I have had four Xbox elite controller each one of them has been defective in some way....

This is the first I have heard of this on the new elite 2 controller. I have four elite controllers and no issues from manufacture defect. Hopefully, you get a good one under warranty and enjoy your gaming. Best wishes. ☺️

I have an xbox one elite controller, it's working fine - Use it as my primary controller and the grips / buttons all work fine, you must have been unlucky and received a defective unit.

I second that. There should be some sort of replacement program: I give Microsoft the defective Xbox one controller back, they offer me the Elite controller at a discounted price.

Now, I had to buy 2 controllers, so, what do you say Microsoft? Further discount?

Nope. Respectfully, you are wrong but good try. The older controllers don't have this problem. in 35 years I have never had a controller break in this way and now I've had four or five of them in the past year, all of them elite controllers, even the tier
2. it's not how much you play them or what type of game you're playing either. I've always played like it's my job and I have never had a controller analog stick fail in this way, ever.

My Elite controller left thumb sick floats up and down. I've only had it for about 7 months with very limited use. Microsoft only has a 90 day warranty, for a faulty product which is BS for a $200 controller! Every other company I know of would replace
a defective product and stand by their products, but Microsoft doesn't. Don't buy an elite controller from Microsoft because they produce defective products and will not replace them.