DJI Mavic 3 Classic gimbal motor overloaded or stuck: how to fix it

A stuck gimbal or "gimbal motor overloaded" warning on the DJI Mavic 3 Classic usually means the gimbal was blocked or forced at startup, most often by the storage cover being left on or the drone sitting on uneven ground. Power off, remove the cover, restart on a flat surface and let the gimbal finish its startup check. If the camera still won't move or sits crooked, run gimbal calibration in DJI Fly.

What stops the gimbal — Things that can put the Mavic 3 Classic gimbal into protection mode or overload it, based on DJI's manual. Clear the cause, restart level, then calibrate.

Why the gimbal overloads

The Mavic 3 Classic's 3-axis gimbal carries a large 4/3 Hasselblad camera. DJI's manual says a gimbal motor may go into protection mode when:

The aircraft is on uneven ground or the gimbal is obstructed
The gimbal takes excessive external force, such as in a collision

DJI also warns:

Remove the storage cover before powering on, and put it back on when the drone isn't in use
Don't tap or knock the gimbal once the drone is on, and take off from open, flat ground
Don't add extra payload to the gimbal, which can make it work abnormally or permanently damage a motor
Heavy fog or cloud can wet the gimbal and cause a temporary failure until it dries

Fixes to try, in order

Remove the storage cover and anything else touching the camera.
Check filters. An unofficial filter, lens or a filter that isn't seated properly adds weight and can overload the motors. Use only DJI's Mavic 3 Classic filters, or remove the filter and test.
Restart on a flat, hard surface. Hands off while the gimbal moves through its startup routine.
Look for grit. With the drone off, gently move the camera. Rough or gritty movement points to sand in a motor. Use a hand blower only.
Let it dry if you flew through mist or cloud.
Update firmware for the aircraft and controller in DJI Fly.
Calibrate. In DJI Fly camera view, open settings, go to Control, and run Gimbal Calibration. DJI's manual lists gimbal calibration under the gimbal settings there. Keep the drone level and still until it finishes.
Calibrate the IMU and compass if the horizon drifts during flight rather than on the ground.

For a horizon that's level on the ground but tilted in your footage, see DJI gimbal not level.

When the gimbal is damaged

Start a repair if:

The warning returns on flat ground with the cover and filters off
The camera hangs, buzzes, shakes or won't tilt
Calibration fails or can't level the image
It started after a crash or a drop in the bag

The gimbal is a precision part and a DJI repair job. DJI Care Refresh covers crash damage if you have a plan.

Prevent it

Put the storage cover on whenever the Classic is packed, take it off before power-on, and start up on a landing pad instead of grass. For the error across all DJI drones, read gimbal motor overloaded. More on the drone is in the Mavic 3 Classic guide.