16 Warranty Claims??

[trook]

I own a JD 5075E cab with 275 hours. The warranty expires in 1 week. I have had 16 warranty claims since my purchase; many of them (about half) air conditioner related. Being concerned about future issues with this tractor, I have simply lost confidence. Growing frustrated, I contacted JD in November to ask them to:

1. extend my warranty
2. extend my warrant concerning any future a/c related issue, or
3. replace the tractor

To make a long story short, the regional manager notified my local dealer that he has denied all my requests. They gave me 3 options:

1. purchase a 1-yr extended warranty for $1,200
2. purchase a 2-yr extended warranty for $1,800, or
3. replace the tractor with a new model at a cost of $12,500.

I reminded my local dealer that I have had issues since literally day 1. They acknowledged this and my local service manager admitted there have been too many claims with my tractor. I stated the a/c was still freezing up the last time I used the tractor in the fall, and you simply cannot duplicate atmospheric conditions in Jan/Feb that will compare with July and August 95-100 deg temperatures. Meaning any attempt to fix the a/c in the winter will not give an accurate result. Therefore, at a minimum, I requested for them to honor any future a/c related issue that may arise considering the initial problem still is not fixed 2 years later. My request was denied

According to the local service manager and salesman I know personally, the decision comes down the the regional rep. What options do I have at this point? I am being boxed into a corner, and it appears that the only option left is to engage in litigation. I consider myself a logical and reasonable individual, but I feel that JD's response is inappropriate. What do you think? What are my options at this point?

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Read this article:
How to Enforce Your Product Warranty

Short story, the manufacturer has a duty under US law to stand behind their product beyond just what they promise in the warranty.

 

[bigtiller]

To make a long story short, the regional manager notified my local dealer that he has denied all my requests. They gave me 3 options:

1. purchase a 1-yr extended warranty for $1,200
2. purchase a 2-yr extended warranty for $1,800, or
3. replace the tractor with a new model at a cost of $12,500.


According to the local service manager and salesman I know personally, the decision comes down the the regional rep. What options do I have at this point? I am being boxed into a corner, and it appears that the only option left is to engage in litigation. I consider myself a logical and reasonable individual, but I feel that JD's response is inappropriate. What do you think? What are my options at this point?

If I could replace it for $12500, that's what I would do. I sure wouldn't mention the "L" word, that just ruffles feathers and makes it hard to have a friendly, honest conversation. OR, maybe I would blow a gasket and do my shopping some where else.

edit; Rethinking this, I wouldn't buy another tractor from this dealer until he gets better mechanics. But I might blow a gasket if I wasn't careful.

 

[murphy1244]

I would trade that puppy in for something other than green as it would be asinine to do this all over again.

 

[trook]

I understand your suggestions about trading or getting a replacement for $12k. However, I don't have $12k to spend, and I don't believe I should have to. The tractor only has 275 hours on the clock. Trading, to me, would be a huge monetary loss considering it is basically a new tractor and JD should have fixed this problem a long time ago. Also, I have certainly been reasonable and cordial since the beginning. I have had friendly conversations with my salesman and service manager. Also, the 2 letters I sent JD were very diplomatic. However, its getting me nowhere.

It may or may not be a factor, but I happen to manage a city court. I work with attorneys on a daily basis (don't hold it against me), and I'm comfortable in a courtroom setting. The salesman knows this. I have a reputation for being very logical and reasonable without being a pushover. I can be assertive when necessary and appropriate.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

If I could replace it for $12500, that's what I would do. I sure wouldn't mention the "L" word, that just ruffles feathers and makes it hard to have a friendly, honest conversation. OR, maybe I would blow a gasket and do my shopping some where else.

I couldn't disagree more. I make it a point not to do business with people who don't stand behind their work or their product. In this case, neither the manufacturer nor the dealer are standing behind the product. To me as the consumer it is irrelevant which one is to blame, they both are. If the dealer valued his reputation he would put on his big boy pants and step up, he has chosen not to.

Neither one deserves your continued patronage.

 

[davesl708]

Having worked for the past 30 years with top management and members of the board of directors my advice would be a summary letter with details of claims and who you have been working with and send the letter return receipt to the CEO of John Deere. When the CEO starts asking what is going on the stuff runs down hill. Explain that most companies extend the warranty on parts they replace under warranty. An example is my 03 Trailblazer blew an engine at 82K miles. The original engine had 36K mile warranty. The new engine came with 100K.

Start at the top if the locals won't resolve the issue.

 

[Gary Fowler]

This is the very reason lemon laws were enacted. I know they cover all autos and possible any other warranted items. I suggest you contact a lawyer immediately, preferable one who specializes in lemon lawsuits. He should then file on JD immediately prior to your warranty expiration date. A friend sued Ford on his diesel truck and got it awarded a warranty for life on his truck. Of course Ford then wanted him to trade it in and gave him some smoking deal but why should he spend the extra money when the present truck now has a lifetime warranty as long as he owns it. He did this without a lawyer but he had months and months to take the case to arbitration.

 

[Gary Fowler]

By the way, stay away from that dealer and color if they treat their customers like that.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Note that until you have another repair you don't really have a claim. Once you have had to pay for a repair then you can try and get reimbursed.

 

[CalG]

Air conditioners are NOT rocket science. Perhaps the sales and service organization you are "locked into" does not have a service tech that truly understands the systems.

I would suggest that you speak with the service department head, and try to develop a plan to confirm that your AC system is fully "up to snuff".

Icing is usually a result of low "freon" . A leak, or an under fill. You might agree to use an outside specialist. It might cost a couple of hundred bucks, but how would you feel if all was right?

 

[MattLynch]

I went through the same thing with my 5093e, except it was mostly transmission related. JD didn't care and reps that were supposed to call me never did. Had so many problems, then one day when the pto stopped working that's when I decided to trade it in. Got way more tractor from another dealer for my money and much better service.
That being said if your issues are pretty minor (a/c), then take it to a competent mechanic and send the bill to your dealer.

 

[SimS]

I agree with Cal and Matt. Find a good A/C shop and have them check it out. You will have to spend a few bucks but you be on your way to getting this problem behind you for good. Also see if your friend/salesman can get the dealership chip in something on the A/C shop bill. Good luck

SimS

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree with the others that the cheapest thing to do is have someone competent fix the AC. If twelve of those trips did not resolve the AC issues (just an assumption) I don't see how their AC technician could fix it in twenty four more trips. Air conditioning in a tractor is simple and straight forward, more than a couple of trips means the technician is grasping at straws. I know I can fix most AC problems in one trip and some rare cases I have had to make three trips if I missed something but I usually consider that my fault. Hearing only one side of this complaint it sounds as if this is a dealer service issue, meaning the service manager doesn't have anyone on staff that is qualified to work on their AC systems.

If the AC problems are the only real concerns you have with this tractor then I would not consider trading. Much cheaper to spend a few hundred bucks to find and fix the real problem than to buy the extended warranty. I would be looking for another facility to handle all the repairs in the future.

While Deere and specifically this dealership should have resolved this problem I really don't know what is the best thing to do about it. In my business I would make good on it if I had to reach in my pocket rather than have an unhappy customer. It is cheaper! Not being an attorney I would advise you to discuss this with others who know best. I would expect litigation to be much more costly than fixing the AC.

I would have a discussion about your concerns with the business owner too. He needs to understand why you will not recommend his dealership in the future if he can not resolve the problem.

 

[Tx Jim]

Ditto what jenkinsph stated. I spent over 10 yrs as a JD dealer service manager and your dealer needs a new SM.

 

[sunnyside360]

A/C units are not complicated. It should have been fixed. You need someone more competent to fix it if it goes again. You might find a mobile truck A/C repair service to come to your house and fix it. I did this when my A/C went out on a large M-series Kubota tractor which had an expired warranty. Cost me less than $150 to get repaired. The technician was an expert and had no trouble finding a bad cutout switch. Plus, work/part was warrantied for one year. Never had another A/C issue on that tractor.

Also, you might try negotiating a much lower price than $12,500 to replace the tractor. They just might come down a lot. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

By the way, stay away from that dealer and color if they treat their customers like that.

Re-reading, I have to say that their "offers" are downright insulting. They sold you a tractor with a warranty. The tractor they sold you didn't work, and they didn't fix it under warranty. Now they're proposing to either sell you another warranty -- like the one you had before that they didn't honor -- or another tractor -- like the one they sold you before that didn't work. I'd be asking them to explain why this warranty is any different from the previous worthless warranty, and why the new tractor is any different from the broken tractor they sold you last time!

In terms of what to do, I agree with the others that you should take it somewhere else to get fixed. Then you can put a dollar amount on your loss. Then it's up to you whether to pursue recovering that amount or just chocking it up to experience. In general, state lemon laws and federal warranty laws are very pro-consumer, but you have to qualify, and it may take talking to an attorney to find out if you qualify. Mississippi has a lemon law that requires manufacturers to replace or refund the purchase price of a vehicle if they cannot repair it after three attempts, you need to find out if it covers tractors.

In any case, do no more business with that dealer.

 

[ch1ch2]

Air conditioners are NOT rocket science. Perhaps the sales and service organization you are "locked into" does not have a service tech that truly understands the systems.

I would suggest that you speak with the service department head, and try to develop a plan to confirm that your AC system is fully "up to snuff".

Icing is usually a result of low "freon" . A leak, or an under fill. You might agree to use an outside specialist. It might cost a couple of hundred bucks, but how would you feel if all was right?

This is correct!
On a cap-tube system, the whole system is low due to leak or under charge; On a TX system, the valve is malfunctioning or the sensor is in the wrong location or disconnected from the evaporator, causing the evaporator to be low on freon.

 

[jenkinsph]

I own a JD 5075E cab with 275 hours. The warranty expires in 1 week. I stated the a/c was still freezing up the last time I used the tractor in the fall, and you simply cannot duplicate atmospheric conditions in Jan/Feb that will compare with July and August 95-100 deg temperatures. Meaning any attempt to fix the a/c in the winter will not give an accurate result. Therefore, at a minimum, I requested for them to honor any future a/c related issue that may arise considering the initial problem still is not fixed 2 years later. My request was denied.

What are my options at this point?

I would deal with this this week. Temperatures will be high enough to test the system, Jackson should be 71 on Thursday and 76 on Friday. Find the business OWNER today and see if the two of you can meet about your problems. If he is smart he will go out of his way to help you resolve these problems. If he does not respond have an independent ac shop inspect the ac system with a date that is still under warranty. While Deere may not want to pay a claim for outside work the local court may force the issue if you have the right documentation, something that is up your alley.

The way I see it the service manager is at least half the problem. He is the one talking to the Deere representative not the actual technician. So what is he saying to the rep to cause this problem. When I had front axle problems on my 110tlb with 250 hours and a year out of warranty the regional rep for Deere approved the repair totaling about 1900. Most repairs under warranty have been fair in my experience with manufacturers.

Important to document any failure the system has while it is still in warranty.

 

[LD1]

I think the lemon law should have been brought up long time ago.

I agree with most here. If what you are saying is indeed true, If you are willing to take the time and front some money.....I dont see how you can loose with any of the suggestions mentioned here