If your Miele dishwasher has stopped mid-cycle with F78 on the display, or with the red lights flashing, the circulation pump is the first thing our technicians check — and on most jobs it is the answer. Book online at /book/ or call (07) 3062 2377.

What F78 means on a Miele dishwasher

F78 is a circulation pump fault. The circulation pump is what drives water up through the spray arms during a wash; when the machine cannot get the expected response from it, it halts the cycle and stores the code. On our jobs the machine typically stops part-way through, shows F78, and will sometimes restart for one cycle before failing again.

This is not the drain pump, which empties the machine — that is a different pump and a different set of codes. It is also not a blocked filter, though a technician will check the filters before condemning a pump.

What we find on Brisbane Miele F78 jobs

Across 62 Miele F78 jobs our technicians attended in Brisbane in the 12 months to September 2026, the circulation pump is named on 48 job records — roughly three in four. The control board appears on 19, the drain pump on seven and the heater on five. Our technicians confirm the code by connecting the machine to Miele’s diagnostic unit and reading the stored fault before any part is replaced.

What you can safely check first

Run the machine once more and watch it. Note whether it fails at the same point in the cycle every time — that is useful information for the technician.
Clean the filters. Remove the coarse and fine filters from the base of the tub, rinse them under a tap and refit them. A blocked filter will not usually cause F78 on its own, but it is worth ruling out and takes five minutes.
Check the spray arms turn freely and that the holes are clear.
Do not dismantle the machine. The circulation pump sits under the tub and reaching it means tipping and partly stripping the dishwasher. That is a job for a technician with the right diagnostic gear.

What the repair involves

A technician will connect the machine to Miele’s diagnostic unit, confirm F78 is the stored code and test the pump before replacing anything. Where the circulation pump has failed, the machine is drained, laid over and the pump replaced from underneath. Most of these are completed on the first visit when the part is on board; where it is not, the part is ordered and a return visit booked.

Models we see this on

F78 appears across the Miele dishwasher range — under-bench, freestanding and semi-integrated. Models we have attended for this code include the G 4930 SCi and G 4930 SC. The diagnosis is the same regardless of the cabinet style.

Pricing

Our callout fee is $219, which includes the first 30 minutes of on-site labour and a full diagnosis. Parts are quoted separately before any further work goes ahead. Seniors, pensioners and students receive a $20 discount. Return visits are $29 plus parts and labour. All prices are estimates only.

If your machine is still inside the manufacturer’s warranty period, contact Miele Australia first to confirm how your repair should be handled.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep using the dishwasher with an F78 error?

Not usefully — the machine will not complete a wash cycle. Turn it off at the wall and book a repair rather than running it repeatedly.

Is F78 always the circulation pump?

No. It is the most common finding by a wide margin on our jobs, but the control board and wiring to the pump also account for a share of them, which is why the machine is tested on the diagnostic unit before a part is fitted.

How long does the repair take?

Where the pump is on board, most of these are completed within the one visit. Where it has to be ordered, expect a return visit once the part arrives.

Not clearing after these steps? A technician can diagnose it on the first visit — see Dishwasher Repairs Brisbane or book online.

Miele F78 Error Code — Circulation Pump Fault