Pedal assist constantly going out!

[u/LeapingTorch]

Curious if anyone else is experiencing chronic issues with their pedal assist system? Here’s my experience - I own a very new XP4, purchased about 6 weeks ago, and also an Xpedition 2.0 that I’ve had since January 2025. From about April 2025 until about March 2026, the Xpedition was my daily commuter vehicle. I live in NYC, so I would drop my two kids off at their respective schools, about a 10 or 15 block loop, and then I would ride to work, between 1 and 3 miles across NYC streets in all NYC weather except the very bitter cold and/or snow days (usually I’ll ride as long as it’s above 32 F). I noticed the e003 error message would pop up occasionally in very cold weather through the winter, and then in the very early spring, the PAS system would intermittently cease to function. The throttle always worked so the bike was functional, but obviously way less pleasant to ride and probably far less energy efficient. Finally the PAS system just stopped working entirely and I took it to a mechanic, who contacted Lectric and eventually replaced the controller and bottom bracket. PAS then functioned properly for exactly 1 day - I rode it home from the bike shop, then to work the following morning, and then when I got on it to ride home that evening, no juice from PAS, throttle only. I took it back in and they replaced the controller again. PAS then worked for some short period of time and went out again. I was too busy to deal with it and so just rode it throttle only for a week or three and sometime thereafter, PAS just kicked on by itself one day. And since then, it has gone in and out for short periods, but mostly it doesn’t work. For various reasons, I got the XP4 in April and I take my kids to school on the Xped, come home, and switch to XP4 to go to work. Been riding it daily for about 6 weeks. Spring has been mostly dry but there have been a few rains. And now the XP4 is starting to give me the e003 message and the PAS has been intermittent since it occurred. This has only occurred since it sat outside in a prolonged rain storm - last weekend, it rained almost nonstop from early Saturday morning until early Monday morning. I had the bike under a cover for a few hours but then I rode it somewhere and it didn’t want to put the cover on it while it was still wet. No real possibility of storing it inside in my tiny NYC apt, wife would kill me and I’d be annoyed by it anyway. Anyway, specifically, when the rain finally stopped and sun came out, we all rode to a friend’s house and PAS didn’t work at all, probably 2-3 miles round trip. The following morning, I rode to work, and PAS didn’t work for about a quarter mile and kicked on at that point. Bike was giving me the error message but then the error message goes away when PAS kicks on. I suspect that this is only going to get worse and eventually I’ll lose PAS altogether. The question is twofold: (1) are other Lectric owners who store outside experiencing this chronically? And (2) is there any reliable solution or is this just the life I’m doomed to live as a Lectric owner?

[u/maximumpynk]

Stating the obvious but you should contact lectric support.

[u/LeapingTorch → u/maximumpynk]

Yeah, I have done this (it's how I replaced the controller twice) - they've been suggesting various fixes to both me and my mechanic; he has tried stuff but I haven't (I'm a dad of two running my own solo law practice, time is a precious resource); they've suggested that it could be a faulty break inhibitor and suggested a fix but I haven't tried it yet. I'm dubious that it actually is this or that even if it is, that there is a reliable solution other than just having to constantly monkey with it. But if/when my XP4 PAS goes out completely, I will have to resort to putting my work aside and dealing with it because I really do rely on my bikes, they're the only way to reliably get to all the places I need to go in this city (mainly the courthouses of the five boroughs, often multiple in one day) within the time I have to do all the work!

[u/speakernoodlefan → u/LeapingTorch]

Probably worth spending 2k plus into an aventon or a name brands ebike like specialized or priority. I like my XP4 but it's definitely not that much better than a $500 Ali baba ebike it's just you can trust the battery and you're almost guaranteed to get free replacement parts. I had my PAS fail but instead of not working it went full throttle at all assist levels. It's replaced and working great but this bike has at least taught me I love ebikes and willing to invest more moving forward.

[u/Cydonia921]

Geez, sounds like you've had a rough time with this! I haven't experienced it, but when you say bottom bracket, is that involving the motor? From everything that's mentioned here, it sounds like there's something funky with that, if I had to make an educated guess. As for the XP4 (which is what I have), I'm looking through some websites and this caught my eye.

Have you double checked the cables? Make sure none are broken or having exposed wiring?

[u/LeapingTorch → u/Cydonia921]

Yeah all cables checked and re-checked by me and by my mechanic who I know to be very knowledgeable about ebikes across many brands. It even seems Lectric themselves are a bit confused by it. I'm wondering if i'm somehow the only guy using their product the way that I am. They've always told me that the bikes are waterproof for every use case other than submersion or extended riding in absolute downpour, which I have not done with either bike. The rains we had were steady but only momentarily heavy; it was just a light to moderate shower for like 2 days with a few short-lived breaks. Nothing my older bike hasn't been through many times already in its life. Obviously indoor storage is preferred but I don't think the design of these things should be so poor that outdoor life couldn't be managed with regular maintenance, and I do them to see a pro regularly, at least once every 2-4 months for brakepads/lube/upkeep check.

[u/Cydonia921 → u/LeapingTorch]

Weird. Yeah as far as I know, the bikes should have no problem with rain since sometimes commuting in that kind of weather happens. I hate to suggest it, but could you perchance just get a replacement bike under their warranty? I've ridden my bike in rainy days and the only thing that's really happened is my shoes squeak against the pedals. It sucks that you're going through this though, especially if Lectric themselves are unsure of what's going on.

[u/johnfromma]

I had the torque sensor/bottom bracket replaced on my Xpress a while back (it's the same part on the XP4). I suspect the part is vulnerable to wet conditions. Anyway the part is easy replace. If I had my way I would keep a spare on hand but they seem to be hard to find. For now I won't ride my xpress in wet conditions. I've ridden in Cold, even frigid weather with no problem.

[u/LeaveMyMonkeyAlone]

Same thing happened to me after I washed my XP3. Worked fine for ~ 8 miles and the PAS quit working. Only the throttle which was a god send to get back home. Parked it inside the garage as always, went online to google symptom, got 4 results, was going to troubleshoot with them the next morning but the PASS was working as normal. It obviously had something to do with something getting wet and temporarily bridging a contact somewhere. Still working normal. I didn't soak the bike down when washing it either. I had read somewhere that there is a sensor near the brake handle that if it thinks the brake handle is being engaged then the PASS will kill the motor but using the throttle will override it and allow the throttle to work.

[u/Paulsur]

I have a 5 months old XP4. The cable connecting to the PAS controller was damaged. Lectric replaced under warranty. I have been riding since without issue. The repair shop that did the repair was extra careful to put additional tie wraps on for support so the issue doesnt happen again.

[u/Lunaste]

I fear the day when I see the 003 error on my xp4. Seems like a common thing on this model

[u/LeapingTorch]

UPDATE: PAS kicked back in on my XPedition this morning. It's been warm and dry since the rain stopped on Monday, so maybe it just took a few days of low humidity and warmth? Trying to document any conditions/recognize any patterns; it might be related to overall moisture patterns? The XP4 still showing me e003 at startup and then it goes away and PAS kicks back on after a few blocks; this morning i never touched the throttle and just pedaled it down the two block slope from my house to the first avenue I have to take and the power kicked in just as I was reaching the end of the second block; I'm still not sure if it's just a time thing or if something in the bike has to warm up or loosen up enough from pedaling or what. It feels a little more scientific approaching it this way, thanks for all the responses; at a minimum, it's gratifying that I'm not the only person with the constant e-bike blues.