A Bissell Crosswave is a magical machine that saves you tons of time. But, when the Bissell Crosswave fails, our frustration can get the best of us.
Luckily for us, many of the most common Bissell Crosswave troubleshooting issues are solvable by the average owner at home. These issues are often as simple as an incorrectly installed water tank or a brush with excess debris.
That said, there are also more critical Bissell Crosswave problems that may require buying new parts or replacing the entire machine.
In any case, in this article, we’ve gone wall-to-wall with our coverage of all the possible issues you might run into with your Bissell Crosswave.
We will be dealing with the Bissell Crosswave mainly, nonetheless, all of the hardware problems that you can run into with the Bissell Crosswave are those that Crosswave Max and Crosswave Cordless owners also see.
At the bottom of the article, though, we touch lightly on Bissell Crosswave Max phone pairing issues and the Bissell Crosswave cordless charging issues.
The best way to use this article is to follow the table of contents below for your specific issue. If two questions have the same answer, we refer you to the correct section.
Let’s get started!
Bissell Crosswave Troubleshooting
Read below for our comprehensive Bissell Crosswave troubleshooting techniques. Search on the Table of Contents to find the section most relevant to your issue.
Table Of Contents
- My Bissell Crosswave Is Leaking
- My Bissell Crosswave Brush Not Turning
- My Bissell Crosswave Dirty Water Tank Not Filling Up
- My Bissell Crosswave Leaving Dirty Water On Floor
- My Bissell Crosswave Won’t Power On
- My Bissell Crosswave Keeps Turning Off
- My Bissell Crosswave Keeps Saying Tank Is Full
- My Bissell Crosswave Brush Not Spinning
- My Bissell Crosswave Won't Suction
- My Bissell Crosswave Won't Charge
- Bissell Crosswave Cordless Won’t Power On
- How Do You Reset A Bissell Crosswave?
My Bissell Crosswave Is Leaking
If your Bissell Crosswave is leaking, it can be leaking from one of two locations. If your Bissell Crosswave is leaking dirty water – that is, if the leak is coming from either the dirty water tank, the foot, or the vents, you should scroll down to “My Bissell Crosswave Leaving Dirty Water On Floor.” If your Crosswave is leaking clean water, however, from the clean water tank, read here.
If your Bissell Crosswave is leaking clean water, the first thing you need to do is take out the tank. Go to the back of the machine and remove it. Then, treat the tank like you’re doing a Crosswave job. Fill the tank with warm water to the “water” line and add solution to the “formula” line.
Return to your Bissell Crosswave and put the tank in. Be firm but not aggressive when placing the tank back in, ensuring that there is no space between the tank and the body of the machine. A tank that isn’t firmly installed is a common reason for Bissell Crosswave leakage.
If your Bissell Crosswave is no longer leaking, you’ve done your job! Proceed as normal. If your Bissell Crosswave continues to leak, continue reading.
First, unplug the machine. Remove the tank again and have a good look at it. Look for aberrations on the surface: cracks, dents, or other inconsistencies. Do the same for the black cap and rubber gasket. If you note any obvious deformations, either on the tank or the machine, you should replace the broken part.
After replacing the broken part, the machine should be ready for use.
Too long? If your Bissell Crosswave is leaking clean water only, follow these steps to fix it:
- Remove the tank, fill it with warm water and solution, and return the tank to the Crosswave. Ensure there is no space between the tank and the back of the Bissell Crosswave.
- If the machine is still leaking, remove the tank again.
- Look at the tank, as well as at the back of the Crosswave and at the black cap and rubber gasket. If any of these have cracks, dents, or other inconsistencies, you should replace them immediately.
My Bissell Crosswave Brush Not Turning
If your Bissell Crosswave brush isn’t turning, your Bissell Crosswave is completely unusable. If your Crosswave powers on and stops after a moment, it’s often the case that there is a brush roll issue.
The first thing you’ll need to do is test out the brush.
First, plug the machine in and select a cleaning mode. Right now, it doesn’t matter if you choose “Rug” or “Hard Floor” mode; we’re just here to test the brush. If your machine turns on at this point, leave it on and see if it keeps operating. If the brush continues to turn, you’re in the clear! If not, read further on.
If the machine doesn’t turn on at all, scroll down to “My Bissell Crosswave Won’t Power On.” If, however, your machine turns on for a few seconds and then shuts off again, continue reading.
First, you’ll need to remove the brush roll window. That’s the plastic part protecting your brush from the elements. Pull up on the front of the tab on top of the plastic window, then pull to your left when facing the Bissell Crosswave to remove the brush roll window totally. Then, remove the brush by firmly lifting the brush from the left end first.
If the brush is dirty at all, give it a good wipe down. Repeat with all parts related to the brush, including the gear and the housing (the place in the Crosswave where the brush normally lives).
To test whether or not you have a faulty brush, hold the colored tab with one hand and, with the other hand, try to spin the other end of the brush. If the brush spins, you may not have a faulty brush. However, if the brush doesn’t spin, you need to get a replacement brush.
If the brush did spin, however, there’s something else going on. Look for any kind of dents, bruises, or other wear and tear on the gray end of the brush. If you’ve used the crosswave before, some marks are normal – we’re only looking for unusually dramatic scuffs that could affect the brush’s ability to turn.
Next, remove any hair or other debris from the end of the brush.
Now, look at the gear on the Bissell Crosswave. If either the gear or end of the brush roll is deformed, you may need to speak with a Bissell Customer Service Agent.
If the gear and brush end aren’t deformed, reinstall the brush, inserting the gray end into the right side and pressing down on the colored tab into the brush tab – the reverse order of how you removed the brush.
Now return the brush roll window to its proper place. For proper installation, ensure that the tabs on the front edges of the foot are lined up with the window, then rotate the window. You should hear it click when you’ve installed it properly.
Now plug the machine in and power it on. If this has resolved the issue, great! You’re ready to keep using your Bissell Crosswave. If not, you might need to speak with a technician.
Too long? If your Bissell Crosswave’s brush won’t turn or only turns for a second before the machine powers down, follow these steps to fix it:
- Remove the brush roll window, then the brush. Clean all the surfaces in the brush’s dwelling as well as on the brush itself.
- Inspect the brush for wear and tear that is greater than usual. If there’s a lot of damage, you may need to replace the brush.
- Look at the ends of the brush and see if there are any hairs or other debris lodged in the brush end. Remove these if there are.
- Hold the gray end of the brush with one hand and the colored end of the brush with the other. Try to spin the gray end. If it doesn’t spin, you’ll likely need to replace your brush.
- If it does spin, clean the gears in the foot of the Crosswave to ensure there’s no debris or other particulates that might keep the brush from turning.
- Reinstall the brush and the brush window, then power on. If the brush still only turns a little, you should speak with a customer service agent or technician.
My Bissell Crosswave Dirty Water Tank Not Filling Up
If your Bissell Crosswave dirty water tank isn’t filling up, there’s likely a problem with suction. Scroll down to “My Bissell Crosswave Won’t Suction.”
My Bissell Crosswave Leaving Dirty Water On Floor
If you’re wondering, “why is my bissell crosswave leaking dirty water,” you’re not alone. This is a problem faced by many Bissell Crosswave users. If the Crosswave is leaking from the water tank, foot, or vents, follow these steps.
First, remove the dirty water tank. Give it a good inspection. If there are any cracks or leaks, it is time to invest in a new tank.
If there are no obvious signs of tank damage, unplug the machine and remove the brush window. The brush window is the plastic part covering the brush; pull up on the tab that’s visible from a bird’s eye view of the Crosswave.
Look at the window. If there are cracks or other significant signs of damage, you’ll need to replace the window. If not, replace the window, lining up the tabs in the front with the edges, then folding the window down. If you’ve done it right, there should be a satisfying click.
Having inspected the brush window and the dirty tank and having found no obvious signs of damage, plug the machine back in. If the machine isn’t leaking, we’ve fixed it. If it continues to leak, there may be an issue with the side vents.
Often new Bissell Crosswave users have issues with the side vents, with foam leaking from the side vents or full-on dirty water. You may be using too much formula; be sure to keep to the allotted measurements as indicated by the side of the clean tank.
Are you using Crosswave formula, or a cheap alternative? We find that CrossWave’s own formula is the most reliable for the machine.
Also, be sure that the dirty water level hasn’t gone over the full line. Try emptying the tank and see if your Bissell Crosswave is still leaking.
If none of this has resolved your Bissell Crosswave problems, you may need to speak with a technician.
Too long? If your Bissell Crosswave is leaking dirty water, follow these steps.
- Remove the dirty water tank. Give it a look over. If there is obvious cracking or leaking, replace the part.
- Remove the brush window. If there is obvious leaking or cracking here, you should replace the part.
- If neither the dirty water tank nor the brush window have obvious damage, empty out the dirty water tank and the clean tank.
- Fill the clean tank to the proper levels of water and formula as indicated by the markings on the side, ensure that you’re using Bissell brand formula for cleaning.
- Power on your machine. If it’s still leaking, you’ll want to speak with a technician. If not, you should be in the clear!
My Bissell Crosswave Won’t Power On
If your Bissell Crosswave won’t power on, there are several solutions to test out. First of all, if your Bissell Crosswave turns on for a moment then quickly shuts off, there may be a problem with the brush.
If there’s a problem with the brush, the Crosswave seizes up and automatically shuts down. Scroll up to “My Bissell Crosswave Brush Not Turning.”
If the Bissell Crosswave won’t power on at all, follow these instructions.
First, unplug your Crosswave. Inspect the entire length of the cord as well as the end of the plug. Moving your hand along the cord of the Crosswave, you should feel no inconsistencies: it should all be smooth. The plug should also look undamaged.
If either the cord or the plug are damaged, you’ll need to get in contact with a Bissell representative.
If neither the cord nor the plug is damaged, check the outlet you were using. Plug in an electronic device like a phone charger. If the outlet isn’t working, test another outlet in the room, then another in another room. You may need to reset the circuit breaker.
If the outlet is working, plug the Bissell Crosswave into the outlet. Select either “Rug” or “Hard Floor” on the Crosswave to turn the machine on. Is it working? If not, unplug the machine.
Take out the clean water tank from the machine. On the handle, you should see a small circular area just above the white label. Insert a screwdriver, pen, or another similar object with a blunt tip into the opening and pull up on the handle. This will remove the handle.
Fully remove the handle and inspect it for any aberrations. If there are none, reinstall the handle. Push firmly, waiting until you hear a satisfying click.
Now plug the machine back into a working outlet and see if the machine has power. If this has resolved the issue, you’re ready to get rolling. If not, you’ll likely need to speak with an expert.
Too long? If your Bissell Crosswave won’t power on, follow these steps.
- Select either Rug mode or Hard Floor mode. Selecting a surface is the only way to turn the Bissell Crosswave on. If your machine powers on and then immediately powers off, there’s likely an issue with the brush. Scroll up to our handling of that issue.
- If the machine won’t power on at all, unplug it and inspect the cord and plug. If they are free of inconsistency, ensure that the outlet you’re using has power.
- If the outlet has power, keep your Crosswave unplugged and remove the handle. Inspect the handle. If there are no obvious signs of damage, place it back firmly in the Crosswave, pushing until you hear a click.
- Plug your machine in and see if it works. If not, speak to a customer service agent.
My Bissell Crosswave Keeps Turning Off
If your Bissell Crosswave keeps turning off automatically, follow these steps. First, plug the machine in. Select a cleaning mode (either Rug or Hard Floor) to fully turn on your machine.
If the machine doesn’t turn on at all, scroll up to “My Bissell Crosswave Won’t Power On.” If the machine turns on but then automatically shuts down, there’s likely an issue with the brush. Scroll up to “My Bissell Crosswave Brush Not Turning.”
My Bissell Crosswave Keeps Saying Tank Is Full
If your Bissell Crosswave keeps saying that the tank is full and it isn’t, there could be a problem with the float switch. The float switch is activated when the tank is full, but sometimes the switch stays active even after you empty the tank.
First, unplug the Bissell Crosswave and remove the dirty water tank. Empty it and rinse it out with warm water. Once it’s fully clean, replace the dirty water tank. Ensure that there is no space between the tank and its cartridge, and power the machine on.
If the Crosswave still says the tank is full, unplug the machine again. Give the tank a shake (to free the float switch), then fill it a quarter of the way up with warm water.
With warm water in the tank, give it a shake again. Empty the warm water and replace the tank. Plug the Crosswave in and power it on. If the Crosswave no longer thinks the tank is full, we’ve solved the issue. You can proceed as normal.
If the Crosswave still says the tank is full, remove the tank again and find a narrow, thin object like a straightened paper clip. Use it to free the float switch in the bottom. Replace the tank and power your machine on. If the Crosswave continues to believe that the tank is full, you may need to speak with a customer service representative.
Too long? If your Bissell Crosswave keeps saying the tank is full, follow these steps.
- Remove the dirty water tank and clean it out. Give it a good shake, then reinsert it in the machine.
- If the Crosswave still believes the tank is full, power the machine down and use a long, narrow object like a straightened-out paper clip to manually reset the float switch.
- Replace the tank and power the Bissell Crosswave on again. If the machine is still not behaving properly, contact a technician.
My Bissell Crosswave Brush Not Spinning
If your Bissell Crosswave brush is not spinning, you may have a serious technical issue that keeps your Bissell Crosswave from powering on. Scroll up to “My Bissell Crosswave Brush Not Turning.”
If the brush isn’t turning, it could also be that you haven’t cleaned your Bissell Crosswave properly.
To properly clean the Bissell Crosswave brush, first, unplug the machine. To access the brush, you’ll need to remove the piece of plastic that guards it, called the brush window. On the top of a window is a tab: pull up on this tab and then apply light pressure to the left to remove the window.
On the left side of the brush, lift directly upward from the plastic to remove the brush.
The brush should be visibly clean. Rinse the brush and the window with warm water, ensuring that both are completely dry before you make any further moves. Once both are dry and clean, replace the brush by first placing the gray end of the brush into the right side of the Bissell Crosswave, then pushing the left side down in its spot until you hear a click.
To replace the window, place the front tabs into the Crosswave’s receptacles, then tilt the window down. You shouldn’t face any resistance, but you should hear a click if you’ve done it properly.
Now power up you Bissell Crosswave. If your brush still won’t turn, scroll up to “My Bissell Crosswave Brush Not Turning.”
My Bissell Crosswave Won't Suction
If your Bissell Crosswave won’t suction, you won’t be able to pick up dirty messes of any kind. If your suction is too low, or if you’re experiencing a no suction situation, follow these steps.
First, plug your machine in and turn it on by setting the machine to either “Hard Floor” or “Rug” mode by pressing one of the buttons on the handle. If the machine doesn’t turn on at this point, scroll up to “My Bissell Crosswave Won’t Power On.” If it turns on, keep reading.
First, we’ll inspect the dirty water tank. Pressing down on the silver release button on the front handle, remove the dirty water tank. Keep the machine turned on at this point. Select a floor type and touch the motor vents on the Crosswave. If there’s no suction, you’ll need to speak with a customer service representative.
If there is suction, there may be an issue with your dirty water tank.
First, you should empty the dirty water tank. Grab the top of the tank and remove the topmost part. Clean the filter fully, removing all particles and rinsing with warm water. Hand wash the screen and float with warm water as well.
Using a paper clip, move the float switch at the bottom of the tank up and down to make sure it isn’t stuck.
Once everything has dried, replace the filter in the machine. Now, look at the edges. The edges should be smooth. If they’re folded, remove the filter and place it back in, ensuring you don’t fold the edges.
Now, look at the rubber gasket. This is the black strip near the top of the dirty water tank. If you don’t see a rubber gasket, you will need to order a new dirty water tank.
If there is a rubber gasket, replace the dirty water tank and all its parts into the Crosswave. Ensure you’re properly replacing the tank: place the bottom in first and push the tank in. You should hear it click. If you don’t hear it click or if there’s an obvious space between the tank and the machine, you should contact a customer service representative.
Now turn the Bissell Crosswave on once again. If there’s suction, congratulations! You may continue to use your Crosswave as usual. If not, there may be a problem with the foot.
Unplug the machine, remove the water tank, remove the plastic brush window, and turn the machine on its side.
Inspect the foot. If there are any particles in the foot, you should clear this with a long thin object like a pen. Now stand the machine back upright and replace both the water tank and brush window.
Test out the machine. If your Bissell Crosswave has suction now, congratulations! If not, there may be an internal hardware issue home troubleshooting can’t solve. Contact a technician.
Too long? If your Bissell Crosswave has no suction, follow these steps.
- Ensure that the suction is powered on by selecting either “Rug” or “Hard Floor” mode on the Bissell Crosswave.
- If the suction is still light, remove the dirty water tank. Select a floor type and test the motor vents. If there is suction, turn to the dirty water tank.
- Fully clean the dirty water tank, ensuring that the float switch still works.
- Ensure there is a black rubber band, called the rubber gasket, near the top of the dirty water tank.
- Replace the tank and test. If the suction is still weak, unplug the machine.
- Remove the water tank and the brush window, inspecting the foot at the bottom of the Bissell Crosswave.
- Remove any particles from the foot, then return the machine upright.
- Test.
My Bissell Crosswave Won't Charge
If your Bissell Crosswave cordless won’t charge, there may be some issues at play. The first and most obvious issue that will lead to a Bissell Crosswave not charging is a damaged cord or plug.
Inspect the charging station. Run your hand along the cord, ensuring it’s smooth throughout. Look at the end of the plug, ensuring there’s no damage. If either of these is damaged, you’ll need to replace them.
If neither is damaged, it may be the outlet. See if another electronic device, like your alarm clock or phone, will charge in the outlet. If your other devices don’t work on the outlet, try a different room. You may need to reset the breaker.
After ensuring that your outlet is working and that the cord and plug are not damaged, it’s possible that the charge light has failed, but that charging itself hasn’t failed. Plug your Bissell Crosswave into the outlet and wait. Return after a few hours and see if the machine has charged. If not, keep reading.
The 3-in-1 charging station that the Bissell Crosswave comes with has a cleanout function. During this phase, the Bissell Crosswave isn’t charging. After the cleanout cycle, charging resumes. If the cleanout cycle is not occurring, there may be a clogged brush roll.
If you see three red lights on your Crosswave cordless, there is a clog in the brush roll. First, reset the machine by pressing the hard floor button twice.
Then, inspect the brush roll. Remove any particles that may have caused the blockage. Replace your Crosswave back on the charging station.
If you see flashing red lights on your Bissell Crosswave, reset the machine. If the flashing lights persist, contact customer care. If there are no more red lights, keep reading.
After ensuring the cord and plug are free of inconsistencies, the outlet is working, and that there is no clog in the brush roll, you may have a faulty or damaged charging station. One of the most likely causes of a broken charging station is the introduction of water into the charging station’s machinery.
A waterlogged charging station is all too common and all too fatal for the Bissell Crosswave, and you’ll need to replace it.
If you’ve replaced the charging station and the Crosswave still won’t charge, you may need to contact customer support for further aid.
Too long? If your Bissell Crosswave cordless won’t charge, follow these steps.
- Ensure the cord, plug, and outlet are all operational.
- Make sure your Crosswave is actually not charging by leaving it alone on the charging station for several hours. This will circumvent the potentiality that the Crosswave charging light isn’t working or that the Crosswave was in its cleanout cycle.
- If the Crosswave still isn’t charging, there may be a clog in the brush roll. Clean the brush roll and reset the machine by pressing the hard floor button twice.
- If you see flashing red lights, contact customer service. If not, replace the Crosswave and see if it charges. If the machine still doesn’t charge, you likely have either a faulty charging station, a faulty machine, or both.
- Replace the charging machine. If problems persist, contact customer care.
Bissell Crosswave Cordless Won’t Power On
If the Bissell Crosswave cordless won’t power on, it may be a charging issue. Ensure the machine is fully charged. If you’re having issues with charging, scroll up to read “My Bissell Crosswave Won’t Charge.”
Ensure that you are using the Bissell formula in the clean tank and press the power button on your crosswave. If your machine turns on and immediately powers off, scroll up to “My Bissell Crosswave Won’t Power On.”
Look at the LED lights on the battery display. If you see none, you may need to reinstall the handle. Using a pen or another long hard object, put pressure on the circular area on the back of the machine. This should be directly above the clean water tank. Pull up on the handle and remove it fully before pressing it back into place, listening for a click.
Now turn the Bissell Crosswave on. If there is still no power, place the machine back on the docking station. If you can confirm your machine is charging but the machine still won’t power on, you should order a replacement handle.
How Do You Reset A Bissell Crosswave?
When we talk about resetting a Bissell Crosswave, we’re typically speaking of either the Bissell Crosswave cordless or the Bissell Crosswave max.
We’ve discussed resetting the Bissell Crosswave cordless reset above. To reset the Bissell Crosswave cordless, double-click on the “Hard Floor” button. Resetting a Bissell Crosswave max is a little more complicated.
There are many reasons that you might want to reset a Bissell Crosswave Max, but it’s most often related to an inability to pair the phone with the machine. Firmware issues and errors connecting to the Bissell network may also contribute to a desire to factory reset your Bissell Crosswave Max.
To perform a factory reset, hold the mode button (the gear icon) on the Bissell Max handle until you hear two beeps. This whole process should take around fifteen seconds. Then close and reopen the app.
Bissell Crosswave Max Phone Pairing
If you have attempted to pair your phone with the Bissell Crosswave Max but can’t, follow these instructions.
If you have an LG phone, you may need to read Bissell’s in-depth guidelines for LG phones. If not, continue on.
Ensure that you have the correct version by connecting to WiFi and opening either the Apple Store for iPhones or the Google Play Store for Androids. Make sure there are no available updates for the App.
Ensuring your app is up to date, try to pair again. If this is unsuccessful, continue reading.
Can’t Connect Bissell Crosswave Max To Bissell Network
If you can’t connect to the Bissell network, you should ensure your connection is solid. Move the Bissell Crosswave max and the phone closer to the router. Put the Crosswave to pairing mode by holding down the gear button until it beeps once.
If this solves the error, congrats! If not, factory reset your Bissell Crosswave Max by holding down the gear button on the handle until the machine beeps twice. Attempt to pair again. If the Bissell Crosswave Max still can’t connect to the network, there may be a more serious issue at play. You should contact customer support.
Bissell Crosswave Max Connect App Firmware Issues
If your app tells you “Error: Stuck in a Firmware Loop,” the most probable cause is outdated software. Close the app and open your phone’s App marketplace to ensure you have the most up-to-date version of the software.
If you have the correct version of the App, perform a factory reset by holding down the gear button for 15-20 seconds, until you hear 2 beeps. Close the app and open it again. If the issue persists, contact customer care.
Bissell Crosswave Max: Could Not Save Machine’s Name
If your Bissell Crosswave Max App shows “Error: Could not save CrossWave Name. Please Try Again Later,” follow these steps.
First, make sure you’re connected to either cellular data or WiFi. Make sure your connection is strong.
Go to the app dashboard and see if your product is offline. If the problem persists, move the machine and the phone closer to the home’s WiFi router.
If you still see this error, make sure the product’s WiFi settings are up to date. In the app, press the menu button on the top left and choose “Account.” Click on “WiFi Settings” and the “Change WiFi” button. Now repair your product.
Bissell Crosswave Max Other Issues
If you have other pairing issues, you should read Bissell Crosswave Max’s comprehensive pairing guide.