Kioti warranty termination after *any* DIY work? Really?!?!

[DVVT]

Reading the fine print on my new CK3510 warranty. Section D: "The warranty for any tractor or product immediately terminates if any of the following occur: ... 2. Any replacement parts used on the tractor are other than genuine Kioti brand parts. 3. Any repair made or parts replaced or modified by anyone other than an authorized Kioti dealer."

So, as a DIY action, replacing the factory 3-pt lift arm with an aftermarket leveler? Replacing the factory 3-pt stabilizer with an aftermarket telescoping style? Adding a non-Kioti toolbox? Adding a bolt-on grapple to the loader bucket?

Holy cow, really?!?! Am I missing something? With all the DIY tractor modifications and repair going on out there, are we really all sitting ducks if we have warranty claim? (Haven't called the dealer on this yet ... curious what TBN readers think first).

 

[Root Cause]

Even replacing a lost bolt with one from your bolt bin is technically a warranty killer.
Sounds like an "At our discretion" at best and a virtually useless piece of paper at worst.

Moving forward, I would assume to be on my own and pleasantly surprised if they paid for something.

 

[plowhog]

Changing your own oil and filter seems to violate their warranty.

 

[jaydee325]

What you're missing is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Basically, it is up to the manufacturer to prove that a modification or non factory part was the cause of the failure you are trying to get warrentied.

 

[Midniteoyl]

This is just 'catch-all' phrasing.

Service and replaceable wear items are not a cause to void the warranty.

Adding a Top and Tilt will not void the warranty on it's own. If its proven that there was a failure due to that TnT kit, however, could (like the cylinder internals broke and killed the pump, however unlikely that is). Its the same with a car. Add a suspension mod or a transmission cooler or supercharger or even an aftermarket light kit, and they don't have to fix any failures caused by it.

It all depends on if they can show that the modification or aftermarket replacement part caused the failure. Different States also have different laws regarding these things, so best to check with your state government or a lawyer as well.

 

[oosik]

I was going to purchase a new Ham radio ( HF ) and instal in the Taco Wagon. Then I read the fine print in the warrantee section. You have to go thru the Seven Gates to Hell to meet warrantee requirements. Besides I'm not too sure that all this new fangled digital technology on my truck is compatible with Ham radio.

I have a better idea now. Nice folding table/chair - heavy duty tripod to hold a Ham radio antennae - long 12V extension cord to power a Ham radio.

What the Hay - I'll be DXing from the mountain tops.

 

[DVVT]

This is just 'catch-all' phrasing.

Service and replaceable wear items are not a cause to void the warranty.

Adding a Top and Tilt will not void the warranty on it's own. If its proven that there was a failure due to that TnT kit, however, could (like the cylinder internals broke and killed the pump, however unlikely that is). Its the same with a car. Add a suspension mod or a transmission cooler or supercharger or even an aftermarket light kit, and they don't have to fix any failures caused by it.

It all depends on if they can show that the modification or aftermarket replacement part caused the failure. Different States also have different laws regarding these things, so best to check with your state government or a lawyer as well.

Yes, probably catch-all, CYA language. Indeed the “Owner’s” manual maintenance section is full of language instructing one (presumably the owner!) to replace all sorts of things.

 

[DVVT]

What you're missing is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Basically, it is up to the manufacturer to prove that a modification or non factory part was the cause of the failure you are trying to get warrentied.

Yeah, I was aware of the MM act but shocked by the blatant language to the contrary in the warranty. I guess meant to scare off folks not aware of MM.

 

[Stan B]

Yeah, I was aware of the MM act but shocked by the blatant language to the contrary in the warranty. I guess meant to scare off folks not aware of MM.

A surprising amount of legalese is there to scare off people from pursuing a remedy. A good example is that little disclaimer on parking stubs, like for a parking building, that says "We aren't responsible for damage". In many states, yes, they are, but they still put that on there since if it saves them one claim, it was worth it. Many people just assume because it is printed and sounds legit, it is.

Still, kind of crappy to print that on the manual for a class of machine that is, probably more often than other things, worked on and repaired by the owner.

 

[Torvy]

They have to do that to protect against extremes the other way. This give a them an out. If they enforced it that way, they would probably not stay in business.

 

[dzoller]

My personal experience, the dealer says no to warranty work so you contact the Kioti corporate and they say it's up to the dealer, then they don't respond to any further inquiries. The Kioti warranty is only good if you have a lawyer to disagree with them. They're a PoS company that makes average at best tractors sold by lazy dealers. I should've spent a little more and went with a better brand.

 

[grsthegreat]

Man, people are so jaded. Ive had several warranty items corrected on my kioti while it was under warranty, and at no time did they threaten not to fix it, and i did all my own service work. Mind you kioti wont send you the parts to fix it, the repairs have to be done by certified repair facility, but they honoured the warranty contract. That being said, i only use genuine kioti parts. i only use factory parts on all my rigs.

my tractor is 10 years old now, 1500 hours. Wonderful piece of equipment. Local dealers stock most parts, and if they dont have parts they got them in a few days.

i would buy another kioti no questions asked.

 

[kantuckid]

A "friendly, helpful, thoughtful" (think of other pleasant words to describe someone who values your business?) dealer might send me the parts when it was logical and so forth.
Operating a machine it's typically going to be the owners responsibility to tighten a fastner or replace one that's gone.
Lawyers aside, when I worked on aircraft guess who checked for "stuff"... Guess what could happen if I missed something big...Guess who was along for the ride...

dzoller-whats your beef about? We understand being ticked off but much is left unsaid.

 

[kantuckid]

Every electrical powered whatever it is has pages of lawyer talk that any sane person ignores. Electric fans and much, much more.

 

[ljjhouser]

I guess that is one reason I always use Kubota filters. And they are expensive. I had to laugh. The new tractor came with a very large, attractive white hydraulic filter. And the replacement (from Kubota) is a NOT Noticable gray color. So, yes, by sight, you did the filter change, and it needs to have that word on it (or number) - Kubota. I may replace my own part, but it will be a Kubota part. But most warrantees are short - usually run out before the financing does. I think mine was 2 years. No interest Kubota money us usually 5 years.

 

[bartjoebob]

Man, people are so jaded. Ive had several warranty items corrected on my kioti while it was under warranty, and at no time did they threaten not to fix it, and i did all my own service work. Mind you kioti wont send you the parts to fix it, the repairs have to be done by certified repair facility, but they honoured the warranty contract. That being said, i only use genuine kioti parts. i only use factory parts on all my rigs.

my tractor is 10 years old now, 1500 hours. Wonderful piece of equipment. Local dealers stock most parts, and if they dont have parts they got them in a few days.

i would buy another kioti no questions aske

Every electrical powered whatever it is has pages of lawyer talk that any sane person ignores. Electric fans and much, much more.

Man, people are so jaded. Ive had several warranty items corrected on my kioti while it was under warranty, and at no time did they threaten not to fix it, and i did all my own service work. Mind you kioti wont send you the parts to fix it, the repairs have to be done by certified repair facility, but they honoured the warranty contract. That being said, i only use genuine kioti parts. i only use factory parts on all my rigs.

my tractor is 10 years old now, 1500 hours. Wonderful piece of equipment. Local dealers stock most parts, and if they dont have parts they got them in a few days.

i would buy another kioti no questions asked.

But was that the local dealer who repairs with no issue? In that case it's the old "find the best service department adage". Seems like kioti corporate will allow it's dealers to screw customers over warranties, which is crap. So good dealer is a good kioti as long as mother ship treats the dealer well and the dealer doesn't drop the brand

 

[ljjhouser]

My personal experience, the dealer says no to warranty work so you contact the Kioti corporate and they say it's up to the dealer, then they don't respond to any further inquiries. The Kioti warranty is only good if you have a lawyer to disagree with them. They're a PoS company that makes average at best tractors sold by lazy dealers. I should've spent a little more and went with a better brand.

I don't usually see a lot of problem comments with Kioti. Maybe some of that problem is with your specific dealer. Sorry to hear that. I have always felt most tractors are good. And any tractor is as good as the dealer that you must deal with. Good luck, Larry OH, I see you are relatively new to the Forum. Welcome aboard. Glad you are here.

 

[coobie]

Man, people are so jaded. Ive had several warranty items corrected on my kioti while it was under warranty, and at no time did they threaten not to fix it, and i did all my own service work. Mind you kioti wont send you the parts to fix it, the repairs have to be done by certified repair facility, but they honoured the warranty contract. That being said, i only use genuine kioti parts. i only use factory parts on all my rigs.

my tractor is 10 years old now, 1500 hours. Wonderful piece of equipment. Local dealers stock most parts, and if they dont have parts they got them in a few days.

i would buy another kioti no questions asked.

My 2012 kioti DK 40 se hydro cab has been flawless around 450 hours on mine.Great experience here also kioti filters and parts ..

 

[coobie]

My personal experience, the dealer says no to warranty work so you contact the Kioti corporate and they say it's up to the dealer, then they don't respond to any further inquiries. The Kioti warranty is only good if you have a lawyer to disagree with them. They're a PoS company that makes average at best tractors sold by lazy dealers. I should've spent a little more and went with a better brand.

Funny chit keep them coming ..

 

[Darren33]

Doesnt just about every company put something like that in the fine print now? Even when you buy a chainsaw it says use our genuine oil blah blah blah or it could void your warranty. I dont think using a grapple or anything like that is an issue. I think basically the only thing that fine print is telling you is to just buy parts, lubricants, equipment etc through them as with any company they want your business because it pays them lol