DEWALT DCD771C2: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-16

Summary

The DCD771C2 is a compact brushed 20V MAX* drill/driver kit that ships with two 1.3 Ah batteries, a charger and a bag. The issues owners run into are mostly confusion rather than breakdowns: which battery capacity actually ships, a plastic chuck, no hammer mode and moderate run time that may need a battery swap on a large job. No per-year running cost is published; the 20V MAX* platform shares batteries and chargers, so the real ongoing spend is extra packs or a bit set. At $99 (Lowe’s, October 2026) it is a good buy for household DIY; above $140 it is weak next to DEWALT’s own brushless kits.

Common problems and fixes

Moderate run time — Consumer Reports rates run time moderate and says a large job may need a battery change; keep the second 1.3 Ah pack charged. [4]
Plastic chuck — the 1/2-in single-sleeve chuck is plastic, not metal; avoid overtightening it by hand. [4][14]
No hammer mode — it is neither a hammer nor an impact drill, so masonry work is out. [14]
No battery charge indicator — there is no on-tool fuel gauge, so charge is judged by the charger rather than the tool. [4]
Bit set is a seller bundle — the factory kit has no bits, so the “Screwdriver/Drill Bit Set” in the title is a retail bundle, often the DW2166 45-piece set; confirm at checkout. [11][17]
Discontinued in Canada — DEWALT Canada lists the model discontinued while the US site still carries it; confirm long-term service and availability. [1][2]

Parts and consumables

Compact Li-ion battery packs (DCB201, 1.3 Ah, about 26.0 Wh each) — shared across the 20V MAX* platform; no owner replacement interval is reported. [9][14]
Compact charger (DCB106) — included with the kit; charges a pack in about 60 minutes. [7]
Screwdriving bit set (DW2166 45-piece) — a frequent retail bundle add, not a factory part of the kit. [17]

Yearly running cost

Not enough data. No source publishes a per-year cost. The kit shares batteries and chargers with DEWALT’s 20V MAX* platform, so the typical recurring spend is a bit set or extra packs rather than model-specific consumables.

When it is a good buy

At or below $99 (Lowe’s, October 2026) the kit is strong value: complete kit, compact 3.6 lb body, decade-plus owner sentiment, a 3-year limited warranty and a platform you can grow into. [11][8]
$119-129 is fair (Consumer Reports tested-range pricing from $119.00, MaxTool $129.00, Genuine Tools $107.99); compare DEWALT’s own brushless DCD793/DCD794 kits, advertised at up to 16% more power and a 2-in shorter head, often on sale. [4][13][10][5][6]
Above $140 it is poor value next to those brushless options; Newark’s $194.76 is industrial distributor pricing, not a consumer anchor. [12]