i have 4 hitec 555 and a hitec supreme. no problems at all.. only RX that I had trouble with was a futaba 148 .. it shorted out and melted the battery leads in my spitfire during engine break in..

so far I have had only one radio related crash. lost signal with my cub and put it in totalling it. but the RX checked out and has been in several planes since without a glitch.

sound like he previous owner got some moisture in there and didnt realize it or "forgot" to mention it.