Roomba ‘Error 5’ Wheel Malfunction Caused by Defect, Class Action Alleges

A proposed class action filed this week claims Roomba vacuums are plagued by a defect that causes the wheels to malfunction and renders the machines “completely inoperable” and unfit for their intended purpose.

According to the 10-page lawsuit out of Illinois federal court, the defect can cause one of the Roomba’s wheels to stop turning properly, with the machine displaying an “Error 5” code. While Roomba maker iRobot Corporation sells a $59.00 wheel kit as a purported fix, the wheel replacement does nothing to address the problem, the lawsuit alleges.

Per the case, iRobot knew about the apparent design defect in its Roombas yet continued to sell them to unknowing consumers who would not have purchased the vacuums had they been aware that the machines were defectively designed.

The lawsuit looks to require iRobot to replace or recall its Roomba vacuums and refund the money consumers spent on wheel kits.

The plaintiff’s experience

The plaintiff in the case is a Frankfort, Illinois resident who says he purchased a Roomba vacuum in 2018 to use in his home.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff’s Roomba stopped working correctly on February 8, 2022 when the left wheel stopped turning and the machine displayed an “Error 5” code.

The plaintiff says he contacted iRobot, who instructed him to buy a $59.00 wheel kit to fix the problem. But, according to the case, the wheel kit did nothing to address the issue.

“Plaintiff purchased the $59.00 wheel kit but it did not remedy the wheel malfunction and the left wheel continues to not turn,” the complaint reads. “iRobot has further declined to provide Plaintiff with a Roomba Vacuum free of a left wheel malfunction.”

The plaintiff suspects that the wheel problem is caused by a defect in the Roomba vacuums’ core processing unit, meaning replacing the machines’ wheels won’t solve the underlying issue.

According to the case, the man would not have purchased his Roomba had he known it was defectively designed.

Who does the lawsuit look to cover?

The lawsuit seeks to represent anyone who purchased a Roomba vacuum, sent it to iRobot for repairs or replacement based on a wheel malfunction, and was charged for a repair kit that did not remedy the defect or malfunction.

How do I join the lawsuit?

There’s usually nothing you need to do to join or be considered part of a class action when it’s first filed. If the suit moves forward and settles, that’s when those covered, called class members, should receive notice of the settlement and be able to file a claim for their share.

It often takes months or even years for a lawsuit to be resolved, so stay patient and check back to this page for updates.

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