Dishwasher Pump & Motor Replacement Cost
The machine fills then hums without washing, grinds or squeals during the wash, or trips the breaker mid-cycle. The circulation pump is the dishwasher’s heart — and its priciest common failure.
National averages for independent repair companies. Service-call/diagnostic fees ($75–$150) are usually applied toward the repair. Costs vary by brand, model, and city.
What causes it — and what each fix costs
Circulation pump/motor failed
Bearings and seals go after years of hot detergent water. On many machines the pump means pulling the unit from the cabinet — that’s the labor.
Glass or bone jamming the impeller
The grinding impostor: shards work into the pump and chew the impeller. Sometimes cleared for a service call; sometimes the impeller’s chewed and needs the kit.
Drain pump (smaller, cheaper twin)
If the problem is only drainage, it’s the small drain pump instead — see the not-draining guide.
Repair or replace?
The dishwasher decision point: on a quality machine under ~7 years, repair. A $400 pump job on a $500-new builder unit at year 9 — replace, and get the quieter model you wanted anyway.
Sources
Where the safety, regulatory and warranty claims on this page come from. Repair costs are our own figures based on Arizona market rates and OEM parts pricing.
- Electrical Safety U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Shock and electrical fire hazards from damaged appliance wiring and grounding faults.
We'll quote you on hauling it away — or buying it.
Not every dishwasher is worth repairing, and we'd rather tell you that than sell you a repair. If you're replacing it, we'll give you a free quote either way: scrap pickup for a machine that's finished, or a cash offer if it still has life in it. Working units, recent models and premium brands are often worth real money.
Common questions
It grinds like rocks are inside — is it dying?
Check the easy answer first: a shard of glass in the pump intake sounds catastrophic and often costs nothing to remove. Real bearing grind is constant, not intermittent.
Model-specific guides for this problem
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