Bosch Dryer Error Code E:167

The E:167 error code on a Bosch dryer indicates a fault in the main heating circuit caused by restricted airflow. The control board detects this condition when temperature sensors identify abnormal heat buildup or improper thermal cycling, which occurs when air cannot move freely through the system. The two primary triggers are a blocked lint filter and a frozen evaporator (heat exchanger covered with ice), both of which prevent adequate airflow across the heating components.

In heat pump dryer models, the evaporator is a critical component of the refrigerant circuit that absorbs moisture from the drum air. If the evaporator becomes coated with ice, airflow through the heat exchanger is severely reduced, causing the heating circuit to behave abnormally and triggering the E:167 fault. Ice formation on the evaporator can result from operating the dryer in very cold ambient temperatures, a refrigerant system issue, or a defrost cycle failure. The lint filter, on the other hand, collects fiber debris from every load, and if left uncleaned it progressively restricts the airflow path that feeds the heating circuit.

Because restricted airflow directly impacts heating efficiency and can cause thermal components to operate outside safe parameters, the dryer halts the cycle and displays E:167 as a protective measure. Resolving the error requires identifying which of the two conditions is present: a blocked lint filter is the most common and easily corrected cause, while a frozen evaporator may require allowing the unit to defrost completely before restarting, or further diagnosis of the heat pump refrigerant circuit.