txhawg
Silver Member
I know the lemon laws cover autos, trucks, and motorcysles. Does it also cover tractors?
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Green lemon
- Thread starter rwarner
- Start date
- Views: 3206
bigpete
Veteran Member
Some states have ag equipment lemon laws but they typically apply only to tractors and equipment used in an ongoing agricultural operation. They are very clear about what the responsibilities of the consumer are. A tractor that has been used for 3 years for personal or non-agricultural commercial use would not likely qualify as a lemon under the laws of my state. No offense intended here, but in this case, the owner should have forced the tractor back on the manufacturer much earlier in its troubled life. JD may still try to help rectify the situation, but they are most certainly not obligated to do so--based on what I read above. At this point in the life of the machine, I doubt any tractor company would do anything more than offer to fix the machine for the cost of labor--at best. Even that is a stretch. Here is a link to the Virginia Law, which is similar to Delaware's law (but on-line): Ag Equipment Lemon Law of Virginia I couldn't tell you if Missouri has any such law.
Bottom line: if you smell a lemon or a chronic problem in the first couple of months, force the tractor back on the manufacturer. If you figure it out in the first year, or so, you can likely work something out to trade for a new machine at a depriciation cost for your hours of useage. Beyond that, ANY tractor company (or car company) will just keep fixing the problems under waranty until that time period is done, unless a lemon law can be called upon. Beyond the warranty period, you are on your own.
Good luck, though. It sounds like there is plenty of documentation to make a case with JD for a long, troubled history. JD corporate is the only hope now. The dealer cannot be expected to pay for anything out of pocket. It just ai'nt reasonable. If the dealer does anything free at this point, he should be commended and rewarded with customer loyalty. My delaer went the extra mile and he has mine. I know somebody is going to take issue with this point about the dealer not digging into his company's pocket, but the realities of running a "franchise" business for profit rule this issue.
JD corporate will listen, but you might have to be persistent. They did in my case. If the company (JD, Kubota, New Holland, or any other) feels the problem is repairable, they will do only that. In my case, they took my leaky 2210 trade-in at a minor depreciation rate and cut me a great deal on an upgrade to a 4110. I truly believe that is as good as it will get in most of these cases when time and machine hours have accumulated for more than a few months.
Finally, all the talk in the world is just talk. Put your issue in writing and you will get a better response from any company, JD or otherwise.
Good luck
Bottom line: if you smell a lemon or a chronic problem in the first couple of months, force the tractor back on the manufacturer. If you figure it out in the first year, or so, you can likely work something out to trade for a new machine at a depriciation cost for your hours of useage. Beyond that, ANY tractor company (or car company) will just keep fixing the problems under waranty until that time period is done, unless a lemon law can be called upon. Beyond the warranty period, you are on your own.
Good luck, though. It sounds like there is plenty of documentation to make a case with JD for a long, troubled history. JD corporate is the only hope now. The dealer cannot be expected to pay for anything out of pocket. It just ai'nt reasonable. If the dealer does anything free at this point, he should be commended and rewarded with customer loyalty. My delaer went the extra mile and he has mine. I know somebody is going to take issue with this point about the dealer not digging into his company's pocket, but the realities of running a "franchise" business for profit rule this issue.
JD corporate will listen, but you might have to be persistent. They did in my case. If the company (JD, Kubota, New Holland, or any other) feels the problem is repairable, they will do only that. In my case, they took my leaky 2210 trade-in at a minor depreciation rate and cut me a great deal on an upgrade to a 4110. I truly believe that is as good as it will get in most of these cases when time and machine hours have accumulated for more than a few months.
Finally, all the talk in the world is just talk. Put your issue in writing and you will get a better response from any company, JD or otherwise.
Good luck
Shadow_River
Member
CALL the Regional Rep!!! Might surprise you what he can do....maybe even get you a super deal on a new tractor. Phone calls are better than letters.
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
CUMMINS
New member
a green lemon is a lime /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
bigpete
Veteran Member
<font color="blue"> Phone calls are better than letters.
</font> Not exactly...
Phone calls are a start. Writing is a call to action. Seems like there have been a lot of calls in this case. I started to get a response from the regional rep after the dealer and the Customer Care phone center ASKED me to put it in writing to start the case file. BTW, regional reps do not open case files. They all start with the customer care center and a letter.
</font> Not exactly...
Phone calls are a start. Writing is a call to action. Seems like there have been a lot of calls in this case. I started to get a response from the regional rep after the dealer and the Customer Care phone center ASKED me to put it in writing to start the case file. BTW, regional reps do not open case files. They all start with the customer care center and a letter.
creeper
Gold Member
Changing to a Kubota is no gaurantee that you wont have trouble. All brands have this happen.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> Call the Regional Rep. for Deere </font> )</font>
How can you find there number or who the regional rep is ? It seems like it is impossible to deal directly with a JD regional rep at my dealership,they use the dealership as a go between.
How can you find there number or who the regional rep is ? It seems like it is impossible to deal directly with a JD regional rep at my dealership,they use the dealership as a go between.
Shadow_River
Member
I would call a # of JD dealers in your area or call JD Corporate or Customer Service. I am sure you will get the Regional Rep's name and #. I don't think it's a big secret who they are. These Reps really do have alot of control over matters such as these. Go for it.
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
azzxx
John Deere 5520 Cab MFWD, John Deere 2040 & MF 265
bigpete
Veteran Member
There is a specific problem resolution process. First, you work with the dealer to resolve the problem. Second, you call the customer care center and a DTAC case number is assigned to you. The DTAC case is communicated to the regional rep and the dealer. The regional rep works with the dealer until he has all the info he needs. At that point, the regional rep may contact you to let you know what you need to do and what they intend to do. The case resolution is then overseen by the RR and you work with the dealer. The dealer is the first and last point of contact. The dealer would provide you with the customer care number to call. I suppose a regional rep might take a call if you could get his number. He would almost certainly refer you to the customer care center to have a case number assigned.
dicker
Silver Member
When I first bought my JD 4310 in 2003, the dealer could not deliver it because he did not order the Power Beyond for my backhoe and according to him the part was backordered. This went on about a week or so, my new JD sitting at his dealership and not being delivered. I might mention that he offered to deliver it without the backhoe, but I needed the hoe, so I opted to have it delivered all at once.
I finally got fed up and called the John Deere head office here in Grimsby Ontario and explained my dilema. In a half hour I was called by the regional rep. who explained that my part would be at the dealership the next day, and he had arranged delivery of the tractor to my house for the following day.
About a week later he checked up on me to see that all went well.
Richard
I finally got fed up and called the John Deere head office here in Grimsby Ontario and explained my dilema. In a half hour I was called by the regional rep. who explained that my part would be at the dealership the next day, and he had arranged delivery of the tractor to my house for the following day.
About a week later he checked up on me to see that all went well.
Richard