Miele dishwasher F11, F12 and F13 fault codes explained
✅ Safe to check yourself
This is a common, low-risk check most people can do safely. Always unplug the appliance (or isolate power) before touching internal parts.
Miele’s own documentation and independent repair sources consistently agree on what these two fault codes mean, and — usefully — both have genuine DIY checks before they need an engineer.
F11 — drainage fault
The machine can’t drain properly, usually because the filter combination in the base of the tub is blocked. Remove the bottom basket, take out the filter assembly, and rinse thoroughly, checking for trapped food, glass shards, or (a genuinely common cause) a piece of glass or crockery jamming the drain pump impeller beneath it. Check the drain hose for kinks too, and if your dishwasher connects via a waste disposal unit, make sure its knockout plug has actually been removed.
F12 / F13 — water intake fault
The machine isn’t detecting enough incoming water. Check the stopcock/valve supplying the dishwasher is fully open, check the inlet hose isn’t kinked, and check its mesh filter for limescale or grit build-up.
When to call an engineer
If the filter, pump area, and hose are all clear for F11, or the water supply and inlet filter are clear for F12/F13, but the code persists, the drain pump or water inlet valve has likely failed — a routine part for a Miele-experienced engineer to replace.
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