On the covered iRobot Roomba i Series, j Series and s Series, error 3 means the right wheel is hanging down or the robot is stuck. The spoken message is "Uneven ground. Place on a flat surface, and then press Clean." First, lift the robot off the floor, place it in the center of the room and restart the clean cycle.
Differential
Likely causes of “iRobot Roomba i Series, j Series and s Series error 3”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The robot is on an obstacle
What separates it The right wheel hangs down
How to confirm Lift it off and place it in the middle of the room
- 2
Uneven ground
What separates it The robot tilts
How to confirm Place it on a flat surface
- 3
Hair or debris in the wheel
What separates it The wheel cannot turn
How to confirm Check the wheel wells
- 4
A worn wheel module
What separates it The error repeats on flat floors
How to confirm Replace the right wheel module
- 5
A threshold or cable
What separates it The robot got stuck
How to confirm Clear the floor
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the right wheel moves freely
- Whether the floor is flat
- Whether it repeats in the same place
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleLift the robot off the floor, place it in the center of the room and restart the clean cycle.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleiRobot's article says the robot is on an obstacle or uneven surface with the right wheel stuck. If it happened on a flat surface, check the wheel for obstructions, push the wheels up and down several times and shake out any loose debris trapped in the wheel well, and briskly turn both wheels by hand to make sure they turn freely with the same resistance. If the issue persists you may need a new right wheel module from the iRobot Store or an authorized retailer. The j Series and s Series charts word this error the same way.
Lift the robot
ReversibleOff the floor.
Place it in the room's center
ReversibleOn flat ground.
Restart the clean cycle
ReversibleAnd watch.
Clear the floor
ReversibleOf cords and thresholds.
Order a wheel module
ReversibleIf it persists.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The right wheel
- Each drive wheel has a sensor that tells the robot whether it is on the floor. If the right wheel drops or sticks, the robot stops.
- Common causes
- A rug edge, a cable or a threshold can lift a wheel. Hair wound round the axle can make it stick.
- Wheel care
- Turn the robot over and clear the wheel wells monthly.
- Hair on the axle
- Hair wraps around the wheel axle under the cover, where you cannot see it. Remove the wheel module if your manual shows how, or use thin scissors and a pick to cut and pull the hair out. A wheel that spins freely by hand and springs back is healthy.
- Floors that cause it
- Thick pile rugs and thresholds higher than the robot's climbing limit cause this error. Keep-out zones in the app stop the robot from trying them.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !iRobot says you may need a new right wheel module
- !Clear obstacles first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does error 3 mean on a iRobot Roomba i Series, j Series and s Series?+
The right wheel is hanging down or the robot is stuck. The spoken message is "Uneven ground. Place on a flat surface, and then press Clean."
What does it say?+
Uneven ground. Place on a flat surface.
When is it a part?+
If it repeats on a flat floor.