Ryobi Compact Drill Model P815 -18V Lithium Battery Review

Most of the other reviews of Ryobi cordless drills seem positive, but I'm returning my second 18V Lithium drill, model P815, to Home Depot tomorrow and buying something else.  I liked the feel of it and it worked well -- when it worked.  In August, 2009, I bought the package which included the drill, two compact batteries, and a charger.  I took it home and charged the batteries and checked them in the drill.  They both worked, so I left one in the drill and put the charger, extra battery, and drill back in the storage bag.  I used it twice for a couple of minutes each during the next two months.  Abouit three weeks ago, I took it out to use it and it didn't work at all.  I knew I hadn't used it enough to run the battery down, but I put the other battery in.  It still didn't work.  So, I recharged both batteries.  The charger has lights which tell you when it is charged and also tell you (supposedly) if the battery is defective.  Both batteries seemed to charge ok, at least according to the charger.  Also, according to the charger, both batteries were not defective.  One worked in the drill and one didn't.  Was the one (or both) battery bad?  Or was the charger bad because it either didn't charge it or didn't identify it as defective?  When the one that "worked" was in the drill, the drill made a very loud clicking noise when I released the trigger.  Sometimes.  Was the drill bad?  I really don't know where the problem was.

I took it back to Home Depot the next day and got a new one -- a whole new box, new drill, new batteries, and new charger.  I took it home and charged both batteries.  The charger said both were not defective and both were charged.  They both worked in the drill, so I again left one in the drill and put everything back in the storage bag.  I took it out today to use it for the first time, and nothing happened when I pulled the trigger!  I tried the other battery and it seemed to work ok.  I put the first battery in the charger while I completed the project with the second battery.  When the charger said the first battery was charged, and not defective, I tried it in the drill.  Nothing!  Bad battery?  Bad charger?  At least the drill didn't make any loud clicking noises with the one battery that worked.  So, is the new charger defective for either not charging the one battery or not identifying it as defective?  Or is it just a defective battery?

I called Ryobi and asked about this and the person I spoke with said that, yes, they have had problems.  The only two options I was offered were to take it to a service center or to return it.  I think I will return it and get something else.  I'm very concerned that everything seems to work when I bring it home, but then a month or two later things are not working right.