The vacuum cleaner is one of the common cleaning gadgets. And while it’s about purchasing a good one, Shark vacuums are often preferred. Maybe you also have one.
Along with its well-working reputation, users often face common problems in its use.
Actually, it’s normal to have problems with any kind of machinery we use daily.
While a vacuum cleaner works the dirt cleaning job for us, having technical problems often is nothing strange.
There might be problems in the setup or in any inner function or sometimes in particular major parts. However, whatever it is, all of them are fixable.
Are you facing any of them? Don’t panic.
Here in this article, we will provide you with the solution to most faced problems along with effective instructions for accurate use.
Because many times wrong use can create sudden problems. Check below to troubleshoot your shark vacuum cleaner problems.
Table of Contents
Shark Vacuum Troubleshooting – Repair and problem fixing guide
The Basic Checking
The very first thing you need to check is the warranty information. If the malfunction you are facing or might face in the future, is covered by the warranty – you are good enough to get free servicing or even better, a whole new unit (depending on warranty terms & conditions). Know warranty details from the sales representative if bought from a physical store.
If you have bought it from Amazon.com. You will get the warranty information from the product listing page on Amazon. An example is given to you below. Please click on the product listing page of the Shark APEX given below and find the downloadable warranty information stored in a PDF format.
It is located right beside the portion where basic product specifications are given. Please scroll down a bit and you will find it in no time.
While buying the gadget you are provided a manual instruction book for the accurate setup, inside the packaging. Anyway, if you lost that or do not have that for a reason; no need to be worried. There must be a dedicated product page for which you are looking, on sharkclean.com. You can find the manual there.
The manual of the Shark APEX is found out for you. Refer to the image below.
However, if you are done with the basic instructions and still your vacuum cleaner is not working, there must be some silly facts you need to check out.
This is actually basic checking. It’s kind of restarting the vacuum cleaner. Many times just by restarting the vacuum cleaner it starts working again.
Here are the steps.
Unplug: If your vacuum is not working the first time, unplug it. Remove all the connections and disconnect from the electricity.
Turn off: There is an ‘On-off’ option on the vacuum cleaner. Press the option and select that mode. Turn off the brush roll on option as well.
Filter replacement: Usually, the vacuum cleaner stops working while the filter is full. Every filter has limited space to gather dust. It can’t load dust when there is no space left in the filter. So, check if something like that happened and replace it with a clean one.
Cool it: Give your vacuum a rest for 50 minutes. Let it cool to work well again. Often, after sucking heavy dust, a 30-50 minute rest is essential. After a short break, the device works at full speed.
Turn on: You need to turn on the device now. Press the ‘I-on’ option to turn the cleaner on. Turn on the ‘brush roll on’ option also. Check if everything is absolutely fine.
Plug again: Now attach the plug to the switchboard. Fix it accurately because a loose connection can be a reason for not working. Check the switchboard as well. Because sometimes the main connection becomes the main fact.
Repair the fuse: It won’t work in case of a fuse connection. Find out if anything like this happened. Repair it first and then plug in the vacuum cleaner.
This is the restarting process. If your vacuum cleaner is working your basic problem is removed and if not there must be any major issue. Don’t worry we will suggest you a way of troubleshooting the major problems as well.
If no other method works for you, these accessories should be replaced.
So, the basic problem is done now it’s the turn for the major issues. Here they are.
Troubleshooting the Common Shark Vacuum Problems or Errors
Among users who faced problems in using the device most of the cases are similar. That’s why we have collected the most common problems and suggested an effective solution for users. If you are having one of them, follow the instruction and fix it on your own. Here are the problems and their solution.
Dirty Filter
After blocked brushroll, dirty filters come to the limelight as the reason for malfunctioning a vacuum cleaner.
A dirty filter can be a reason for your not working vacuum cleaner. Just like the dust cup you need to clean the filters. Normally, there are 2 filters on the top of the motor. One is the foam filter and the other is the felt. Both the filters must be cleaned once a month. To fix the problem just take out the two filters and wash them with warm water (not too hot). Dry them and fix them back. Your vac will work again.
These filters are not meant to serve forever. If it is too dirty to be properly washed, or if you think that you should buy a new one – you may use the search bar below.
Not turning On
It happens many times that the setup is done awesome and you have followed every single instruction given in the manual but still it’s not connecting. Don’t freak out. In such cases, the actual problems remain on the plug or the main connection. If you are facing this, just check the plug if it’s okay or not. If everything is okay, check the switchboard and the main connection area. Hope you will sort it out.
Auto Turn off
it usually happens that you turn it on and it gets turned off itself. Irritating right? The reason behind this is the loose connection or the problem with the motor. Check out the motor and fix it if it has lost its working power. Apply the restart procedure we have suggested in the basic setup, you will get a good result.
Overloaded Dust Cup
Mainly, the dust cup collects all the dust and stuck dirt. So, it’s obvious to clean the dust cup at least 3 days a week. Your vacuum cleaner dust cup has a fixed space to gather dust. Once the cup is full it’s normal to stop working. So, if your vac is not working check the dust cup. Besides, according to the cup’s size have an idea of how much dust it can load and when you should clean it.
Prevent your shark vacuum from losing suction and details on the dust cup.
Stuck Brush
If you all the parts of your vacuum cleaner you know how important a roller brush is. Because of heavy and sticky dust, the roller gets stuck and stops spinning. Dust like hair, yarn, and other small materials get stuck into the brush and stop it to work. To fix this out you need to clean the roller and the brush as well. You can give it a dry wash with an old used toothbrush. In case of too much dirt cut the debris. So basically, cleaning the brush will fix the problem.
Not Charging
Your shark vacuum may not take charge for several reasons such as
- The battery is completely degraded and it is refusing to take any charge. This is a very valid reason the users face. We will be discussing deeper about battery degradation below.
- After that comes the fact about faulty cable or plug. So many users are pretty careless about their cable connection and leave the power cables under the stand or legs of chairs and other heavy weighty objects.
In such situations, the cables get heavily bent and at a point, the cores get damaged or torn off. And this disconnects the power and charging gets ruined.
Changing the cord may solve the issue.
- Faulty power outlets may create problems sometimes. When the outlet is not capable of delivering enough power and voltage for your device, your vacuum may refuse to take charge.
If you find that, your power outlet is damaged or not delivering adequate charge, try to connect with another outlet or fix it as soon as possible.
- Charging contacts are clogged up with dust, and the charger is not even connecting with the internal connector. As a result, you may see your device is not charging.
In this situation, take a brush or toothpick and clean the contact properly. If it’s too sticky, use 95% Isopropyl Alcohol to clean that.
Problems with The Air Duct
There might be problems in the air duct area. The vacuum sucks all the dust with the help of an air duct. But the sucking process can get stopped because of some reasons. Sometimes any kind of large and stuck material can block the duct. If your vac has stopped sucking check the air duct if anything has blocked the way.
Wrong Set-up
The wrong setup is an important fact that may cause your vac not to work. To fix it, you need to read the manual very well and follow every single step. Most of the time the start option is not turned on the brush roll option is off and the vacuum cleaner does not work. So, set it accurately to work correctly.
Motor Replacement
The motor is the major part of the vacuum cleaner. It helps to run it accordingly and provides the power of working. There might be problems with the motor. In this case, you have to replace the motor with a new one. First of all, try to fix it if it can’t be fixed replace it with a new one. But it’s better to get a new vacuum cleaner than to buy a motor. Because the cost is almost equal.
This guide will help, shark navigator upright vacuum motor replacement
A blocked hose can be a reason why the device is not working. Sometimes just like the air duct the hose also gets blocked by dirt. Check the hose and pull out the dirt to fix it back to work. A clog in the hose is another reason for the blockage. If there is any clog in the hose lay the vacuum cleaner down and search for the blockage and clean it out.
Degraded Battery
In case your shark vacuum has been stopped working suddenly, there is a large possibility that the battery is completely degraded. Though a degraded battery would give you some signs before it stops working completely.
If you have been getting a battery backup of fewer than 15 minutes for some days, you have to be sure that the battery will be completely gone in a few days. According to user reviews shark vacuum provides around 40 minutes of run time on one charge.
Damage to the battery may get caused by various reasons such as overcharging, heating, water damage, etc. Do not overcharge the vacuum, try not to charge with over or lower voltage. So many users charge the device instantly when that is already hot. Charging produces heat inside the battery, so when you are putting it in charge while it’s hot. Overheating may make your battery degradation very soon.
Battery issues are pretty common in any kinda electronic device. Same for the Shark Vacuums. Often a shark vacuum battery may last about 2 years.
The company claims a two-year warranty for your shark vacuum battery. According to user reviews, the battery usually doesn’t get degraded within two years.
Also, while replacing the battery, it is recommended to take it from authentic Shark Outlets.
Blockage in the Hose
This video from Clint Moar might help you, watch it.
Nozzle Attachment
Suppose, you have done everything excellent. The cup is cleaned the filter is washed there is no blockage on the air duct or hose but still, the machine is not working. Do you know why? Because the main power is not there. You need to attach the nozzle very carefully. Check if the position is accurate. A loose nozzle won’t provide power to the cleaner and it won’t turn on.
Abnormal Movement
There are several legitimate reasons behind it.
Firstly, we can talk about the sensors. Your vacuum runs according to the sensor signals. When the sensor is dirty, it may get the wrong signal and do irregular movements. You need to clean the sensors and recalibrate them to get the fresh performance.
Next, you need to check whether there is any dust or obstacle stuck down at the wheels. This is stopping your shark vacuum to run properly.
Replace the wheels if they are too older or worn out completely.
Sometimes the dust and obstacles reach the main motor which occurs in abnormal movement or sometimes completely no movement. In this situation, better open the device up and then clean the internal parts properly.
Not connecting to Wi-Fi
This is much common for shark ion users, the basic reason behind it may be;
- A wrong Password; Write it again properly and try again.
- Your shark ion may be much far away from the router so that it is dropping the signal strength.
If it is not connecting yet, maybe there is a system bug. Better restart the router, and then the device, it may be helpful.
Overheating
This is also a massive reason for our shark vacuum not turning on. Overheating causes vital damage to the device internally.
Electrical inconvenience, higher or lower voltage than adequate may be a large reason for overheating. Sometimes the airflow gets restricted which causes overheating in the device.
Check If the dust cup is blocking regular airflow inside the machine. A jammed brushroll also be taken in concern as a reason for overheating.
This overheating may sometimes make your vacuum create unusual noises and other internal troubles. At extreme overheating, the device may vibrate and show weird notifications and signals.
Reset your Shark Vacuum
Finally, for some malfunction troubles, you need to reset your shark vacuum. But the fact is, not all of the shark models have a reset button. So, the very first recommendation for you is to read your device manual properly.
After that, if your vacuum doesn’t have a reset button then, power it off, and wait for a minute. Then plug it in again and the device will start with a complete reset.
But if you are using, a modernized version such as Shark Ion robot, then
Make the device upside down, press the power button for 10 seconds, and the factory reset will be starting automatically. Wait a minute and after that turn the device on again.
As soon as the boot is done, the factory reset is completed.
Also, never try to abort the reset once it is started.
Want to know more about, shark vacuum and shark vacuum motor resetting? read this detailed article properly [Shark Vacuum Motor Reset]
Verdict
As a vacuum cleaner is a daily helping device, it often gets stopped by various problems. And every time taking it to mechanics for repair is trouble.
So, it’s awesome to learn to repair it yourself. To do so you need to know the parts of your vacuum cleaner very well. Besides, cleaning them regularly is a must. Because most of the time the vacuum cleaner stops working because of the stuck dust and blocked area.
So, keep your vacuum cleaner clean to provide you with the perfect cleaning service.
Customer Service Help
Every customer gets a minimum of 2 years of warranty (it can be more) while buying the device. So, if you can’t solve the problem contact the customer service at 1-800-798-7398.
Hope the article is helpful. Follow the instructions and troubleshoot your shark vacuum cleaner yourself easily. Thanks for being with us until the end.
Hi, This is George. Founder Of Vacuumist.com. Completed my graduation in Bachelor of Business Administration. Proud father of two lovely baby girls. Reviewing home appliances is my passion. Developing this blog to update and publish my recent reviews and research. Stay in touch.
Light is blinking and rolller does not seem to be turning
I am having this same problem. I had my last one for 3 plus years and worked great. Changed battery and cleaned out vacuum and still had issues. I decided to buy a new one at Walmart less then a month ago and only used it a few times and I am having the same issue again. I called Shark and they told me I had no warranty and that they can help me but I have to pay to get any answers. I am disappointed and plan on returning to Walmart.
that’s because your cover plate is not one correctly. Take off and snap back on
You can take off the cover plate on the back and then put it in its place again. Hope this will work.
I have a shark as the 1110 cordless vacuum my problem is I’ve cleaned everything out the actual Bass the where the roller is that goes on the carpet that will turn on both speeds if the handle attachment that contains the motor in the dust cup and everything is not attached once I attach it to the floor unit it stopped working I am at my Wit’s end I do not know what the problem could be I’ve checked for any clogged debris I’ve even taken another vacuum and vacuumed it out I cannot seem to get it to work do you have any idea what might be my problem thank you for any information you may be able to provide
Though the issue is rare, but most probably the motor became weak to supply enough torque. We recommend contacting your nearest customer service center for expert help.
Mine too! How do we fix this?
The front plastic cover needs to be popped back into place
I have a shark cordless vacuum with a tool stuck in the end. How do I get it to come out?
Make it upside down and look inside. After you find the stuck object, use a finger or a suitable screwdriver to get it out of the head.
I have a Shark Rotator Professional vacuum and the brush roller quit rotating, everything else seems to be working fine, any recommendations to fix would be appreciated
We have a Shark Professional vacuum and the brushes stopped spinning when using. The brush roller is clean of hair and threads and you can spin by hand. The belts are good. We were thinking the motor could be bad but before we spend the money to replace the motor we want to know if that this could the problem. Thanks Jim
I had this problem. I watched a video on removing the brush. It turned out there is a small white connector under the white top that had come disconnected from the board on the red part. I plugged them together and put all the screws back and it worked.
Nancy
It may be for a weaker motor, you should contact the nearest customer care for replacement or expert service.
Hi I have just purchased a shark liftaeay NV601UK it is an amazing vacuum the only issue I have is that the pet brush attachment does not work the brush does not move can you give me any advise on why it does not work all the other attachments work fine with it just that one and it’s the most importtsnt one for me as we have two dogs and that’s the whole reason for purchasing the shark
Many thanks
Your device needs maintenance. Open it up and clean it properly and then set it up again. Clean debris or any similar object stuck in it. Hope this will fix the issue.
my belt is not turning I would like to know how to get it to start agaain
Hey Dorothy,
The belt is not turning means there is a problem with the connection. Make sure that the teeth of the belt and brush roller are placed properly.
Hello! I have a shark vacuum, can’t remember the exact model but it has the duo brush roll. I heavily rely on it as I am a house cleaner. I’ve had this one for a few months now and it seems really loud lately and the motor exaggerates when when I turn it off haha. I’ve cleaned everything but no improvement, and still has good suction. Is there a safe way to clean the motor or something with an air compressor?
How do I change the belt? for a Shark Model UV540 26?
I have a duo cordless and the dirt is not going into the dirt cup . What could be the problem .
Newer Shark rotator, worked fine first few times but after using it today it would not turn off and had to be unplugged from wall! I waited a few minutes used it again and same thing, would not shut off!
Which model?
Obviously, an error and should be covered by warranty. Did you contact shark?
press dust cap release and dust cup will not come off
Hey colleen,
It is stuck? maybe? what about now?
Hi. Mine won’t lift away. It looks as if it hasn’t been put on properly and is stuck how can I release it without breaking it
The wand is stuck on mine and won’t release. And no I don’t have the cord wound on it. I’ve tried everything. The button doesn’t look like it’s broken but it doesn’t have much resistance either.
Twist the end of the wand clockwise with one hand while twisting the end of the hose counter-clockwise with the other, hope this will work.
I have the same issue. I press the button and the dust cup won’t come off. Does anyone read these?
You need to check for a clogged hose or filter, unclog the hose properly and replace the filter. Wait 45 minutes for the vacuum to cool; then plug in the vacuum.
I have a Shark Duo Clean. It had a clog at the hose where the rotating brush is attached. I removed the clog and the hose seems to be cleared. but the vacuum is still not sucking and picking up dog hair, as there’s no dust coming to dust cup and the dog hair Just sticks to the brush roller. The red light on rotating brush keeps coming on. Can the panel on back be removed where there are deep holes that might be for removing screws to make sure there’s no clogs in there.
Hello Marlene,
Sorry for such late late reply. Was caught up into life. Anyway, definitely a blockage here. Did you manage to fix the issue?
I have read to replace the belt I might have to pry to get the new belt on. How do I do this?
Hey Sherry,
In order to secure a tight fit, the belt has to be a bit short than it should. You have to loose the brush roller first. then attach it with the free point of the belt and pressurize until the brush roller gets back to its position.
My new belt is to short it is the right belt how do I pry and force it on?
You can check the manual for better solution, also we recommend for not gving extreme pressure that it gets deformed.
I just bought a shark. Apex vac it doesnt turn on. My name is jeannie brick
Hello Jeannie Brick,
A great name you have there. I am very happy to get acquainted with you. Anyway, could you be a bit more specific about your problem? Is there any light blinking after you turn on the cleaner or it just sits idle without notifying anything.
I have a navigator upright shark nv70 ran over a sock now I don’t see the sock anywhere vacuum does not work
The sock is stuck inside the vaccum, open the device according to the manual and remove the stuck sock. Do not try to run it this way, it may over pressure and damage the motor.
Shark Vacums Suck!!!!! And Not In The Good Way!!!!!
Couldn’t agree more
Love my shark vac and I love it but came to use it this morning and the light is on but it’s not working. I’ve cleaned everything
Hello Julie,
It is quite disheartening to listen to such news. What went wrong? Have you figured it out yet?
Mine just started losing power, quit, and just light stays on. ?.feed back?
Probably the battery has been losing its power. Get a replacement from an authentic source.
Hi
We have a shark lift-away, works ok on carpet mode but when you switch it to hard floor the front light comes on but the motor does not engage. Any ideas most welcome
Kind regards
Phil
Did you ever get a resolution for this?
I have the cordless shark navigator. Worked fine for 2 1/2 years. Then one day when fully charged I tried to use it and it turned on for 2 seconds and then off. Have tried to turn it on several days in a row. Light indicates full charge. Has been perfect until this sudden occurrence. Never used on carpet. Hard floors only.
Did you ever find out the problem? Mine is doing the same
The battery capacity has gone too low, and it needs a replacement.
I have a shark rocket. I cannot get it to stand up on its own. Can you help me with this minor, but annoying issue?
Could you enlighten me with the model name, please?
I am on my second IonFlex. The first on hit it’s first year anniversary, would run for a 3-5 minutes, shuts off and the lights start blinking! Customer service for there products are awful! I called, refused to do anything! The place I purchased it gave me new one no questions asked! The second one hit it’s one year and is doing the same thing!! Shutting off with blinking lights!! No more! Going back to my Dyson!
Excellent choice!! except for the high price, Dyson outweighs Shark on every aspect. And I do not see the high price as unusual, if you want to get better, you’ll have to pay better,
Jimmy good answer!
I purchased a Shark and was excited because back problems are an issue. My Shark will run for a few minutes and stop and just sit and beep. It is it’s normal pattern and I am very disappointed. It is exhausting to follow it around and keep pushing the “clean” button to start it up again.
Maybe the robot is stuck and cannot move, or something has caused the main cylinder brush to lock up. Find out the reason properly and take general maintenance steps.
Hi there,
I recently started using a new Shark Nv752 rotator powered lift away and after using the lift away feature and an attachment, it won’t go back together. I thought, maybe I’m making this too difficult and am mechanically inclined, but for the life of me have found no trick to get it to slide all the way back in and click, it’s as if the end piece is too wide and not going down far enough to hear the click and make the connection. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Getting dusty.
Looks like you have your hands on a faulty unit, ever thought of claiming for the warranty?
I have the same issue. Mine is a Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum, Blue
ASIN: B00JH98GR4
It will not connect at the very bottom like it almost connects but does not connect completely. There are some gaps in the vacuum base where it connects the brush part and the middle base.
Hi i have bought shark rocket hv320 before 2 months. It was working properly till this day. But today my cousin took it for vaccuming.. After 1 hour continous use its suction stopped working.
Brush roll is properly rotating. Light bulbs ar also working but there is no suction at all.. I tried everything ckeand nossels clea ed dust cup and cleand all filters but all in vain there is still no suction at all…. Plz plz plz help as i have bought it from amzon. In and there is no service center for shark rocket in kashmir india. Plz help
Ask your cousin, he knows what he did to f**k the shark.
Anyway, just kidding, don’t bother doing that. Such can happen anytime and I think your cousin has nothing to do with it. (Still worth asking what he did though, 😉
Check the video out and see if it helps to get back the desired suction of your vacuum cleaner. Thanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B4e8JtycoY
My shark vac navigator handle attachment red button release is lose and not detaching! When I try to use it the handle clicks. By handle I mean the area that’s suppose to be released when pushing the red button.
I have a Shark Cordless Ion X40 vacuum that is about a month old. It started blinking the green light on the beater bar that flashes and will not engage the beater bar. I cleaned the beater bar and charged it up, but this did not fix the issue. I appreciate any help with this!
Go for a factory reset. This will calibrate the sensor activities and hope the problem will be solved.
Shark cordless vac , keeps going off and on when trying to vac? Help
Battery properly powered?
I have a Shark lift away which isn’t lifting I have cleaned filters brushes etc and checked hose for blockage any help would be appreciated
Hello Margaret,
Couldn’t quite get you there. What did you mean by “isn’t lifting” The lift-away feature is not working?
I had the same problem, I took the head off of the handle and found a small plastic bag in the head
I bought an Apex about 3 months ago. The front soft roller is not working. It doesn’t spin. I took it apart and removed the roller to check for anything that might be preventing it from spinning and didn’t find any dirt or anything. Is there a band that spins it? If so, where can I get one? And how do I replace it.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Shark+DuoClean+Powered+Lift-Away+Speed+Drive+Belt+Replacement/114300
Check out the link above and see if this fixes your issue, let me know what happens.
I have two Navigators that my parents have had for a few years and we have had problems ever since day one but they wanted the darn things because they were convinced they were the best on the market. They have both passed away now and they are my problems. Im going to throw away these hunk of junks in the trash and buy something worth having that the Buttons wont break and wont stay together, always a filter stopped up somewhere and loosing suction. Both are doing the same thing so it is a design flaw that im sure the company knew about after a while of getting complaints. I have read to much on the internet of people having the same issues. NO MORE JUNK Sharks!!@
YEAH!! NO MORE!! Buy a Dyson instead, see what happens. Check out our Dyson page.
Mighty dyson vacuum cleaners
We have cordless Shark vacuum cleaner. The navigating stick won’t stay in, look like little roller one side broken. Where (Durban / Pinetown South Africa) or how can it be fixed?
Which model is it?
Shark IF200UK which keeps going off I have checked and cleaned all filters and cylinder battery is fully charged i live in luton bedfordshire only abouy 18 months can you help or recommend where in the UK i can find help it was purchased from PC World