Makita's 18V LXT brushless impact drivers, such as the XDT16, are compact cordless drivers aimed at both trades and serious DIY users. Owners commonly keep them running for many years, with the main long-term friction coming from LXT battery and charger issues rather than the tools themselves.
This entry is written from the 3 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
On the evidence gathered here, yes. 86% of owners say they would buy it again, and satisfaction is still 8.4 out of 10 two years in. Batteries lasting six to eight years for some owners.
The driver itself rarely gives trouble; the occasional complaints that surface are about batteries being locked out by the charger or power loss from dirty battery contacts.
Charger can permanently lock out a battery after repeated faults. Power loss from dirty battery terminals over time. One owner reported the charger melting its plug.
Batteries lasting six to eight years for some owners. Sentiment across the ownership period stays close to flat, which is rare: it reads 8.8 out of 10 in the first week and 8.4 two years later.
Worth it for: Deck and framing screw work; Fastening in tight spaces; Owners already on makita lxt batteries. Think twice if: Users driving big lag screws all day; People wanting maximum torque; Buyers unwilling to invest in a battery platform.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 8.8 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 8.8 / 10 |
| One month | 8.7 / 10 |
| Six months | 8.6 / 10 |
| One year | 8.5 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 8.4 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
Rates the XDT16 9.5 of 10 for its compact size, speed and anti-cam-out assist modes, noting modest torque against newer rivals and a learning curve.
A four-year-old Makita driver that lost power was fixed by cleaning the battery contacts, with others reporting Makita batteries lasting around eight years.
Owners report mixed battery experiences, including a charger-disabled battery denied under warranty and some switching brands, alongside trouble-free packs lasting years.