Miele Dishwasher F11 Error — Drain Fix

What it means

Miele dishwasher F11 error means the machine cannot drain within the allowed time.
Clean the coarse filter and microfilter at the bottom of the dishwasher — this fixes the majority of F11 errors.

Affected Models

Miele G Series Dishwasher
Miele Active Dishwasher
Miele Classic Plus Dishwasher
Miele Excellence Dishwasher
Miele AutoDos Dishwasher

Common Causes

Blocked coarse filter or microfilter — food debris restricting drainage
Kinked or blocked drain hose
Blocked household drain or siphon under the sink
Drain pump check valve stuck or blocked
Failed drain pump motor

How to Fix It

Clean the coarse filter and microfilter.

Remove the bottom basket.
Turn the coarse filter counter-clockwise and lift it out, then remove the flat microfilter.
Rinse both thoroughly under running water and use a soft brush to clear all food residue.
Refit and restart.
Check the drain hose.

Pull the dishwasher slightly forward and inspect the drain hose at the back.
Straighten any kinks.
The hose must loop up to at least 40 cm above floor level before dropping to the drain — this prevents back-siphoning.
Check the household drain connection.

The drain hose connects to the waste outlet under the sink.
Run the tap and confirm the sink drains freely.
A blocked sink drain will cause repeated F11 errors.
Reset the machine.

After clearing the filter and checking the hose, press and hold the Start/Stop button for 5 seconds to cancel the current programme.
Restart a short cycle to confirm F11 is cleared.

When to Call a Professional

If the filters are clean and the drain hose is clear but F11 persists, the drain pump or check valve has failed and needs replacement by a Miele technician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Miele dishwasher shows F11 every few months — how do I prevent this?

Recurring F11 is almost always caused by a filter that is not being cleaned regularly enough. Miele recommends cleaning the filters after every 20 wash cycles, or roughly once a month under normal use. Pre-scraping heavily soiled dishes before loading also reduces filter blockage.

Can I still run my Miele dishwasher with an F11 error?

No. With F11 active the machine has stopped mid-cycle because it cannot drain. Running it further will not clear the error and may overflow the machine. Cancel the programme, clean the filters, and restart.