Bosch Refrigerator Error Code 1011

Error code 1011 on a Bosch refrigerator indicates an inverter fault specifically related to the IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) within the inverter board. The IGBT is a power switching component that controls the variable-speed compressor motor by modulating voltage and current at high frequency. When the refrigerator's control system detects that the IGBT is either shorted (allowing uncontrolled current flow) or open-circuited (blocking all current flow), it triggers this fault code and typically shuts down compressor operation to prevent further damage.

The inverter board itself converts DC voltage to the controlled AC output required to run the linear or variable-speed compressor. An IGBT short circuit usually results from thermal overload, voltage spikes, or component degradation over time, and may produce visible signs such as burn marks or a burnt smell on the board. An open circuit failure, by contrast, means the transistor can no longer conduct at all, which also halts compressor function entirely. Both conditions result in the refrigerator losing its ability to cool.

Because the IGBT is integrated directly onto the inverter board assembly and is not typically serviced as a standalone component in the field, the standard corrective action is full inverter board replacement. Before replacing the board, technicians should verify that the compressor windings are not shorted, as a failed compressor can damage a new inverter board immediately upon installation.