Miele Dishwasher Error F11: Drainage Fault

F11 on a Miele dishwasher means the machine couldn’t pump water out within the expected time. The control measures water level during drain; if it doesn’t drop, you get F11 — often mid-cycle, with standing water in the tub.

Check these before calling anyone

1. Filter combination. Twist out the sump filter, rinse it, and check the well underneath for glass, olive pits, seafood shells — the usual suspects.
2. Drain hose. Pulled the machine out recently, or new garbage disposal installed? Look for kinks, and confirm the disposal’s knockout plug was actually removed — the #1 cause after new disposal installs in Pleasant Hill kitchens.
3. Air gap / sink drain. If the sink side gurgles or backs up, the problem may be plumbing, not the Miele.

Restart a short program after each check. If water leaves, you’re done.

When it’s a repair

If F11 returns with clean filters and a free hose, the fault sits in the drain pump (worn impeller or open winding) or the non-return valve letting water flow back. On G 7000s we verify pump current draw against spec before replacing anything — a five-minute measurement that prevents parts-cannon repairs.

Persistent slow drainage without a hard F11 also deserves attention: it stresses the pump and eventually trips F70 Waterproof when seepage collects in the base pan.

FAQ

Can I just scoop the water out and keep using it?

You can bail it to open the filter, but don’t run cycles until drainage is confirmed — repeated F11 aborts leave dirty water sitting on the sump seal.

Is F11 ever caused by detergent?

Excess gel or the wrong detergent foams and can slow draining, but a hard F11 code is nearly always mechanical.

What does the repair cost?

Flat diagnostic that rolls into the repair on approval. A drain pump on a G 7000 is a routine one-visit job — we stock it on the van serving Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and Concord.