Nine times out of ten, a KitchenAid dishwasher that will not drain is suffering from a clogged garbage disposal or a kinked drain hose. Check the air gap on your sink and the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher tub for food debris before calling a pro.
Here's what I usually walk into: an inch of gross water sitting in the bottom and a homeowner convinced they need a new dishwasher. They don't. Ignore this long enough and you'll get mold, bad smells baked into the tub plastic, and eventually a seized pump motor that turns a $15 fix into an $80 fix. Nine times out of ten it clears up in under twenty minutes.
OK so your KitchenAid can't get the water out. This happens way more than you'd think, and honestly, a lot of the time it's not even a dishwasher problem, it's a plumbing problem. The disposal knockout plug, a kinked hose, a filter that hasn't been cleaned in two years. Parts run $8 to $80 depending on what's actually failed.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Clogged Filter or Sump35%
Blocked Drain Hose or Disposal30%
Faulty Drain Pump Motor20%
Stuck Check Valve15%
Symptoms You May Notice
Standing water in the bottom of the tub
Clean light flashing at the end of the cycle
Foul odors coming from the dishwasher
Gurgling noises from the sink during drainage
Dishwasher stops mid cycle with water inside
Can you reset a Kitchenaid dishwasher to clear the KITCHENAID-DRAIN-ISSUE code?
After clearing the blockage, press Cancel or Drain once and let the machine run its two-minute drain cycle to clear out standing water. If the status light is still on, flip the circuit breaker off for a full 60 seconds, then back on. That wipes the control board's memory. Run a short rinse-only cycle after to confirm it's draining clean before you call it done.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
Phillips #2 screwdriverFlat-head screwdriverNeedle-nose pliersWet/dry shop vacuumDigital multimeterOld toothbrush or bottle brushShop towels or old rags
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range10–30 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there still water in my KitchenAid dishwasher after the cycle?
Honestly, most of the time it's one of three things: clogged filter, kinked drain hose, or something jammed in the pump impeller. The filter is the first thing I check because people don't know they're supposed to clean it every month or two and it quietly fills up with debris. Pull it out and look at it. If it's packed, that's your answer right there. If it's clean, move to the hose, then the pump.
How do I force my KitchenAid dishwasher to drain?
Hit the Cancel or Drain button once. Most KitchenAid models kick off a two-minute drain cycle when you do that. If the water doesn't move at all during those two minutes, you've got either a physical blockage or a dead pump. Don't keep pressing buttons hoping something changes. Go find what's blocking it.
Can a new garbage disposal cause my dishwasher not to drain?
Yes, and this catches even experienced plumbers sometimes. Every new disposal ships with a plastic knockout plug inside the drain inlet port. You're supposed to punch it out before connecting the dishwasher hose. Skip that step and your dishwasher can't drain no matter what. I've gotten calls on this probably six or seven times over the years. If you recently had disposal work done, check that first before anything else.
What does a humming sound mean during the drain cycle?
That hum means the pump motor is getting power and trying to spin but something's stopping it. Could be a fruit pit, a chunk of glass, a small bone. I've found a plastic bread clip in one once. The motor's not dead, it's just stuck. Pull the pump or at least the filter assembly and look for an obstruction before you go buying a new pump.
How much does it cost to fix a KitchenAid dishwasher that won't drain?
Depends a lot on what's wrong. Clogged filter or air gap, that's free, just your time. A new check valve is $8 to $15. A replacement drain pump runs $45 to $80 for the part and you can swap it yourself in about an hour if you're comfortable with basic appliance work. If you call a tech out, expect $150 to $250 total including labor. Most drain problems honestly don't need a service call if you follow the steps above.
Models Known to Experience KITCHENAID-DRAIN-ISSUE Errors
This repair applies to most Kitchenaid dishwashers with this error code. Common model numbers include: