Brand new KIOTI dead on arrival

[Stever00]

I can tell you a guy in north Alabama who used to be a dealer. He ran into problems with them and stop selling them. His business is TAC Enterprises in Moulton, Al. His name is Ken Nelson. He might could you give you some insight on that company and how to deal with your problem.

 

[ultrarunner]

sometimes it amazes me how people think a dealer will just swap out the tractor for a new one. try that on your automobile. wont happen.

i would place the blame on the dealership for not getting to it right away. when my dk45 had issues a few weeks after i got it, the dealers mechanic dropped what he was doing and drove out to my place and repaired it. i had it repaired same day it happened. i didnt expect a new tractor.

Brother bought brand new high end SUV and it was in for repairs and the wife was none to happy and kept harping to my brother…

I wrote a letter outlining the situation and remedy… refund or replace.

Manufacturer offered to replace but no more 2005 models left and asked he would accept a new 2006 in exchange for his 6,900 mile 2005 and followed through…

By the way I now own the 2006 as it was gifted to me in 2017…

All done without arbitration or legal action…

The 2005 MSRP 90k

 

[Hay Dude]

See y’all, it was a simple assembly issue, and can easily be rectified. Good lord man, if you sell it now to start over with a gamble on a Mahindra…. You’ll end up thinking the universe is out to get you. Don’t do it.

Easily rectified is ok.
Easily and quickly rectified is expected

 

[Root Cause]

Everyone has their favorite flavor and every flavor has its own problems. But many brands also have good tractors out in the field where no one stops to complain online. Others have said to buy the dealer, not the brand and I think that is good advice.
After the dust settles, I would consider whether you want to work with this dealership in the future and let that be your guide. I agree that you will take a beating on price if you trade now and there is no guarantee that the next new one will be bug-free. I also understand that at some point, it is time for a change. Good luck and glad they found me. (see name)

 

[K5lwq]

Just out of curiosity how long did it take for the dealer to find and fix the problem? In the first post it was mentioned it had been days. That was Friday and today it is resolved on Monday. I would say that is not bad considering the times we are in.

I do understand the frustration and the additional expenses but the same issue could happen with any brand of any piece of equipment. Unfortunate things happen sometimes and at least there was a definitive solution. Anyway, good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[jefskott99]

Hey guys, just bought my first tractor, KIOTI CK3510 HST and wanted to see if anyone has any better ideas to resolve problems with KIOTI. I bought it brand new off the dealer lot. Started it up for just a minute and drove it on my trailer. Got it home and the unit shut off and check engine light came on. Ran it 2 hours away back to the dealer and they replaced the fuel rail. It ran fine idling for 30 min so I trailered it up and brought it home. Used it for an hour driving around and tractor shut off with check engine light. Now days later dealer hasnt even looked at it yet and said they wont expedite parts. KIOTI wont answer my voicemails or emails. They answered facebook and just said "talk to your dealer". Anyone deal with this before and know how to handle it? The tractor has less than 5 hours on it and over half of those were the dealer testing and make ready.

I'm really sorry you are running into these issues. I'm a new tractor owner and have had my KIOTI CK3510 HST for a year now, and while I've made some new tractor owner mistakes, everything has been very reasonable with my dealer up here in Northern Kentucky. I get that COVID-19 might be to blame for the wait times and inability for dealer to look at it but how they appear to be treating you sounds downright criminal. Your dealer should be working with you. I have to agree with some of the other comments on documenting this case, and letting the dealer know you expect resolution. These machines cost too much for someone to take a hands off approach especially with a brand new tractor. Good luck, and yes, Kioti would refer you back to the Dealer since this is the dealer's liability, which then becomes Kioti's where machine fault is found, which is why we have warranties on these machines. Best of luck with your job and getting your situation taken care of. /Jeff

 

[ultrarunner]

In the drive should never, be a last case scenario. Nothing good, gonna come of that.

Maybe but it happens... or maybe it only happens here...

Some make the news like the disabled person with a new specially equipped van that had to be towed in several times... not good when driver is in a wheelchair...

He set up outside the dealership with large sign stating how many days out of service with a big lemon on top...

As soon as it hit the evening news it went to Corp World Headquarters and resolved...

A lot depends not what you do but how you do it and generating sympathy for your plight...

 

[Midniteoyl]

Got to the dealer today. They did get KIOTI involved and ended up finding a short in the harness. I talked to a service manager at a different dealer and they mentioned it seems to be getting much worse QC lately since the dealers are short on inventory they're rushing units. Either way I'm out hundreds in rentals to get the job done I bought this tractor for and therefor going to sell it and get a Kubota or mahindra etc that I trust more.

And now that the bug is worked out, you are gonna try your luck again? Pretty foolish, IMO. What this really seems like (and I suspected from the start, since you didn't have the thing but a few days(?) before riling everyone up about 'how bad Kioti is') is that you didn't *really* want the Kioti and only bought the tractor 'cause it was available when you needed one.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Easily rectified is ok.
Easily and quickly rectified is expected

Except for the weekend, it was apparently a few day according to the original post.. Though it *was* the second trip.

 

[rademamj1]

Well from my perspective, the Kioti dealer and Kioti Corporate advisor did a great job getting this new Kioti up and running. However, dealer preparation should have identified the electrical harness issue before delivery. I always like to see 3 or 4 hours on the machine before delivery. Typically that implies those hours of run time were for dealer preparation.

I seriously doubt the fuel delivery rail needed replacement on the tractor. They are rated at 6000 hours before failure.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Well from my perspective, the Kioti dealer and Kioti Corporate advisor did a great job getting this new Kioti up and running. However, dealer preparation should have identified the electrical harness issue before delivery. I always like to see 3 or 4 hours on the machine before delivery. Typically that implies those hours of run time were for dealer preparation.

I seriously doubt the fuel delivery rail needed replacement on the tractor. They are rated at 6000 hours before failure.

They had 2hrs 'prep time' on it according to OP, plus it ran for 30mins at the dealers when he picked it up after the first repair attempt and only failed again a couple hours later. Kinda hard for a tech to run your tractor around for most of day doing nothing else.

 

[bofahs]

Hey guys, just bought my first tractor, KIOTI CK3510 HST and wanted to see if anyone has any better ideas to resolve problems with KIOTI. I bought it brand new off the dealer lot. Started it up for just a minute and drove it on my trailer. Got it home and the unit shut off and check engine light came on. Ran it 2 hours away back to the dealer and they replaced the fuel rail. It ran fine idling for 30 min so I trailered it up and brought it home. Used it for an hour driving around and tractor shut off with check engine light. Now days later dealer hasnt even looked at it yet and said they wont expedite parts. KIOTI wont answer my voicemails or emails. They answered facebook and just said "talk to your dealer". Anyone deal with this before and know how to handle it? The tractor has less than 5 hours on it and over half of those were the dealer testing and make ready.

Lawyer up! Somebody owes you a tractor. You have to rent a Kubota? No loaner from your dealer? Nah, man, lawyer up!

 

[Torvy]

Throwing good money after bad. Unless a free loaner was in a contract, it is simply a goodwill gesture on the part of the dealership. They made an effort to repair and solved the problem. Frivolous lawsuits cost everyone more money.

 

[nwut05]

And now that the bug is worked out, you are gonna try your luck again? Pretty foolish, IMO. What this really seems like (and I suspected from the start, since you didn't have the thing but a few days(?) before riling everyone up about 'how bad Kioti is') is that you didn't *really* want the Kioti and only bought the tractor 'cause it was available when you needed one.

I will admit i have not read all of the post however, what i read sounds like what you have described. I also have had my round with tractor problems myself and it has in the end cost me a lot of money trading and getting rid of units that were problematic from the get go. I would like to hear him answer your question too! I always wanted what I bought and bought from reputable dealers, but I have the same suspicion as you! Availability, trying to save a penny, wanting it NOW, and inexperience led him down the path of a fly by night, side of the road, tractor/carport/outbuilding/utility trailer, lawnmower dealer. And he has got caught up in dealers web and now crying about the tractor/carport/lawn mower/utility trailer shade tree mechanic still trying to learn how to read a code reader while throwing parts at a new machine as fast as he can hoping he will take it back with a band-aid fix and never come back before they sell out of the kioti tractor business and blame it on covid.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I will admit i have not read all of the post however, what i read sounds like what you have described. I also have had my round with tractor problems myself and it has in the end cost me a lot of money trading and getting rid of units that were problematic from the get go. I would like to hear him answer your question too! I always wanted what I bought and bought from reputable dealers, but I have the same suspicion as you! Availability, trying to save a penny, wanting it NOW, and inexperience led him down the path of a fly by night, side of the road, tractor/carport/outbuilding/utility trailer, lawnmower dealer. And he has got caught up in dealers web and now crying about the tractor/carport/lawn mower/utility trailer shade tree mechanic still trying to learn how to read a code reader while throwing parts at a new machine as fast as he can hoping he will take it back with a band-aid fix and never come back before they sell out of the kioti tractor business and blame it on covid.

Naw. I don't think the dealer is a fly by night guy. More that buying just whatever is available on the lot because you need it 'now' is just a recipe for frustration. Especially if you already have preconceived biases about what tractor brand you really wanted, because it will always be 'I should've bought a XXXX' and you will never truly be happy with it. This feeling is just compounded if something goes wrong, and you end up frustrated and angry.

As for the problem, it happens. I fell for the same thing when the tranny on my Intrepid went into limp mode. Code said it was a bad solenoid in the tranny and after verifying with the guy at the transmission shop, bought a new set of solenoids (they come as a set of 3) and replaced them in my driveway.. to no avail. After a little more back and forth with the tech he finally suggested a rebuilt trans. 2 days later I finally found the problem: a shorted wire that controlled Solenoid A. So, things happen.

 

[src000]

While I like my Kioti it had issues from the outset that were ALL dealer prep issues. It took 2 weeks of arguing with Kioti before they'd fix it under warranty. IMO Kioti Corporate sucks.

My (new-to-me) dealership is operating at full capacity but still 2 weeks out on service/repairs. My ZTM has been there a week and I don't expect it back for at least another week.

IMO sending everyone to college has resulted in this; an economy where we have well educated burger-flippers/waitresses and no one to fix our machines.

Women don't fix machines but go to college, men don't go to college and don't join the labor pool, government has made work so last century.

 

[RandyT]

Throwing good money after bad. Unless a free loaner was in a contract, it is simply a goodwill gesture on the part of the dealership. They made an effort to repair and solved the problem. Frivolous lawsuits cost everyone more money.

Seems like this thread brought out a lot of first time posters with absolutely no understanding of what is covered under warranty, and what the legal remedies are. And to the posters saying get a lawyer and file suit, I hope you know a good lawyer that has privileges at the federal level in what ever state the company is incorporated in, because that is where the lawsuit would end up, and if it gets resolved before the case hearing it will be dismissed as "Moot" and you will be out all your legal fees, and attorney fees. And I hope you decided to not badmouth the company and you are hoping that they don't get a defamation judgement against you.

 

[rademamj1]

They had 2hrs 'prep time' on it according to OP, plus it ran for 30mins at the dealers when he picked it up after the first repair attempt and only failed again a couple hours later. Kinda hard for a tech to run your tractor around for most of day doing nothing else.

There is a checklist for new Kioti tractors. I received a checklist when taking delivery of my 2018 tractor. And the checklist logged 3.8 hrs dealer preparation time, with a strong focus on electrical, fuel, emission and all fluid levels.

Maybe Kioti no longer does a checklist because of the pandemic labor shortage. But that checklist included 28 electrical system checks, including all lights, switches, fuses, dashboard and electrical harness. They also included a tractor code printout summary, which basically showed the tractor was showing no fault codes prior to delivery. I suspect the OP got nothing but the operators manual, warranty cards and a receipt from the dealer. Its also possible the OP wanted fast delivery, which can shortcut the dealer preparation process.

I got 780 hrs now on my Kioti, and other than newbie mistakes, I have no issues with the mechanical reliability of my tractor. And its good thing too, because while my local Kioti dealer was great in sales and parts, they lack tractor mechanical knowledge after losing much of their staff.

 

[Johnb0311]

Hey guys, just bought my first tractor, KIOTI CK3510 HST and wanted to see if anyone has any better ideas to resolve problems with KIOTI. I bought it brand new off the dealer lot. Started it up for just a minute and drove it on my trailer. Got it home and the unit shut off and check engine light came on. Ran it 2 hours away back to the dealer and they replaced the fuel rail. It ran fine idling for 30 min so I trailered it up and brought it home. Used it for an hour driving around and tractor shut off with check engine light. Now days later dealer hasnt even looked at it yet and said they wont expedite parts. KIOTI wont answer my voicemails or emails. They answered facebook and just said "talk to your dealer". Anyone deal with this before and know how to handle it? The tractor has less than 5 hours on it and over half of those were the dealer testing and make ready.

Seems a lot of places you go give you the Covid excuse for delays. I realize there is a delay in getting tractors and parts, but sounds like a dealer problem here. Not a good public relations answer from Kioti. Usually a representative from up the chain of command can light a fire under the dealers butt. I have nothing but good to say about my Ck 3510 and the dealer where I purchased it from.

 

[Frankenkubota]

While I like my Kioti it had issues from the outset that were ALL dealer prep issues. It took 2 weeks of arguing with Kioti before they'd fix it under warranty. IMO Kioti Corporate sucks.

My (new-to-me) dealership is operating at full capacity but still 2 weeks out on service/repairs. My ZTM has been there a week and I don't expect it back for at least another week.

IMO sending everyone to college has resulted in this; an economy where we have well educated burger-flippers/waitresses and no one to fix our machines.

well educated? probably not.