Originally Posted by
IAmCosmo
They aren't an issue that I've seen. I have one on my bike with a compact double crank. Never missed a shift, doesn't overshift, etc.
I had a left (front) 105 2/3 speed brifter die and called Shimano. The said they had some issues with them being installed incorrectly and were replacing them with new ones that were specifically 2 or 3 speed. The new one they sent me is two speed and marked "Double". They don't have a recall, but replaced it at no charge other than sending them my old one.
I think the issue is that if you set up a 3 speed brifter with the small ring on the lowest (least cable tension) setting it is possible to over tension the cable if you shift to the big ring (middle ring position) and then shift again... I think that is what killed mine.