I have not had any problems with mine. I did break the hand remote where the lanyard attaches. I contact customer service and they sent me out another back cover. But I actual took the old back cover, drill a couple holes and put a cord threw it so I can't break it and drop it in the lake. I do keep a set of spare batteries and instructions how to program or sync the hand set and foot pedal, so if I have problems I can do that on the water. My current batteries are on the second year, probably need to change them before they go bad. The only thing for me is I do not like attaching the transducer to the trolling motor. Even though I have not it seems that when i am on anchor, the head turns to the point of putting pressure on the transducer cable. I have my transducer mounted on a stand alone mount called da'ducer apparatus. that way I don't worry about messing up the cable. I run Huminbird graphs so I have not run my motor with the contour lock. Think they work with lowrance for that. I use the hand held remote all the time. I have the foot pedal as backup, but except for one time to just try it out, the foot pedal stays in my dry box. The functions I use most are the anchor and the heading lock. The heading lock I use when I troll crank baits. I really don't know if I could go back to the traditional foot controlled trolling motor.