An optical deflection apparatus, an image projector, an optical writing unit, and an object recognition device. The optical deflection apparatus includes a mirror unit having a reflection plane, a plurality of actuators to move the mirror unit around a prescribed axis, a drive controller to control operation of the plurality of actuators, and an abnormality detector to detect an abnormality in at least one of the plurality of actuators. When the abnormality detector detects an abnormality in at least one of the plurality of actuators, the drive controller controls another one of the plurality of actuators to deflect a light flux incident on the mirror unit. The image projector includes the optical deflection apparatus, and a light source unit to emit a laser beam. The optical deflection apparatus projects an image formed by optically scanning the laser beam emitted from the light source unit.