Check the transmission. This is a letter I had to write to John Deere.
April 14, 2009
Deere & Company
World Headquarters
One John Deere Place
Moline, IL 61265
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
I write with regard to the situation I find myself in with regard to my John Deere 2210 compact tractor. My tractor is four years old and has 144 hours on it.
I purchased the tractor approximately four years ago from Triple W Equipment in Missoula, MT. I have recently moved to the Great Falls, MT area.
I have always been very cautious about how I used the tractor since I planned to keep it for many years. On Saturday, March 21, 2009, I was using it to move some loose 2 rock across my property when the transmission case broke. I was obviously shocked and had no idea what had happened.
I called Moodie Implement (John Deere dealer) in Great Falls and had them come get the tractor on Monday March 23, 2009. After nearly two weeks of waiting to see what had happened and what had to be done, I was told that because this was a known issue John Deere would provide a new transmission case at no cost. However, the labor and supplies to repair the tractor still cost me over $3,200. When I asked what the cause was I was told John Deere had experienced this problem and had redesigned the transmission case to solve the problem. I was further told that in most situations the faulty cases had broken within the first 20 to 50 hours and that mine had probably made 144 hours because I babied my tractor so much.
Recently, before the damage to the tractor, my wife and I had been discussing trading the tractor in for the next size larger and purchasing a zero turn mower from John Deere. So, when this happened she asked the salesman at Moodie Implement what kind of a trade he would make for our tractor on a new tractor and a mower. His answer was 的 don稚 think I want it? When she pushed him for a trade-in value he gave a price 1/3 of what another dealer was willing to give for it sight unseen.
I know labor is expensive; however, if the labor rate is $80/hr. that means it took nearly 40 hours plus a few miscellaneous parts and supplies to replace the transmission case. That seems extremely excessive. Yes, I have the receipt with all the detailed explanation of my $3200.00, but in the end I just don稚 think I should have to spend that kind of money on a tractor with 144 hours on the clock. Combine this with the fact that John Deere knew the case was poorly designed and took no proactive steps to help me and the fact that I took such good care of the tractor, you may see why I am dissatisfied. 144 hours is nearly brand new!
I need to say that the service Manager for Moodie Implement went to bat for me with the John Deere Corporation in order to get them to pay for part of the repair and he seemed to genuinely want to help. I suspect he had no choice but to bill the repair by some unreasonable book rate.
I have been a John Deere fan all my life, but because I believe I have been treated so unfairly I have now sold the 2210 tractor and have purchased a new tractor and mower from Kubota. I simply cannot convey the depth of my disappointment in the quality of the John Deere product and the attitude of the John Deere company.
Where do I turn in the cap, I have had displayed in my home, that reads 笛ohn Deere Owners Edition入
Sincerely,
