John Deere 5403 3.00 star(s) (6)

Very Disgusted
Model Year: 2008

My grandpa is 93 years old and has farmed all his life with used old tractors. He is still farming to this very day with my grandmother. He decided he wanted a new John Deere a few years ago and bought it. He used it until it had 133 hours on it, then it threw a rod out of the side. That cost him $1,200. It was a few days out of warranty. A few hours later, it lost second gear. He just used it without second gear. Now, at 454 hours, it has lost reverse as well. We called corporate and they was very nice about it and called a dealership for me and told me they would split the case and give me an estimate on it. if it was too high, they could put together and I could pick it up. That's not how it went.

Pros: Nice paint
Cons: Engine and transmission are bad

Poor service from John Deere
Model Year: 2006

Had no problem with the tractor until this spring then I had to replace the transmission ,hydraulic pump, pto,and final drive because the spider gear was grinding on the house because a washer was missing between the gears. This was a factory defect and John Deere will not pay for the repairs because it is out of warranty in years but I only put 1385 hours on it in 7 years. JD even admits it I had put that many hours on the tractor in 3 or 4 years they would fix it but because I am a small farmer the will not do anything.

Pros: nice size trqactor for a small farmer
Cons: litter then my JD 2630 that I traded in

Looking to Trade JD5403 for Kubota M9540
Model Year: 2008

N/A.

Pros: Fuel mileage.
Cons: Slow hydraulics.

Lemon 5403
Model Year: 2008

First off let me say the power train has not failed yet, but a ton of other things have gone wrong with this tractor. I thought if I bought new I would have several years of work without any problems (property maintained of course). So far I have had 2 starters, a hydraulic line fail and connection from over torquing (assembly issue). The rocker arms will not work (twice). Wired wrong and battery stayed hot, dead battery issues (final fixed) attach point breaking on lift arms 4 times. I even stock spare parts it breaks so much. And there is more, but you get the idea. I only have 144 hours because when I need it, it's broke! This tractor should see 100 plus hours a year, but I'm always waiting on parts, or something stupid. Let me finish by saying I am a master mechanic, and I do not like working on something that I paid top dollar for to be broke all the time.

Pros: JD extended my warranty because I was unable to use it the first to years.
Cons: Buy something made in America. this was built in India and I have had several assembly issues.

Deceived by John Deere
Model Year: 2009

With just over 200 hrs. on my 5403 the thread housing for the bolt for the lever that engages the PTO just broke. Just broke. Cost $1,200 because I was two months out of warranty. That's not the best. Today while I was bush hogging my engine blew up. Yes, blew up. I have two holes one on each side of the engine. Yes I had oil in the machine, I recently changed it. And no, the temp gauge did not show it running hot. I was watching it. All this with less than 300 hrs. The tractor goes to John Deere and I go to my attorney's office.

Pros: It's a nice looking tractor.
Cons: The quality is just not acceptable.

Photo Uploads:

A good, solid, quality tractor.
Model Year: 2008

For the economy model this tractor is well worth the money. It handles a 20' bushhog with ease. My NH 492 haybine and 486 round baler fit behind it perfectly. It can also handle a 3 bottom plow and 7 tooth chisel plow (although, I will try that a little more this year). It is tall enough to load a full size dump truck and the 6 foot bucket make does not take a lot of scoops to fill it up. One gear lower would be nice. It has plenty of power, but sometimes I need to creep along a little slower.

Pros: Excellent power to weight ratio, great tractor for the price.
Cons: No shuttle shift, no creep range, needs fender mounted lights.

Photo Uploads: