Insurance Kioti CS2410 - Starting to think that I got me a lemon

[hb44374]

Hey all,

SO on 11-16-2013. I purchased a package deal on a new CS2410 with FEL and MMM with a box blade. The unit did well until about the 55hr mark where a weld busted on the back 3 point stabilizer (part # 14 not sure of exact name but ok not so bad); luckily they were able to order me a new one and ship it to my home due to a hardship on my location to a dealer ~160 miles away.

Then I had a another incident at 61hrs where it would not start, kept blowing the starting fuse- I had to whence it on a trailer and drive all the way to the dealer to drop it off and wait 3 months for it to get fixed and still had to pay $110 for unwarrantable labor to the unit. It had wound up that the starter was completely dead.

Just last night (on 10-29-14)I was mowing with the MMM and at 64hrs the power steering went out and all of a sudden I felt warm on my leg! I looked down and hydraulic fluid was spewing all over the place!! I immediately killed the unit and got off to inspect what looks to be either a complete failure / fracture to the metal pump housing or perhaps a fracture to a hose line that it is connected to, I cannot see it to make it out. Either way now there is about 3 gallons of fluid all over my lawn- lost my clothes- and I am having to watch the animals don't get into the mess

So again after only 4hrs I am going to have to whence it on a trailer and drive it back over for the dealer for repair.....
I know this unit has a warranty and I am thankful for that, but are these typical failures that happen to these units? Is it possible I was sold a lemon? I would love to hear back from any of you as soon as possible to see what some options on this are as I am becoming tiresome of having to return to dealer for repairs on a tractor that I have not had for a year and hardly has any hours on it.

I already sent an email to Kioti and called and left messages on the "customer relations" department answering machine but haven't heard back form them yet.....
Any help is appreciated guys!

 

[TJP89]

Ouch, no, that is not normal for these, so far, or any Kioti. You may have had the bad luck to get one of the first CSs and so get one on which all the kinks weren't quite worked out. I know there are several people here with CSs who are happy with them. I would start talking to Kioti while the tractor is still under warranty and see about down the road as well as the immediate problem

 

[hb44374]

Well, I contacted them and am still waiting on a response... good to know that it is not happening to other units- Hopefully this is it then, I went looking for any recalls and they have none. I plan on hauling it in tomorrow to the dealer so will have to keep you'll posted to see if anyone else is having the same problems- The starter incident was bad enough, this on is putting the icing on the cake!

 

[Whiskey Sniffer]

Three months to replace a starter! Something is seriously wrong here. Why wasn't labor under warranty? Mine is.

I hope you get this resolved soon, keep us posted.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Kioti tractors are almost all good but apparently yours is an exception. On the other hand, customer service from Kioti USA is seldom good until lawyers are involved. Your dealer is your first line of defense here. Unfortunately he is not close.

 

[Gary in NJ]

I think you have a dealer problem.

Three months to repair a starter...and they have the nerve to charge you for additional repairs? And you have to deliver/pick up for warranty work? WTF? That is something that the dealer can charge back to Kioti.

The oil leak could be a result of poor setup. Either an under or over torqued fitting, I suspect. I look forward to hearing the report on that one.

The turn buckle on the 3-pt stabilizer...well sometimes stuff like that just breaks.

These tractors have been around for a long time (under different names) and have a very good service history.

 

[engine29]

As I have said on here many times before and no one seems to believe me, warranty (for all brands) only pays so much determined by the manufacturer. If you were charged $110 previously, then that was most likely for what wasn't covered under warranty. Dealers do not come out on warranty at all, they always take a loss. The manufacturers flat-rate is never what it takes to do the actual repair.
As far Gary in NJ's response, PU/del. is not covered by the manufacturer so no, the dealer cannot charge that back to Kioti.
The only thing I agree on is that 3 mos. is a little long for a repair. Obviously don't know specifics.
I've been in this business for 25 yrs. and have dealt w/ numerous brands/manufacturers so I do know a little bit of how things go.

 

[Gary in NJ]

As far Gary in NJ's response, PU/del. is not covered by the manufacturer so no, the dealer cannot charge that back to Kioti.

Thanks for the info. I'm lucky to have an outstanding dealer, one that does provide pick-up & drop-off as part of his service - warranty or not.

 

[roadhunter]

Hate hearing these kind of stories no matter what brand. Hopefully it will work out in the end.

 

[ritcheyvs]

I think you have a dealer problem. ....

Maybe, but I don't think the data supports this. It is unlikely the dealer broke the weld and or starter. Three months could have been time to get the new starter. When my dealer was still in business, he was only able to get parts shipments when his order was big enough (even though Wendell NC was only 50 miles away). Maybe a dealer here knows for sure, but I would think the power steering connections are done at the factory or possibly at Kioti USA, not by the local dealer.