DEWALT DCF845P1: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

This 20V MAX XR three-speed impact driver is a compact 1,825 in-lb tool; owners most often report a trigger that lights the LEDs but will not spin on the first pull, plus a chuck that stops holding bits within a year. Recurring costs are worn bits and, eventually, a replacement 5.0Ah battery, and one illustrative budget works out to about $14.22 a year before a new pack. It is a good buy at $150 or less for the kit, and $129 to $149 for the tool-only driver.

Common problems and fixes

Trigger lights the LEDs but will not spin on the first pull — reported across several units; releasing and re-pulling the trigger, or cycling the speed selector, restored operation for some owners, and one service-center motor and control swap did not fix it for the original poster. Covered by the three-year limited warranty. [1][8]
Chuck stops holding bits — an owner reports the chuck stopped holding bits in less than a year; genuine retention parts exist for the shared driver. [2][7]
Free-spins then stalls under light resistance — changing the speed selector position restored apparent output for one owner, pointing to selector engagement rather than motor failure. [3]
Mode 1 and Mode 2 sound the same on a new unit — one buyer reported this on a kit with two smaller batteries; another owner found the three modes audibly distinct. Verify by brief no-load trigger tests rather than by sound alone. [4]
Heat in sustained heavy work — in a continuous lag-screw endurance test the Atomic DCF850 ran cooler than the DCF845. Use the right mode and allow duty cycles instead of holding the trigger partway. [5][16]
Switch damage from partial trigger use — the manual says continuous operation in the variable-speed range is not recommended and may damage the switch; pick a speed mode instead. [6]

Parts and consumables

Speed selector N046201 — $6.16 at eReplacementParts (October 2026); no routine replacement interval. [7]
Motor and switch assembly NA308634 — $107.60 special order at eReplacementParts (October 2026); with labor this can approach the cost of a replacement bare driver. [8]
Anvil assembly NA073630 — $72.02 at eReplacementParts (October 2026). [7]
Impactor NA073629 — $60.81 special order at eReplacementParts (October 2026). [7]
LED light assembly N768808 — $12.70 special order at eReplacementParts (October 2026). [7]
Housing pair NA152345 — $23.50 at eReplacementParts (October 2026). [7]
Collet washers, rings and detents — about $5.95 to $6.55 each at eReplacementParts (October 2026), sometimes with a minimum two-piece order. [7]
20V MAX DCB205 5.0Ah battery — $119 at Acme Tools (October 2026); Home Depot showed $119 promotional against a crossed-out $169. [9][10]
Impact bits — DEWALT MAXFIT ULTRA DWAUMF30SET 30-piece kit, $12.97 at Home Depot (October 2026); not supplied with the DCF845P1 kit. [11]

Yearly running cost

There is no paid subscription. The kit includes one DCB205 5.0Ah battery. An illustrative budget: a nominal 90 Wh pack charged once a week at 0.12 kWh from the wall is 6.24 kWh a year, about $1.25 at $0.20 per kWh; add one $12.97 bit set and the example is $14.22 a year. Buying one $119 battery in a year makes it $133.22. These are examples, not measured annual costs, and the original pack may last years. [9][10][11][12]

When it is a good buy

$150 or less for the kit — strong value because a genuine DCB205 and charger are included; no confirmed in-stock offer at that level was found in October 2026. [9]
$151 to $180 — attractive if you need a 5.0Ah battery, especially if you do not already own compatible packs. [9]
$200 to $219 — the regular shelf price; fair rather than a bargain. [9]
Above $219 — skip unless bundled supplies justify it. [9]

Named alternatives:

DEWALT DCF845B bare tool — the same driver without battery or charger, listed at $129 at Home Depot and $149 at Lowe’s (Jun 2025); better if you already own 20V MAX batteries. [13][14]
DEWALT DCF850B Atomic — a 4.0-in head with the same 1,825 in-lb rating, listed at $169 at Home Depot with a previous $129 sale; better for tight cabinetry and overhead access. [15]
DEWALT DCF860B XR high-torque — 2,500 in-lb and 3,800 RPM, listed at $199 at Home Depot (October 2026); better for higher maximum output if you already have batteries. [16]