Ecovacs Deebot Error 108: Why Is the Side Brush Tangled and How Do I Fix It?
- Hair or thread wrapped around the side brush post
- A rug tassel caught in the side brush
- Debris jammed under the brush base
Problem Description
The ECOVACS Home app shows Error 108 (Side Brushes are tangled). The spinning side brush at the front corner of the underside is bound up with hair, string, or a rug tassel and can't rotate.
Why This Happens in Real Homes
Error 108 is the side brush jamming - the little star-shaped brush at the front corner of the underside that sweeps edges and corners into the robot's path. Because it spins right at floor level, hair, thread, and rug tassels wrap around its post fast, especially in bathrooms and bedrooms.
Pull the brush off its post, cut away the wrap, and clean the mount so it seats flush and spins freely. Bent or splayed arms are the other common cause - straighten them or swap in a fresh side brush, which is a cheap wear part. If a clean, well-seated brush still won't spin, the brush motor is obstructed or failing and needs Ecovacs service.
Symptoms
- ECOVACS Home app shows Error 108
- Voice says the side brush is tangled
- Side brush not spinning
- Hair wrapped at the brush base
- Deebot misses edges and corners
- Robot stops soon after starting
- Grinding sound from a front corner
- Error 108 repeats each clean
Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.
Common Causes
- Hair or thread wrapped around the side brush post
- A rug tassel caught in the side brush
- Debris jammed under the brush base
- Bent or splayed brush arms catching
- Side brush not clicked fully onto its post
- Sticky residue binding the brush
- Worn side brush needing replacement
- Brush motor obstructed
Most fixes happen in the first 3 steps.
If a clean, correctly seated side brush still won't spin, the brush motor may be failing - contact Ecovacs rather than forcing repeated runs.
Tools & Requirements
These are for the steps in this guide, prioritized by fit, rating, availability, and current value.
microfiber cloth
BELLEMOND「Samurai Cloth」Japanese Microfiber Cleaning...
Tool for this fix
Scissors
Miller KS-1 Yellow Fiber Optic Kevlar Scissors, Easi...
Tool for this fix
Small screwdriver
CRAFTSMAN 6 Piece Precision Screwdriver Set, Mini Sc...
Tool for this fixAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Step-by-Step Solution
Locate the Side Brush
Flip Deebot over. The side brush is the star-shaped spinning brush with two or three arms at the front corner of the underside; it flicks debris from edges into the robot's path. Error 108 means it can't spin freely.
Pop Off the Brush
Most Deebot side brushes pull straight off their post, or unclip after removing a small screw at the center depending on model. Lift the brush off to reach the post underneath.
Needed for this step
CRAFTSMAN 6 Piece Precision Screwdriver Set, Mi...
This helps complete the fix you are currently reading.
$9.98Clear the Wrapped Hair
Hair and thread wind tightly around the base of the side brush post. Cut through the wrap with scissors and peel it off, along with any rug tassel caught in the arms.
Needed for this step
Miller KS-1 Yellow Fiber Optic Kevlar Scissors,...
This helps complete the fix you are currently reading.
$23.37Clean Under the Mount
Wipe out debris and dust packed under the brush mount and around the post so the brush sits flush and spins without drag.
Still stuck? Ask Trunetto about this exact issue.
Check the Brush Arms
Bent or permanently splayed arms catch on the floor and rug edges. Straighten them by hand, or replace the side brush if the arms are curled and won't hold shape.
Reseat the Brush
Push the side brush firmly back onto its post until it clicks (or refit the screw). A brush that isn't fully seated wobbles and jams, re-triggering Error 108.
Wipe a Sticky Post
If the robot rolled through a spill, dried residue can bind the brush. Wipe the post and brush base with a barely-damp cloth and dry them before refitting.
Needed for this step
BELLEMOND「Samurai Cloth」Japanese Microfiber Cle...
This helps complete the fix you are currently reading.
$19.99Restart and Watch
Press AUTO and watch the side brush spin at the front corner. If it still won't turn with a clean, well-seated brush, the brush motor is obstructed or failing - contact Ecovacs.
Quick Solutions
Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.
If this comes back after following these steps, check whether a recent app or firmware update reset a default setting — the fix works, but the setting gets reverted silently.
Side brushes are cheap wear parts - keep a spare, since splayed or hair-clogged arms are the usual cause of Error 108 and missed corners.
This issue almost always looks more complex than it is — the majority of cases trace back to a single setting, a stale credential, or a default that shipped wrong.
- Hair or thread wrapped around the side brush post
- A rug tassel caught in the side brush
- Debris jammed under the brush base
- Bent or splayed brush arms catching
- Side brush not clicked fully onto its post
Before you go — try one of these (they fix most cases).
Official Manufacturer Manual
Ecovacs provides official product documentation through their online manual rather than downloadable PDF. Access setup guides, troubleshooting steps, and product specifications for your Ecovacs Deebot.
Source: ecovacs.com
Need More Help? Ecovacs Support
Note: The contact information below connects you directly to Ecovacs's official customer support team, not Trunetto. They can help with warranty claims, device replacements, and advanced technical issues.
