Traeger Pro 780: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-14

Summary

The most common complaint is the WiFi and app: grills show as offline, connections drop, and notifications can arrive 5 to 10 minutes late; behind that sit controller knob failures that cost about $500 to put right and grills that switch off mid-cook on their own. Running cost is fuel and only fuel: roughly half a 20 lb bag of pellets for an 8 to 10 hour smoke at 225°F, which is about $9 a cook, plus 95 W of electricity. It is worth buying around $699 as a closeout; at the $999.99 list price the newer Woodridge or a Pit Boss Pro Series II 850 give more for the money.

Common problems and fixes

The grill goes offline and the app lags — this is the single most common complaint across owner threads: the grill shows as offline, the app loses the connection, and notifications can arrive 5 to 10 minutes late, with owners describing the frustration as ongoing months into ownership. The 2.4 GHz network requirement sits in the troubleshooting pages rather than the product description, so put the grill on a 2.4 GHz network with real backyard coverage and expect to reconnect now and then. [10][12][13][14][15][16]
The controller knob turns erratic or reverses — multiple owners report the displayed temperature jumping around, the knob going the wrong way, and having to turn it slowly to get a response, and it keeps happening across several years of ownership. A replacement controller runs about $500, and on grills made after October 2021 the controller is covered for 3 years. [11][3][4]
Firmware 1.x units cannot pair with the app at all — grills built before November 2019 running firmware version 1.x never pair and need the controller replaced, while later units run the current WiFIRE controller. Check the firmware version before you spend a day on setup. [5]
The grill can switch off during a cook — one owner reported the grill turning off at random and showing “sleeping” in the app; the thread never settled on a cause, so there is no fix to report beyond keeping the unit level and following the closed-lid startup procedure. [9][2]
500°F is too low to sear — Consumer Reports says a Traeger maxes out around 500°F, which is not hot enough for a proper steak sear next to gas (800°F) or kamado (1,000°F) grills, and SlashGear measured TurboTemp recovery at only 5 to 10°F per minute after the lid opens. Cook low and slow, then finish on a cast-iron pan or in a hot oven. [8][6]
The hopper holds less than a standard bag — the product page says 18 lb and the support guide spec table says 19 lb, which is under the 20 lb bags pellets come in, so the hopper needs topping up during a long cook. [1][2][22]
No pellet sensor, so you check the hopper by hand — the BAC523 sensor is an extra, and without it the app cannot warn you that pellets are running low. [2][6]

Parts and consumables

Hardwood pellets — about $18 per 20 lb bag; a long 8 to 10 hour smoke at 225°F uses roughly half a bag, around 9 lb, so one full cook costs about $9 in fuel. [6]
Pellet sensor (BAC523) — not included with the grill; it is the upgrade that adds app-based low-pellet alerts. [2][6]
Folding front shelf (BAC442) — about $70 extra, and SlashGear reported the shelf sagging. [2][6]
Grill cover (BAC557) — sold separately; Traeger advises covering the grill when it is cool so water does not reach the pellets. [2][6]
Insulation blanket (BAC627) — an optional accessory that is not in the box. [2][6]
Replacement controller — around $500 for a new unit when the knob or display fails, covered for 3 years on grills manufactured after October 2021. [11][3][4]
User-replaceable parts — the support guide lists the auger assembly, auger motor, fan motor, firepot and hot rod, main and upper grates, grease bucket, drip tray, thermocouple, meat probe, power cord, power brick, caster wheels, lid assembly and hopper parts, some with direct purchase links. [2]

Yearly running cost

Fuel is the whole running cost. Pellets run about $18 per 20 lb bag, and SlashGear used roughly half a bag, around 9 lb, for an 8 to 10 hour smoke at 225°F, which works out at about $9 per full cook. The grill draws 95 W while it runs, so electricity adds a small amount on top of that, and there is no subscription. Extras such as the pellet sensor, the front shelf at about $70 and the cover are one-off purchases rather than yearly spend. [6][2][1]

When it is a good buy

Traeger lists the Pro 780 at $999.99 direct, which is weak value: a Pit Boss Pro Series II 850 was about $549, and Traeger’s own newer Woodridge adds Super Smoke mode, a P.A.L. accessory rail and a 10-year warranty at a lower price. As of February 2026, M&H Appliance listed the bronze Pro 780 at $699.00, which is fair if you want app control and Traeger’s parts support. At $699 or below it is a good buy for a large pellet grill, provided you accept the app reliability and you are not buying it to sear. The hands-on reviews of the Pro 780 from iMore and SlashGear praise the app control and the cooking results, but neither published instrumented measurements, and Wirecutter now points buyers at the Woodridge. [1][18][17][19][23][6][7]

Traeger Woodridge — the better choice if you want Super Smoke mode, the P.A.L. accessory rail and a 10-year warranty; Wirecutter picks it over the Pro 780. [17][7]
Pit Boss Pro Series II 850 — the better choice if price matters most, at about $549 with a similar or larger cooking area. [18]
Traeger Pro 575 — the better choice for a smaller footprint; the two Pro grills differ only in cooking surface area, footprint and weight. [21][22]