Neff Dishwasher fault model S5453X0GB/17 controller problem?

The program duration display is only faintly illuminating the two lower right hand vertical bars. The LED indicators are displaying correctly. I understand that this may mean that the controller needs to be replaced. How do I access the controller? I'm able to remove the front kitchen-matching panel and it appears that there is a removal steel panel at the top of the appliance's front, but I can't work out how to remove it. I would like to check the connections to the controller before writing it off, particularly as very occasionally, the fault disappears. In the meantime, I'm handwashing all our dishes!...