Pit Boss Navigator 850: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-20
Summary
The recurring weak point is the Pit Boss Grills app: owners report WiFi that will not connect, login failures after updates and no notification when the set temperature is reached, and one owner says WiFi never worked through several support sessions until a later app update. Running costs are hardwood pellets plus a cover (effectively required) and an optional second meat probe; no dollar figure is available. At the $799.99 US list (a $699.99 sale snapshot) it is the better-designed choice over the Sportsman 850 for about $50 more.
Common problems and fixes
- WiFi and app connectivity — owners report WiFi that will not connect even near the router, login failures after app updates, no notification when the set temperature is reached and a failure to set WiFi from the phone; one owner of a Pit Boss 850 bought in September says WiFi never worked over several support sessions until a later app update fixed it. [18]
- Small gap between the lower and upper racks — the lower rack is hard to reach and clean. [10]
- Rust after light rain — Business Insider’s Sportsman 850 test (sibling model) found rust on the handle, shelf hooks and top hinges after two nonconsecutive days of light rain; a cover is effectively required. [8]
- Low, hard-to-read controller — Business Insider’s Sportsman 850 test flagged the controller as positioned low and hard to read. [8]
- App temperature graph and cooking-history log — the Sportsman 850’s ambient/probe temperature graph never worked over several weeks and more than half a dozen uses, and the cooking-history log was unreliable; these are sibling-model signals on the same app platform. [8]
- No independent test of this exact model — no outlet has published measured time-to-temperature or pellet-consumption figures for the PB850M. [8]
Parts and consumables
- Removable undermount burn pot, grease tray and underside pellet cleanout — for ash and grease cleanup. [2][3]
- Replacement parts (igniter, controller, probes) — availability and cost were not found. [14]
Yearly running cost
Not enough data for a dollar figure. The ongoing costs are hardwood pellets, a grill cover and an optional second meat probe; electricity is rated at 290 W.
When it is a good buy
Pit Boss lists the Navigator 850 at $799.99 in the US, with a snapshot showing $699.99 on sale (2026); Pit Boss Canada lists it at $999.99 CAD. Business Insider puts the Sportsman 850 at $749 and says the Navigator 850 costs about $50 more. At that level the Navigator 850 is the better-designed choice if you want the larger 932 sq in area and 30 lb hopper; the Traeger Woodridge is the lower-smoke option, and the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24 was Wirecutter’s top pick with the Pit Boss Navigator 1300 its budget pick. [1][3][8][17]