Drone error codes rarely tell you what is actually broken. “Gimbal motor overloaded” does not say whether a cable tore or an arm bent; “ESC error” does not say whether a prop is tangled or a motor lead is cut. This lookup lists the warnings we see most on the bench, what each one usually means in practice, what is worth trying before you ship anything, and the point at which it becomes a repair. Search by the words in your app’s message.
Still stuck? Get a free diagnosis → Call or text 470-821-2762
Search the warnings
Gimbal motor overloaded
What it means: One gimbal axis cannot reach its commanded position.
Likely causes:
- bent yaw or roll arm after an impact
- torn or kinked gimbal ribbon cable
- failed axis motor or bearing
- gimbal cover, lens filter or debris blocking movement
Try this first:
- remove the gimbal cover and any filter
- check nothing is wedged in the gimbal path
- run one gimbal calibration — if it fails, stop retrying
Gimbal stuck / gimbal disconnected
What it means: The flight controller lost communication with the gimbal or the gimbal cannot initialize.
Likely causes:
- ribbon cable torn or unseated
- gimbal board fault after a crash or water
- connector damage
Try this first:
- power-cycle with the cover off
- check for visible ribbon damage at the gimbal base
ESC error / motor blocked / motor stall
What it means: An electronic speed controller detected a motor it cannot drive normally.
Likely causes:
- motor obstructed by grass, hair or a bent prop
- cut or chafed motor leads inside the arm
- damaged motor bearing
- failed ESC channel on the main board
Try this first:
- remove props and spin each motor by hand — it should turn smoothly
- look for debris around the motor bell
- check the arm hinge for cracks
IMU calibration failed / IMU error
What it means: The inertial measurement unit reports values outside tolerance or calibration cannot complete.
Likely causes:
- calibrating on a surface that is not level or still
- IMU affected by temperature after sitting in a hot car
- loosened sensor board after a crash
- firmware mismatch
Try this first:
- let the aircraft cool to room temperature
- calibrate on a hard, perfectly level surface with the gimbal cover off
- update or refresh firmware once
Compass error / compass interference
What it means: The compass reading disagrees with GPS heading or shows magnetic interference.
Likely causes:
- metal, magnets or rebar near the takeoff point
- magnetized parts after a crash into steel
- damaged compass module or cable
Try this first:
- move away from vehicles, rebar and metal structures and recalibrate
- remove magnetic phone mounts from the controller area
Battery cell error / battery cell damaged
What it means: One cell group in the battery is out of balance or has failed.
Likely causes:
- aged cells
- over-discharge during a long flight or storage
- impact or water damage to the pack
Try this first:
- charge fully once and check per-cell voltages in the app
- if the pack is swollen, stop — do not charge or ship it
Device unstable / activation required / refresh required
What it means: Firmware state is inconsistent or the aircraft needs a firmware refresh.
Likely causes:
- interrupted firmware update
- mismatched aircraft, controller and battery firmware
- corrupted firmware after a crash-powered reboot
Try this first:
- update every component (aircraft, controller, batteries) to the same version
- try a firmware refresh in DJI Assistant
Vision system error / obstacle sensing unavailable
What it means: One or more vision sensors cannot initialize or calibrate.
Likely causes:
- dirty, scratched or cracked sensor windows
- loosened sensor ribbon after a bump
- sensor board damage
- low light or featureless surfaces (temporary)
Try this first:
- clean the sensor windows with a lens cloth
- run vision calibration in DJI Assistant once
- test in daylight on a textured surface
No signal / weak signal / video transmission interrupted
What it means: The control or video link between controller and aircraft is degraded.
Likely causes:
- damaged antennas — on the Air 3 and Mavic 4 Pro they run through the arms
- controller antenna damage
- interference from Wi-Fi or metal structures
- RF board fault after water or crash
Try this first:
- point controller antennas correctly and test in an open area
- test with a second controller or aircraft if you can
Aircraft won’t power on / no power
What it means: No response to the power button with a charged battery.
Likely causes:
- bent or corroded battery contacts
- failed power-management circuit on the main board
- water damage
- a dead battery that shows LEDs but cannot deliver current
Try this first:
- try a second, fully charged battery
- inspect the battery bay for bent pins or corrosion
Propeller guard / propulsion error (Avata, Neo, Flip)
What it means: A prop strikes the guard or duct, or a motor is overloaded by a deformed duct.
Likely causes:
- cracked or deformed prop guards after wall strikes
- bent or chipped props
- debris in the motor
Try this first:
- inspect each duct for cracks and each prop for chips
- replace props and retest in a safe area
Landing gear / arm not detected / arm unfolded error
What it means: An arm or landing-gear sensor does not read the expected position.
Likely causes:
- cracked arm hinge
- arm not locking fully
- damaged hinge sensor or cable
Try this first:
- unfold and refold each arm until it clicks
- check for cracks at the hinge
A rule for every warning
Try the simple checks once. If a warning survives a power cycle, a clean lens and a single calibration on a level surface, retrying will not fix it and can make a torn ribbon or a bent axis worse. At that point the fault is mechanical or electrical, and the fastest route is a free diagnosis: we test the module the warning points at, quote it in writing, and repair it at component level.
Mail it in or drop it off
- Mail-in from anywhere in the U.S. — request a quote, get your RMA number and shipping instructions, pack the aircraft with two inches of padding and the RMA number inside the box (packing checklist).
- Batteries: ship at or below 30% charge, ground only, no more than two spares, never a swollen or damaged pack — see the battery shipping guide.
- Local drop-off by appointment in Cumming, GA (north metro Atlanta) — see drop-off details.
Common questions
Can a DJI error code be cleared by resetting the drone?
Software-only faults sometimes clear with a firmware refresh. Warnings caused by a torn ribbon, a bent gimbal arm, a cut motor lead or a scratched sensor window come straight back, because the hardware is still damaged.
Does the error code tell you exactly which part failed?
No — it narrows the system. We confirm the actual failed part on the bench, which is why the diagnosis is free and the quote is written before any work.
The Drone Hospital is an independent repair shop and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by any drone manufacturer.