Unfortinuate Decision for NH (TN75 replacement)

[hard_yakka01]

My experience with New Holland Corp goes to prove a point, if you have a problem you need to be an hyper jerk and pound them relentlessly as taking the passive, easy going route has just gone nowhere (a sad statement itself).

Many of you have contributed valuable opinions and solutions to the problems that my TN75 had. There were over 10 warranty actions taken on the unit, it has problems now that are unresolved. I have no confidence this tractor will not cost me an arm and a leg when the warranty runs out next year. Therefore I started a search for a replacement and given that NH Corvallis stood behind an orphaned child I spent a lot of my time and there's trying to work out a solution.

I shouldn't have to buy another tractor, this one is only 18 months old and had only 38 hours on it in January of this year, but from several of you I received opinions and had NH Corvallis put together a package of a TNF95 and TL-A 100D with the TN75 as a trade-in. NH Corvallis was generous with the trade-in allowance but fell way short of even being close to what had been paid. They said they would go to NH to make a reasonable difference to what I asked for given Corp had not done anything about the endless problems. Well the good old NH Corporate Sales director (B. Shoemaker) said that there wasn't that much wrong with the tractor (it sat unusable for months) and offered an additional $2500 so that only put us about $10,000 apart.

That offer was like leaving a penny tip at a restaurant.

Therefore I will be buying a Kubota M105 Cab and M8200 N from the local dealer. Then I'll be writing more letters to state and federal agencies, talking to my lawyer about seeking damages and doing a lot more posting about the TN (which I'm sorry to have to do) What a PITA.

This was sort of the Readers Digest version of events. There are only a couple of items you need to make sure you track down to the minute for warranty purposes. 1) Get copies of all the warranty work done. 2) Keep a record of down time from the minute the failure occurs until you have the unit back and working in the field as that down time holds more importance than the number if quality issues.

 

[DocHeb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 1) Get copies of all the warranty work done. 2) Keep a record of down time from the minute the failure occurs until you have the unit back and working in the field as that down time holds more importance than the number if quality issues. )</font>

Probably good advice, whatever color tractor you buy.

It is unfortunate that the first time we hear from you it is at the end of your path, instead of the beginning. If this is not the first time (as suggested in your post), why would you register under a new name for this thread?

Good luck in your future tractoring!

 

[btolle]

While I always hesitate to get lawyers involved this might be a case where a letter from an Attorney to the dealer and to NH might get the to do something. I would NOT spend a lot of money on a lawsuit, you could easily spend more than you could win.

However, NH may be in breach of contract if they have failed to live up to the warranty promises. A few words to that effect in the letter might be helpful.

I don't know about Oregon, but in Texas we have the Deceptive Trade Practices Act which allows for treble damages if the seller or service provider is negligent. An Oregon lawyer would be able to advise you on the possibility of using that as leverage.

I would spend a couple of hundred dollars on a lawyer and get his opinion.

BIG WARNING: We have had a lawsuit going for 2 years now that probably won't be settled for another year or 2. We have spent over $12K in lawyer fees. If we win it all we will probably get $2,000 plus the legal fees. If we lose we will be out the $12K plus another $5K (estimated) additional legal fees. We are at the point where we can't afford to walk away from it but are fearful of continuing to pursue it. Do NOT get yourself in that position.

For anyone else having problems: Documentation is extremely important. Write everything down including the date and time, who said what, exactly what you said, etc. If it appears to be going badly start writing letters with copies to the dealer and manufacturer. Be concise and clear about what the problems are. Be careful to keep it factual, do not put any opinions or remarks that are emotional or vague in nature.

It is worthwhile to send the letters by Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested so you can prove they got the letters. The fact that you are sharp enough to use Certified Mail will let them know you are not just a complainer and that you know how to keep a "paper trail". It makes them more likely to take your complaints more seriously.

Bill Tolle

 

[hard_yakka01]

For some unknown reason I misplaced my password. I tried the standard request pswd via login. Can't find hard_yakka and my email address. Cleared my internet queues, cleared cookies, lowered my privacy level (per TBN FAQ) and still couldn't log on.
Sent 2 emails to TBN folks, no response. I not used to waiting long for a login/pswd but I figured 4 days was long enough. That's why I created 'hard_yakka01' If they can merge my accounts or give me back my original that would be fantastic.

 

[1bush2hog]

Wow! Very sorry to hear about all of your problems with the TN and NH.

10 warranty issues in a year? I saw from your previous posts some of the issues (ac, BH remote). Don't mean to stir a hornets nest, but what were the other issues you had?

Also, did you try different dealers to resolve your problems? I saw where the original dealer you purchased from had gone bankrupt.

Hopefully for the rest of us TN owners, yours was just an isolated incident (lemon). No disrespect intended to you.

 

[Hysyde]

I did a seach to try and find out some of the problems you had. I wasn't able to find much.

Would you mind a quick rehash?

Our TN75 should be deliverd tommorow, so obviously I'm curious.

 

[hard_yakka01]

Another complaint is that I've asked for each warranty/work done receipt like the the car dealers give out and have received nothing so here is my recollection.

1) At delivery BH would not operate without tripping remote off, BH non-functional.
2) Replaced remote, still doesn't work
3) Replaced remote valve stack(??), BH still doesn't work properly but now (4) transmission idiot light comes on 'do not operate'. Dealer goes bankrupt, tractor non-functional with 38 hours. I left the country but my son is available to run equipment. Threat letter to Mr. Kennedy, President NH finally results in some activity
5-6) Complete electrical failure of cab x 2.
7) Airconditioner system looses all coolant, service mgr tells me that the wrong hoses were installed at mfg.
8)Doors hinge 'C' clips have popped off both sides, 1 door hinge pin gone, so one has to crawl over right side to get out otherwise left door falls off if you try to open it.
9) Shuttle shift only workes with clutch.
10) Fuel sender is dead...
11) FEL connections on 2 lines leak, 1 line has popped off and no matter what I do (unit off, no pressure on line) I cannot get disconnect reconnected.

Transmission idiot light pop's on about every 4-5 hours and then goes off but there is plenty of fluid in the system.

That about sums it up, hope that helps

 

[AndyMA]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Our TN75 should be deliverd tommorow, so obviously I'm curious.
)</font>

Having had two TN75's one S and one D, and know quite a few other owners, I would say that those problems are pretty rare. The TN is an excellent tractor!!! And if it isn't like my first one wasn't I didn't have any trouble getting New Holland to swap it out. They could have fixed it for me but their engineering department wanted it back to better understand the computer issues. I can't help but wonder, if the problems Hard Yakka had could have been resolved with a different dealer and a different approach?

Ford/ New Holland has always resolved any problems I have had.

Just my thoughts

Andy

 

[Dargo]

hardyakka_01 unfortunately is experiencing some real problems with his tractor. You say he possibly could have had different results using a different dealer. Unless I'm reading his post incorrectly, his dealer is gone; bankrupt. It doesn't sound to me like he has much of a choice but to use a different dealer. Use a different approach. Hmm. I'm currently trying to work out a problem with my tractor manufacturer. I tried the "nice guy" approach for about 4 months. I got nowhere. Fortunately I do not have as many problems as he has, but if I did, you bet I'd use a different approach! Somehow I doubt that he sat around letting all of these things malfunction on his tractor and said nothing to NH. I believe his letter to NH is plenty justified.

I just feel that your comment that "the problems Hard Yakka had could have been resolved with a different dealer and a different approach?" is a bit harsh for a guy who is obviously just trying to seek help in getting a tractor fixed for which he paid his hard earned money. For some reason I doubt he is looking for someone to tell him that he picked the wrong dealer and used the wrong approach to get his tractor repaired.

 

[hard_yakka01]

AndyMA,
Another dealer did pickup the issues, they have been trying to get everything solved but when you start out with a lump of coal (word subsititution time) it's hard to turn it into anything other that. That closest dealer is 96 miles away. I've never threaten NH Corporate until now. As I've said earlier, it doesn't work being a nice guy.

I've been more than patient.

The tractor broke less than 8 hours after coming back from the NEW dealer this last time which was at the end of September and it's still not fixed. I cant' sell it as it sits, I can't use it very long because it leaks hydraulic oil. Because the NEW dealer got no help from NH Corp on the new tractors quotes, that dealer lost those deals and now wants travel time to/from farm to fix 1 of the problems their workmanship was responsible for.

(Why did I even consider another 2 NH rigs?? It was because of the excellent relationship I have with that dealer and still do. I'm buying 3 more implements from the before the end of the year.)