Bosch Dishwasher: broken leveling foot

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your Bosch dishwasher leaning or wobbling? A broken leveling foot can cause improper alignment, leading to door closure issues and potential water leaks. This problem often arises from physical breakage or worn adjustment threads, affecting your dishwasher's performance and longevity.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Bosch Models

Bosch dishwashers use specific leveling leg assemblies (e.g., part numbers 00165299 or 00617586) that can differ between models; confirm correct part before purchase.

Possible Causes

Physical breakage of leveling leg due to stress or impact

How to Identify: Visually inspect the bottom of the dishwasher; if a foot is cracked, missing, or cannot be rotated/adjusted, it is broken. The dishwasher will tip or lean when pulled out or when the door is opened.

Part: Leveling foot / leg (Bosch part e.g., 00165299 or 00617586)

Worn or stripped adjustment threads on the leveling leg

How to Identify: Difficulty turning the leveling foot, the leg does not raise/lower smoothly or slips under load; dishwasher not staying level after attempted adjustment.

Part: Leveling leg adjustment threads

DIY Solutions

Replace broken Bosch dishwasher leveling feet

Moderate 15-30 minutes

Tools Needed: adjustable wrench, flat-head screwdriver (optional)

Unplug the dishwasher or turn off power at breaker for safety.
Carefully pull the dishwasher out from under the counter to access the front and rear feet.
Identify the broken or worn leveling foot.
Use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the old foot from the threaded leveling bolt.
Screw in the new Bosch OEM leveling foot (e.g., part number 00165299 or 00617586) until the dishwasher is approximately level.
Adjust all feet to ensure the dishwasher sits level front-to-back and side-to-side.
Push the dishwasher back into place and test door operation and stability.

⚠️ Safety First: Ensure the dishwasher is not powered when pulling out the unit to avoid electrical hazards.

Next step

Choose the next step for broken leveling foot

Confirm the diagnosis before ordering. An error code can identify the system involved, but it does not prove that a specific part has failed.

Check during diagnosis

Most relevant component to inspect

Appliance Leveling Leg

Supports and levels the appliance to reduce rocking, vibration, and door-alignment problems.

Typical part-only price: $8 - $40
DIY difficulty: Easy
Estimated time: 10-30 mins

Optional: enter your model number

Where can I find the model number?

Check the rating label around the door, lid, frame, rear panel, or inside the appliance cabinet. Use the complete model number, including suffixes.

Find a part that fits my model

Verify the complete model and part number on the retailer's compatibility page before ordering.

Other parts options

Check related components first; use model search as a fallback.

Model number required

Model-compatible Dishwasher parts

Enter the complete model number to browse compatible replacement parts. This is a model-based parts search, not a diagnosis that a specific component failed.

Find a part that fits my model

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Optional routine care

Maintenance supplies

These products support cleaning or routine upkeep. They are separate from the possible repair components above and are not claimed to fix this error code or symptom.

Maintenance supply

Dishwasher Cleaner and Descaler

Supports routine removal of mineral scale, grease, and odor. It is maintenance, not a repair for a failed pump, valve, or control.

View maintenance supply

Maintenance supply

Braided Dishwasher Inlet Hose

For replacement of an externally damaged supply hose. Verify connection size, length, and appliance installation requirements before ordering.

View maintenance supply

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Recommendations are based on routine-care relevance, not commission rate.

Professional Repairs

Technician replacement of leveling legs and adjustment

Estimated Cost: $40 - $120

When to Call a Professional

If the dishwasher is a built-in model with difficult access to the feet or requires disconnecting water/electrical connections to move safely.

If the leveling posts or base frame are damaged beyond simple leg replacement.

If uncertainty exists about correctly leveling the unit, as improper leveling can lead to leaks.

Preventive Maintenance

Check dishwasher level and leg condition: Prevents imbalance, reduces stress on feet and potential early failure
Frequency: annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Bosch Dishwasher broken leveling foot?

Common causes include physical breakage from stress or impact, and worn or stripped adjustment threads.

How do I fix Bosch Dishwasher broken leveling foot myself?

Unplug the dishwasher, pull it out, and replace the broken leveling feet with new ones.

How much does it cost to fix broken leveling foot?

Professional repair costs range from $40 to $120 for replacing and adjusting leveling legs.

When should I call a technician for broken leveling foot?

If you're uncomfortable with DIY repairs or if the problem persists after replacement, it's time to call a technician.

Community Analytical Insights

Guidance from available sources; statistical claims are shown only for samples of at least 10 discussions

Common Issues Reported by Users

Back leveling foot caught on an obstacle during operation, causing it to snap off.
Wear and tear over time leading to degradation of the leveling foot material.
Improper installation or adjustment of the leveling foot, leading to excessive strain.

User Suggested Solutions

Purchase a replacement leveling foot specific to Bosch dishwashers. Turn off the power and water supply. Remove the dishwasher from its installation location. Unscrew the broken foot and replace it with the new one, ensuring it is securely fastened. Reinstall the dishwasher and check for stability.
If the leveling foot is not available, use a temporary solution by placing a sturdy object under the dishwasher to stabilize it until a replacement can be installed. Make sure it is safe and does not obstruct operation.
Contact Bosch customer service for guidance on specific replacement parts or to schedule a professional installation if unsure about DIY repairs.

Limited-source guidance; percentages and success-rate claims are not shown
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

Repair broken back leveling feet Bosch dishwasher?

Community Discussions

back leveling foot got caught and snapped off

Replace the broken leveling foot by purchasing a replacement part and screwing it into place.