Kioti Responds.....KL120 & KL130 Loader Problems

[IH3444]

Touchy issue, especially for Kioti. Engineering expense, testing expense, warranty repair/replacement cost. Possibly admitting an engineering design flaw may open the company up to a liability claim. I'm sure Kioti is thinking this one through very well before they make a final decision as to what to do.

 

[depratt_equip]

Seems like Kubota is having some cracking issues of another kind.... Problems just don't seem color blind....

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...hat-kubota-doing-about-broken.html#post955381

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Seems like Kubota is having some cracking issues of another kind.... Problems just don't seem color blind....

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/85514-what-kubota-doing-about-broken.html#post955381

Jon, nobody is comparing the brands but if you want to, at least it can be said that Kubota acknowledged the problem and has already sent out replacement parts.

It strikes me that this thread is not about the actual broken loader, what it is about is HOW Kioti created ill feelings by not providing good communication to either its dealers or its customers regarding their plans. Every brand has a problem or two. The issue is not the problem, it is that Kioti has been very quite about what they plan to do. Please re-read the posts, particularly those by IslandTractor and gmsssi (the guy who started this thread) to see more clearly what I am trying to say.

Here is the original post, it dates back to June. I think the ENTIRE issue is communication. It is too sparce.

Kioti responded to my following post..........

From a current owner of a DK45s! Would you please address the KL120 and KL130 loader problems (cross member cracking) that many of my friends are experiencing! It would do Kioti well to acknowledge the problem to current owners of these products and address it ASAP. Besides potentially becoming a public relations problem to Kioti due to the internet traffic on the subject, it could potentially become a safety issue. Please make me proud to be a member of the Kioti family!

Sincerely,

Greg Mallory

The response I received today from Kioti............................

Mr. Mallory,

I received your website inquiry regarding the KL120 and KL130 loader cracking issue. KIOTI has acknowledged this problem to our dealers. At this time however, we are performing extensive tests and gathering factual information about the cracking. Once we have determined a resolution to this issue we will release the information to end users who own these model loaders and our registered in our data base. Our primary goal is to stand behind our products and take care of our customers who own them. Thank you for your inquiry and concern on this issue.

Best Regards,

Stephanie Denton
Customer Relations
Executive Department
P: (919) 374-5073
F: (919) 374-5005

KIOTI

And here is one of the many posts by Ed (Island Tractor) but most of his posts carry this similar tone and theme. Its not the broken loader, but the lack of communication that is a big concern to many people.

Actually, it has been over three months since Kioti's announcement that they were working on a fix. No further news. I called my dealer last week and they have heard nothing since early June.

I trust there will evenually be a fix but Kioti still seems not to have learned any public relations lessons from this episode. A little update from Kioti would be nice. If they don't care enough to contact the customers at least they could keep the dealers up to date on where things stand.

 

[Dodgeram]

Bob,
Like last time, this will probably be deleted.
Why-oh-why have you not posted once in the above mentioned thread?
I mean, you have no opinion on what should/is being done to correct this problem?
Niel can help me out on this one, and please correct me if I misunderstood, but Kubota is not recalling all of the machines, just fixing them when they break, correct?. Will Kubota stand behind the out of warranty machines when the fenders fall off?.
Has anyone else noticed that no Kioti owner has posted to that thread?
I haven't because:
I don't own a BX series, although I test drove one (On TBN, that makes me an expert on the BX) before I got my Koiti
Inquiring minds want to know
Tom

 

[gmsssi]

This is all about timely recognition and response to the loader issue. Granted, depending on the issue, you get various response from any manufacturer .....BUT no matter what the issue is there should be recognition and notification, the fix can come later such as this!

Siting another brands "issues" is only going to incite and flaming from non-Kioti owners does the same, this ain't why I started the thread. First, I was proud the initiative I took resulted in a response and secondly I wanted to relay it to the guys who where having problems. I was fed up reading HB's thread, frustrated and feeling bad for the brothern and waiting on Kioti to respond.

Let's keep this on the positive and hope all our issues get addressed in timely fashion no matter what we own!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

This is all about timely recognition and response to the loader issue

BUT no matter what the issue is there should be recognition and notification, the fix can come later such as this!

Let's keep this on the positive and hope all our issues get addressed in timely fashion no matter what we own!

HERE HERE!!! Good post Greg.

That is what I was also trying to portray. I don't understand why people bring up other brands when all brands have problems.

 

[Highbeam]

I have recevied no correspondence from Kioti or my dealer since agreeing to wait approximately three months for the updated design and repair kits. I am now at my one year point of ownership and glad I have documented everything with Kioti and my dealer.

I have been making very good use of my tractor, loader, and implements though and having a grand time. I just try not to spend much time looking at the damaged parts of the loader.

Trying to be patient, trying.

 

[mike69440]

The response may have a lot to do with the company culture. Kubota, while Japanese, may be more global in thinking than the Korean Koiti. Korean culture, like the Chinese, has a very hard time acknowledging that they made an error.

 

[depratt_equip]

only reason i posted that is because everyone always thinks its ONLY KIOTI that this would happen to... people need to realize that is not "brand" related. In the first few threads of the fender issue it sure sounded like even Kubota didn't want to admit a problem. People seem to always think its only Kioti.... I was not trying to start anything just set the playing field straight. Things happen to all brands, problems happen like cracking FEL's, good fixes take time.

like you said, all brands have problems and thats what I wanted people to stop and look at. sometimes people are quick to judge kioti the second something goes wrong, and then others (won't name names) always say "this is why you shouldn't buy kioti" but hey it even happens to others too... i guess we should just all stop buying tractors...

i guess my post wasn't the most timely, but this thought had been bugging me for a long time....

a side note - as far as commutation between Kioti and dealers go they have been great. I don't need them to inform me of every step along they way. They are the engineers not me..... I can tell any customer I have with a cracked fel (which is none) that it will get fixed, will get covered, and they won't be out a dime. They told me there was a problem, and they would fix it. They will.... just like they stood behind all DK55 axles in and out of warranty..

 

[bearhawk]

Bob,
Like last time, this will probably be deleted.
Why-oh-why have you not posted once in the above mentioned thread?
I mean, you have no opinion on what should/is being done to correct this problem? Tom

Just do what I did, add bob to your ignore list.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=ignore&u=6288