fine.
    • Clear the sink drain or get a plumber if the line is plugged.
  • 6. Power-cycle and test drain again
    • Flip the breaker off for 1–2 minutes, then back on.
    • Start a short cycle, then watch the first drain.
    • You should hear a strong rushing sound into the sink drain or disposal.
    • If water stays in the bottom and F11 comes back, the manual’s next step is: call Miele service.
  • 7. What Miele expects a tech to do from here
    • Check the drain pump for blockage or failure.
    • Check internal hoses for clogs or kinks.
    • Verify the control board is actually powering the pump.
    • Replace the drain pump or other bad parts as needed.

If you’re still in F11 land after the cleaning steps, you’re into “parts and tools” territory.

The Technician’s Trick

Here’s how a real tech cheats F11 before dragging the whole dishwasher out.

  • 1. Suck the clog out with a wet/dry vac
    • Unplug the dishwasher at the wall or kill the breaker. No power while you’re on the hoses.
    • Under the sink, loosen the clamp and pull the dishwasher drain hose off the disposal or drain stub.
    • Stick your wet/dry vac nozzle over the end of the hose. Wrap a rag around it to fake a good seal.
    • Turn the vac on. You should pull a slug of dirty water out of the hose.
    • If it suddenly whooshes and then runs clear, you just yanked the blockage out of the pump/hose run.
  • 2. Backflush to prove the hose path is open
    • With the hose still off the sink, pour a jug of hot water into the hose end.
    • Have someone watch inside the dishwasher tub.
    • If water pours back into the sump easily, the hose is open and your restriction is likely at the pump or check valve area.
  • 3. Listen to the pump and judge it
    • Reconnect the hose, tighten the clamp, plug the dishwasher back in.
    • Start a cycle, then cancel it so it jumps to drain.
    • Pump humming, weak or no water at the sink: impeller is jammed or the pump is worn out.
    • Totally silent pump, no buzz: likely a dead pump or no power from the board. Techs usually quote a pump replacement at this point.

These moves either clear the blockage fast or tell you straight that it’s pump-replacement time.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Under ~10–12 years old, cabinet and racks good, F11 only, and the problem is clogs or a single bad drain pump.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Older than ~12 years, F11 keeps coming back even after cleaning and maybe a pump swap, or you’re also seeing other error codes or minor leaks.
  • ❌ Replace: Tub rust, cracked racks, failing control board, plus F11, and repair quotes are over ~40–50% of a solid new dishwasher.

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