Error 2 is one of the most common problems with the Roomba robots that causes the device not to work or show that its battery has gone dead, even though it’s been fully charged for several hours.
Several reasons exist for this, but the main culprit is the multi-surface rubber brushes. Either the brush is clogged with debris or somehow broken.
In this guide, I will explain why the brush stopped rotating and what you have to do to troubleshoot this issue.
What does Roomba Error 2 mean?
Error 2 on Roomba indicates that the multi-surface roller brush having issues rotating. Aside from this, a damaged gear module or defective motor is also responsible.
Here are the possible reasons:
- Something caught in the brushes, preventing them from spinning.
- The brushes may need to be replaced.
- There may be an issue with the motor that powers the brushes.
This way you can fix the Roomba error 2 issue
In short: To troubleshoot error 2 on your Roomba, check and remove any obstruction like hair and tangles from the side brush and roller brush. Then apply some WD 40 in the gears module. Once done, reboot your Roomba.
Before diving into detailed step-by-step instructions, look at the bellow table. this will make it easier for you to understand this quickly.
Reasons | Solutions |
---|---|
Clogged brush | Unclog the brush |
Jammed gears | Apply some WD 40 |
Obstructed wheel | Clean the wheel |
Damaged brush | Replace it |
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If none of the listed solutions work and your vacuum still shows this Error, you must replace your Roomba’s brush or gear module.
Step 1: Power cycle your Roomba.
Like any other robotic vacuum, Roomba also uses an operating system that sometimes crashes due to software-related bugs.
When a vacuum faces an internal software error, it misbehaves, like going in a circle or throwing an error code without any actual reason.
So power cycles your vacuum first. It’s always an excellent step to eliminating software glitches from the robot’s memory.
Here’s how:
- Turn off your Roomba and then remove its battery.
- Let it sit for 15 minutes, then put the battery back in (still turned off).
- Let it charge fully overnight—it should be able to charge 100% while still turned off.
Once fully charged, turn your Roomba back on and check if you still get the Error. If you do not get any error message when turning on your device, have successfully fixed your problem!
Step 2: Clean the brush and extractors 
If power cycling doesn’t fix your problem, check and clean any hair or debris from Roomba’s side brush and roller brush.
Roomba’s side brush is responsible for sweeping debris away from walls and into the vacuum path, while the roller brush collects and sends them into the trash. Over time, these two brushes become clogged with hair and tangles, preventing them from doing their job effectively.
However, as mentioned, the main reason for Error 2 is a stuck or clogged brush; cleaning the brush should fix this problem.
Here’s how to clean the side brush:
- Loosen the side brush with a small screwdriver.
- Remove the brush.
- Remove any tangles from the side brush.
- Lubricate the brush module.
- Finally, reinstall the side brush.
If the side brush doesn’t spin or is stuck, you have to clean the side brush module. For this, read our detailed explanation of how to fix the Roomba brush if it is not spinning.
After then, check and clean the roller brush. Here’s a video guide from iRobot.
Pro Tips: When you take the brushes from your specific model to clean them, there are two ends: one is square, and the other has two plastic prongs. When the yellow prong half (the side across from the square end) is randomly pulled off, a thick spool of hair appears. Clear out the knots from both brush assemblies.
Article Summary.
To troubleshoot this error:
- Clean the front wheel.
- Remove any hair and tangles from the brush.
- Apply some WD 40 is where the rollers go, and the end is where the gears are.
- Clean the main gear and brush motor.
F.A.Q.s
Q: Will resetting fix it?
I don’t know it! When my Roomba had the same problem, I gave the roller brush an excellent clean and put a small amount of WD 40 on the gear. That solved my problem.
You can try once if you want but do it at the very end when there is no other way. Check out our complete guide to resetting your Roomba for a better understanding.

Vacuum master from Gazipur, Bangladesh! He knows vacuums inside and out and has been fixing them for ages. When he’s not busy repairing vacuums, Mizanur writes these super helpful guides for Homespoiler.com. His guides are packed with all sorts of tips and tricks to help people fix their vacuums and keep them running smoothly. More about him.