Mavic 4 Pro - Obstacle Avoidance Issues

[fgphoto]

I don't have the drone in front of me, but I think it is ending in .200 if I recall. There were a couple long updates when I turned it on for the first time so it should be running the most current version

 

[maurotandoi]

I don't have the drone in front of me, but I think it is ending in .200 if I recall. There were a couple long updates when I turned it on for the first time so it should be running the most current version

Anyway, with firmware 0200, this is happening to many of my friends as well. The issue occurs when doing a Spotlight shot while flying backward and ascending. In that specific movement, the drone’s rear sensor picks up the right-side propeller as an obstacle and suddenly stops the flight. It’s now affecting almost everyone I know.

However, if you fly backward while maintaining the same altitude—level with the landing gear—the sensor doesn’t see the propeller, and the movement continues smoothly.

From what I understand, DJI adjusted the rear sensor’s detection threshold in 0200 to be much more sensitive—closer than it was in 0100. This change was likely meant to reduce false triggers in fog, which was previously detected as a “wall.”


Anyway, it was DJI themselves who advised me to downgrade to the previous firmware to avoid the issue.

I hope—and expect—that they’ll fix it in version 0300.

 

[dmcgrew]

Anyway, with firmware 0200, this is happening to many of my friends as well. The issue occurs when doing a Spotlight shot while flying backward and ascending. In that specific movement, the drone’s rear sensor picks up the right-side propeller as an obstacle and suddenly stops the flight. It’s now affecting almost everyone I know.

However, if you fly backward while maintaining the same altitude—level with the landing gear—the sensor doesn’t see the propeller, and the movement continues smoothly.

From what I understand, DJI adjusted the rear sensor’s detection threshold in 0200 to be much more sensitive—closer than it was in 0100. This change was likely meant to reduce false triggers in fog, which was previously detected as a “wall.”


Anyway, it was DJI themselves who advised me to downgrade to the previous firmware to avoid the issue.

I hope—and expect—that they’ll fix it in version 0300.

I seem to experience this issue flying straight ahead more than anything. I have a very hard time even hitting top speed. Like sometimes it will only go like 14 mph straight ahead with the stick pushed 100%. Other times it will try to go fast but then obstacle avoidance causes it to brake like crazy. Imagine going down the road and jabbing the brake every 2 seconds.. that's what its like.

 

[bwhip]

My issue was when I changed the setting from braking for obstacles, to flying around obstacles. Suddenly it flew very erratically, I seemed to have little control over the flight, even when no obstacles were around (just flying over water). Not a good feeling, so I switched it back to braking mode, and it seems to work better.

 

[PINEBARON]

FYI: Never had any issues, with any firmware versions on the Mavic 4 Pro or my A3S which are currently updated to latest firmware versions respectively. Both drones were ordered directly from DJI. There were no issues in backward flight either when I was recording fireworks from 393' AGL last Friday.

 

[ddublu]

So is it best to leave at 0100 if you get a new aircraft vs updating it?

 

[ddublu]

Anyone?

 

[MavicPeter]

I'm having the same issue with my Mavic 4 Pro, which I got just last week. I'm on firmware 01.00.0200 (aka 0200), I updated immediately after powering up the drone for the first time. (I think it came with 0100, but not 100% sure)

The issue manifests in the following way:
- Forward/backward flight appear mostly OK, but the drone still brakes/pauses sometimes.
- For me, sideways flight is almost impossible, as the drone continuously brakes/pauses. Sometimes when flying left, it completely stops thinking there is a hard obstacle there (shows up as red on screen) so pushing the stick in that direction does nothing.
- It doesn't appear to change based on the orientation of the sun relative to the drone.
- Flying for several minutes upon drone startup at "low-altitude" didn't seem to help, as was suggested by DJI to fgphoto.
- The issue completely goes away if obstacle avoidance is disabled, e.g. drone in sport mode.

I've only done two flights and both times experienced this. Very frustrating for what should be a "professional" drone. I'm going to contact DJI support and see what they say.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[maurotandoi]

I'm having the same issue with my Mavic 4 Pro, which I got just last week. I'm on firmware 01.00.0200 (aka 0200), I updated immediately after powering up the drone for the first time. (I think it came with 0100, but not 100% sure)

The issue manifests in the following way:
- Forward/backward flight appear mostly OK, but the drone still brakes/pauses sometimes.
- For me, sideways flight is almost impossible, as the drone continuously brakes/pauses. Sometimes when flying left, it completely stops thinking there is a hard obstacle there (shows up as red on screen) so pushing the stick in that direction does nothing.
- It doesn't appear to change based on the orientation of the sun relative to the drone.
- Flying for several minutes upon drone startup at "low-altitude" didn't seem to help, as was suggested by DJI to fgphoto.
- The issue completely goes away if obstacle avoidance is disabled, e.g. drone in sport mode.

I've only done two flights and both times experienced this. Very frustrating for what should be a "professional" drone. I'm going to contact DJI support and see what they say.

Thanks for all the help.

I did everything DJI asked me to do:
I downgraded the firmware, calibrated at low altitude, cleaned all sensors.
Opened a support ticket with DJI and sent them 4.7 GB of logs, videos, and screen recordings.
No reply yet....from Friday.
Amazon gave me a full refund.
The issue is real, reproducible, and affects multiple units.

Some users don’t experience it at all, which suggests certain drones are defective or fail early.

I contacted well-known YouTubers, but they avoided the topic or compared it to the Mavic 3 Pro—which, based on my experience, never had these issues.
Let’s see if a firmware update helps, but since many don’t have the problem, DJI may not consider it a priority.
We were just unlucky.

I might buy a used one later, but so far the flying experience has been frustrating and felt unsafe.

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[MavicPeter]

Thanks @maurotandoi for the information. I read through your posts on X, very helpful.

I ordered directly from DJI. Going to see what they say. Thanks again for sharing your experiences. Helpful to know I wasn't the only one.

 

[maurotandoi]

Thanks @maurotandoi for the information. I read through your posts on X, very helpful.

I ordered directly from DJI. Going to see what they say. Thanks again for sharing your experiences. Helpful to know I wasn't the only one.

’m sorry to hear that others are experiencing the same issue. For days, I received very little support or understanding. So, I went on the Chinese version of TikTok, http://douyin.com, and searched for “Mavic 4 Pro bug” — and I found several testimonials, full flight videos, and user reviews discussing the same problem.

So it’s clearly not just isolated cases.

Just out of curiosity — what is the manufacturing date of your drone, and which model do you have? Mine is the 64GB version, manufactured in March (you can find the date under the serial number on the box).

Did you experience the issue from day one, or only after using filters? If so, which ones?

I recall that under the original DJI Mavic 4 Pro filter, there are small contact pins for the eND filters, and they are powered. That’s likely why the official DJI filters (including the clear cover) have metallic plates — probably to dissipate static charges. Most third-party filters don’t include those.

I’m not sure what the back of the official DJI ND filters looks like. If someone reading this could post a picture, it would be interesting to see if they also have anti-static plates.

---

 

[PINEBARON]

I have the 512GB creator combo version ordered directly from DJI, manufactured date 2025/4. Latest firmware and Zero issues.

 

[maurotandoi]

I have the 512GB creator combo version ordered directly from DJI, manufactured date 2025/4. Latest firmware and Zero issues.

I took the drone on day one and I never had any problems, date April.

After a month and a few hours 6, the problems began and the false obstacles repeated themselves all the time, maybe something that broke inside and a material that was defective.

Who knows. I sent the logs to DJI but he didn't answer me anymore.

 

[MavicPeter]

@maurotandoi
I have the 64GB version
Date of manufacture: 2025/03 (from the sticker on box)
Had problems immediately. I did not fly with the original firmware, immediately updated to 0200
Never used/attached any filters.

A bit concerned now that DJI won't respond to me, but we'll see.
Thanks again

 

[maurotandoi]

@maurotandoi
I have the 64GB version
Date of manufacture: 2025/03 (from the sticker on box)
Had problems immediately. I did not fly with the original firmware, immediately updated to 0200
Never used/attached any filters.

A bit concerned now that DJI won't respond to me, but we'll see.
Thanks again

: 2025/03 (from the sticker on box) and 64gb. = Like mine!
Probably the first series had problems
Two of my friends who have in the box, May and April have not yet found them

 

[MavicPeter]

: 2025/03 (from the sticker on box) and 64gb. = Like mine!
Probably the first series had problems
Two of my friends who have in the box, May and April have not yet found them

That makes sense. Initial production run => possible problems fixed later on.

Support is giving me the round around, asking me to "update" to firmware 0200 and try things again, which I told them repeatedly that I'm already on. I'm still in the 30 day return/refund window and am thinking about just requesting a refund (or maybe replacement)