Fanatec quality issues?

[Auron_1]

Seems like this company has gone through quite a bit recently, and $750+ is a lot to spend on a gaming accessory. So I just wanted to check in and see if the bad rumors are true.

 

[i386]

I never had problems with fanatec stuff, but I'm relatively new into their ecosystem (~4 years I think, got into it with the gt dd pro) so take everything I post here with a grain of salt

Personally before I purchase "expensive" stuff I do my research and I look for "bad" reviews and how the problems were resolved by the involved parties (customer, shop/store/retailer etc. and the manufacturer).
From that perspective fanatec seems to be great within Germany/EU, but had mixed experiences in the US (this was before they were bought by Corsair).
For the software side there were quite a few problems with firmware versions for the GT DD Extreme when it was released but I think most of the problems are resolved now or not directly caused by fanatec (eg missing TrueForce implementation)

 

[DigitalRelay]

For me, the issues with Fanatec haven't been with quality, but with customer service. A couple years ago I needed support with my GT DD Pro wheel that had a button break off, and it was like pulling teeth to get the button fixed, or wheel replaced. So much back and forth, and wanting me to send the entire bundle back, after one person said to send in the wheel. Eventually they sent me a new wheel.

I've heard they've been better with customer service since Corsair took over. I have only had one encounter with them recently where I bought a used set of pedals and the load cell sensor on the brake turned out to be bad. Customer service has been taking a couple of days to respond to messages, but they are responding.

 

[The_3000]

Hi

I have mixed emotions about Fanatec. In 2011 I bought a 911 GT2 Wheel with the Clubsport V1 pedals, because this Wheel was compatible with PS3 and X360 (it was the only one at this time, I think). When I got the wheel it was defective out of the box. I didn't power up. Back then Fanatec had no online form for warranty return or complaints. So I wrote an email. No reaction. I wrote a second, also no reply. So I called, I asked why they don't answer. They apologised and I got a new one, sent direct from Landshut (not far away from my place), so I didn't have to wait for the longer shipping from China. This was good service, but I didn't understand why it was not possible in the first place, when I wrote the mail.
The second unit worked then, but not for such a long time. After about 2,5 years the shift paddles began to bounce and made multiple shifts when only pushed once. Also the pedals began to drift. The whole setup wasn't usable in this state and it was out of warranty, I was very disappointed and didn't want to buy again from Fanatec.

The next wheel was then a Thrustmaster TX wheelbase with separate rim. That was a mess too, very noisy and strong FFB fading. I made a few modifications of the power supply and cooling, then it performed well for a few years. I still used it on the PS5 with GT7 via the collective hub. After a few years the Thrustmaster was worn out (steering angle sensor), also it looked very awkward through my modifications. I then looked for a new wheel and thought a long time what would be the best buy. I was hesitant about Fanatec, due to my past experiences and that what you heard about the products at this time, the bricking problem and service issues. But the value for money for a DD wheelbase was so good, so I bought a GT DD Pro. I have it now for two years and it works without any issues. Only the plastic QR1 wasn't good, it made snap noises while driving that you also could feel at the wheel. I replaced it by a metal QR1, what produced extra costs but since then I don't have any problems. It was a bad decision by Fanatec to make a "light" quick release out of plastic for the entry-level products.

But at the moment I'm happy. I don't know how long my DD Pro will last, but it's the best wheel I owned so far and sufficent for my demands.