Have to Return Cracked Steering Wheel on New RX7320PC Before I Get Replacement

OrangeAgain · Dec 17, 2015

My RX7320PC was delivered 11/23/2015. Despite assurances that a pre-delivery inspection would be done, it was clear upon delivery that it had NOT been done as a couple of issues were discovered before they left. One issue was that three bucket hooks had not been installed. I have since taken the bucket to a local tractor repair technician and the hooks are now on. The dealer is reimbursing me.

On 12/3/2015 I noticed and took a photo of a crack in the steering wheel. The dealer is telling me that Kioti won't send a replacement until the defective one is sent to them. This is a ridiculous process as I wouldn't be able to use the tractor until I installed the replacement. I would love to hear from others if they have experienced similar warranty repair situations. Is this replacement process dealer specific? I.E. Does the dealer decide whether I have to return the defective wheel before I get a replacement?

How difficult will it be to remove the defective steering wheel and replace with a new one?

Does Kioti require dealers to perform pre-delivery inspections, especially by someone other than the tech(s) that assembled the tractor?

VictorW · Dec 17, 2015

Sorry for the problems but your dealer doesn't sound so good. I can't comment on pre-delivery inspections other than they're supposed to be done. As far as warranty, that sounds like BS. I had two warranty claims. One for the tractor when the fuel tank gauge sending unit went bad. I called the dealer and told him what was occurring. He ordered the part and called me when it arrived. The second was for my bh. There was a bad valve unit allowing it to bleed off and a stabilyser wouldn't hold weight. Ordered parts and called again. I'm sure the dealer has to verify the defect but to be without a steering wheel for who knows how long??? Maybe call corporate and ask what the procedure is.

Considering what you have found so far with the "pre-delivery check", I'd give the entire tractor a good going over.

roadhunter · Dec 17, 2015

That's frustrating for sure. Trying to get other people to do their job is not fun.

flyerdan · Dec 17, 2015

I'd suggest taking the wheel in and asking them to yard one off a tractor in their lot so you're not dead in the water. They can field the downtime on a machine. I'd also ask them if quality is anywhere on their top 25 list, as it obviously isn't in the top 5.

Code54 · Dec 17, 2015

I only had one warranty issue with a different brand of tractor and the part was ordered so there would be no downtime. In my case I brought the defective switch in to the dealer when the new one arrived and he just gave me the new one as it was a 5 minute job to replace it and a whole lot easier than hauling a large machine in. When I called and mentioned the switch was working itnermittenly he even offered to give me a switch off a machine on the lot if I was in a hurry and couldn't wait a week for the part (I wasn't). Again a different brand but the idea is still exactly the same. Having you wait for a steering wheel is just plain silly! It is not a big deal to change one out, maybe 15 with having to grab some tools and taking your time.
Good luck and hope they get you up and running quickly and without too much hassle.

roadhunter · Dec 17, 2015

If you really want to be a smarta$$ tell them to bring a loaner when they come to pick up the tractor for warranty work that way you won't' be out of a tractor. LOL.

That's about as unreasonable as asking you to be without a steering wheel for a week or more when they have a pile of tractors with the same steering wheel on the lot that won't' be driven that week.

Luke'sScreenName · Dec 17, 2015

Dude that sucks. Makes me feel very fortunate though I doubt that's much consolation. Neither would any would of/should of's.
Oh, and what the dealer said may indeed by Kioti policy but any half decent dealer would make it right and THEN deal with Kioti. They clearly are not concerned with repeat business.

Boss 302 · Dec 17, 2015

I don't think the dealer is correct about the steering wheel replacement procedure, last winter mine cracked on my RX6010 I called the dealer he said that he would order a new one and call me when it arrived. About a month later he called and said that it was in and since I was going to install it myself he said to bring the cracked one in when I picked the new one up.

Randall

RickB · Dec 18, 2015

Kioti routinely ships warranty parts based on a dealer order only, or in some cases based on a photo supplied by the dealer (including one taken by a customer and forwarded by a dealer).

Your dealer is blowing smoke. He will be reimbursed for the wheel, the shipping of the wheel to his location, as well as time for R&R.

OrangeAgain · Dec 18, 2015

After objecting to the process yesterday, the dealer notified me that the new steering wheel had been ordered. Although I noticed the cracked steering wheel 12/3/2015, it's likely it was cracked when the tractor was delivered 11/23/2015 given the lack of a thorough pre-delivery inspection.

Is the replacement of the steering wheel just a simple matter of popping the Kioti "button" in the center of the wheel off, removing a bolt, and reversing this procedure for the new wheel?

Does Kioti or other brands require dealers to perform pre-delivery inspections, especially by someone other than the tech(s) that assembled the tractor and to provide the report to the customer?