Memphis Grills Elite Cart ITC3: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-30

Summary

The recurring weak points are the 7-inch touchscreen and the electronics: owners report rain damage with water inside the housing, blower failure during high-heat searing, 50-60°F startup overshoot and large temperature swings. Running costs are mainly pellets, about $66.65 to $134.86 per year in the worked example below, plus a $200 fitted cover that is not included. At $5,999 from Memphis, BBQGuys and BBQ Island in October 2026 it is a top-of-market buy; $4,800 or less with authorized warranty would be unusually attractive.

Common problems and fixes

Blower failure during high-heat searing — during an extreme-sear attempt the blower reportedly made a harsh noise and stopped, and when removed was described as melted; Memphis sent a replacement blower that was itself defective, then exchanged the whole grill. [4]
Startup overshoot of 50-60°F — observed on a 2022 unit; support reportedly called it intended to speed warmup. Workaround: start at a lower set point, then raise to target. [4]
Touchscreen sensitivity and calibration — tiny touch targets and an easy-to-move temperature slider; support provided a recalibration method that the owner said worked, with a firmware UI change only partly improving ergonomics. [4]
Large temperature swings and probe jitter — on a replacement Elite ITC3, indirect chamber temperature sometimes swung about ±100°F, meat-probe readings jumped and touchscreen responsiveness deteriorated. [6]
Warped grates — owners report warped grates, and one owner had a center grate jam as metal expanded at 400°F; replacement for warped grates was unresolved in one longitudinal report. [4][6]
Wi-Fi pairing and app limits — owners report getting stuck in provisioning mode and intermittent Wi-Fi/app operation; the app monitors temperatures, timers and alerts but does not change grill temperature remotely. [1][5][6]
RTD and controller fault codes — the manual documents ER-4 shorted RTD/probe, ER-5 open RTD/probe/wiring, ER-6 CPU overtemperature/auxiliary fan and ER-9 igniter/fuse faults as possible diagnostic paths. [2]

Parts and consumables

Food-grade hardwood BBQ pellets — required fuel, kept dry; example retail $9.86 for 20 lb (Pit Boss Hickory Blend at Walmart) and $19.95 for 20 lb (Traeger Signature Blend at Home Depot). Consumption is about 1.3 lb per hour at 350°F. [2][14][15]
ITC meat probe VG0956 — one included; spare is $99 MSRP at Memphis. Not a scheduled replacement; probe warranty is 30 days. [1][9]
Elite middle grate kit VG4002 — optional, $189 MSRP, adds 408 sq in. Durable accessory, not replaced annually. [11]
Direct Flame Insert VG4407 — one included; $125 MSRP separately. Replace only if damaged or lost. [13]
Memphis Genie multitool VG1595 — one included; $45 MSRP in the accessories catalog. Replace on loss or damage. [12]
Elite Cart ITC3 protective cover VGCOVER-10 — not included; $200 MSRP, heavy-duty water-resistant polyester. Strongly recommended given the touchscreen water reports. [10]
Disposable grease-catching foil pans — optional per the manual; exact brand and annual cost not found. [2]

Yearly running cost

Using the manufacturer’s 1.3 lb per hour at 350°F: 2 hours per week for 52 weeks is 104 cooking hours, or 135.2 lb of pellets per year. That is about $66.65 at the $9.86 per 20 lb Walmart example (about seven 20-lb bags, $69.02 purchased) or about $134.86 at the $19.95 per 20 lb Home Depot example (seven bags, $139.65 purchased). Tax and transport excluded; real use varies with temperature, weather and preheat. Electricity is required for ignition, fans, auger and controller, but only a startup figure of about 2 A is given, so no annual kWh or dollar estimate is available without a watt-meter. There is no mandatory subscription for cooking or monitoring. One-time extras are the $200 cover and $189 grate kit, which are not annual consumables. [1][2][14][15]

When it is a good buy

Memphis, BBQGuys and BBQ Island all listed the Elite Cart ITC3 at $5,999 in October 2026. Editorial thresholds: $4,800 or less new with authorized warranty would be unusually attractive; $4,801 to $5,399 is good with strong return and service terms; $5,400 to $5,999 is the normal October offering; above $5,999 needs a specific worthwhile package or installation. At roughly $5,700 to $6,000, the Yoder YS1500S Competition at about $5,695 offers 1,500 sq in and remote control in a much heavier steel chamber, while the Memphis Pro Cart ITC3 at $4,999 is the smaller sibling with 574 sq in standard and an 18 lb hopper. The MAK Two-Star General is $3,499 standard or $4,499 all-stainless but was out of stock on the checked October 2026 pages. [7][8][16][17][18][19]