Kioti Warranty Concerns

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

In the last 24 hours I have stumbled upon some threads of people who have reported that Kioti has failed to meet their basic warranty obligations. This is not the first time I have heard this as I was told by an ex dealer North of me a couple of years ago that he dropped them because of this. However, there seems to be two stories that get told about Kioti. One group is saying Kioti finds ways to void their warranty to get out of covering expensive repairs. The other group claims they have never had a problem with Kioti and when they did everything went over like a piece of cake. So something does not add up here and I would like to call into question what's going on with this from people who have had personal experience. I'm looking for truthful testimony from anyone that is in the know. Additionally, I will reference these three threads that spurred me to start this thread covering the topic again:

Kioti Grapple Buyer beware!!!!

Hi all. First Post here. I am kinda new to the Tractor game. I First had a Bobcat CT122 then upgraded to a 2009 CT235, i love the tractor perfect size and power for what i need. I purchased a Brand New Kioti Grapple they just came out with last fall. First off i was really supprised it would...

www.tractorbynet.com

Great Kioti Dealership

AAA+ rating goes out to Concord Tractor in Chichester, NH. I have no affiliation with this dealer at all. My posting is about my own personal experience with this dealer with my smoking and rapping engine. First off they are the nicest group of people that I have ever dealt with. I deal with a...

www.tractorbynet.com

Kioti Warranty and Parts Support ?

Kioti Owners: Has anyone had any problems getting their tractor repaired under warranty? The reason I asked is the closest dealer to me sells LS and Kioti Tractors and he is dropping the Kioti line. He states it is like pulling teeth to get these tractors repaired under warranty. I Love these...

www.tractorbynet.com

Please consider both sides before commenting about this.

 

[perrypower]

As with any forum, opinions need to be taken "with a grain of salt" because a person's viewpoint is shaped by their personal experiences and is not always representative of the whole.

That being said, we are a Kioti dealer and you may find our opinions biased, but I will say that while we have disagreements from time to time with Kioti corporate polices etc. (as we do with all of our other manufacturers and vendors), Kioti Tractors have been and continue to be a great product for us with excellent parts & service support from Kioti to us as a dealership.

 

[MichiganIron]

Agree with Perrypower. We have carried KIOTI Tractors for 15 years. Great product and great support.

 

[ptsg]

If Kioti was really that bad overall, I don't think they would make it on the top seller tractors in the 25 to 50 HP segment two years straight (2020 and 2021) in my country. It's a very tough market with a lot of brands competing, specially when we start considering European brands, Korean brands, Japanese brands and Indian brans all together.

The importer here for Kioti is Ascendum which I'm sure it helps a lot too, plus they've been offering 5 year warranty since 2020.

That being said, a CK3530 would be definitely a strong contestant in my 3 or 4 of tractors if I were to buy now, or if I could snatch a CK3520 from the leftover stock, which wouldn't have any emissions and had the good old mechanical injected engine.

 

[gravel13]

My complaint with Kioti corporate is over my CK25 load cracks and my fuel rail issue. Both times when they were contacted by the dealer it was -"sorry that machine is outside of the range that they would cover" but yet it was the same problem that others got covered. It also could be that the other dealers fought more to get it covered vs my dealer (who no longer carries them due to Kioti requiring X number of models on the lot).

 

[DieselBound]

ANY dealer can bust the warranty train. Further, no idea what time frame the concern is over: today, last couple of years or? Not a big fan of my dealer but they were able to work out a couple of key warranty issues with the factory: at no point did I get the feeling that anything wasn't going to get covered- and in this case I can state that the dealer managed customer service well (the shop work, in my experience, leaves a bit more to be desired).

Any manufacturer that wants to stay in business needs to built quality stuff. Warranties ought to be seen as a QA feedback loop.

There are good machines rolling off the lines and then there are bad ones rolling off the same lines. How the bad ones are dealt with determines how long the lines keep running. Good dealers are as important as factories backing up warranties. And good customers are those who understand that sometimes problems are complex and that we should be looking to work together to solve issues: any one of the these three entities can end up turning an issue into a poor story.

 

[Buggs67]

Well my experience with Kioti Corporate was that they had the dealer's back before mine.

The dealer I purchased my CK2510 from totally screwed up the assembly. The ROPES was on backwards two different ways, they stripped captured bolts and replaced them with smaller bolts, the BH hydraulic lines were improperly installed, etc. I reported it here:

CK2510 poor preperation by dealer

I took delivery of my new CK2510 about 2 weeks ago. The dealer dropped it off and then wouldn't demonstrate the BH (which was the only part I hadn't experienced while shopping). He said "read the manual, it's all in there". Well it's not, and his attitude should have foreshadowed my problems...

www.tractorbynet.com

Kioti insisted it was not a warranty issue and wanted me to take it back to the screw-up dealer. They finally agreed to let me take it to a more reputable dealer, who was then angry at me since I didn't buy it from them. He wouldn't even meet with me, but his head of service was excellent.

I would hesitate to buy another Kioti for that reason. They put the dealer ahead of the customer IMO.

My BIL on the other hand bought a LS tractor. Shortly after he had a small issue or two. The dealer immediately took it back, and fixed it under warranty. If I was buying another CUT I'd consider them.

EDIT: I should point out that I purchased my Kioti from a dealer in NYS (I lived on the NY/NJ border then) and it was repaired by Bassani Power Equip in Hamburg, NJ. It was NOT purchase here in PA.

And it took a MONTH to get my tractor fixed. Kioti did NOT back me until I started contacting the CEO and threatening legal action.

 

[RandyT]

Because what you describe is not a warranty issue. What you describe is a mis-assembly issue with dealer installed items, which manufacturers don't pay for. It would be up to the selling dealer to fix their mistakes at their expense. It is not a defect in quality or workmanship covered under the manufacturer warranty for things that the dealer installed incorrectly or breaks during final assembly at their location.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Well my experience with Kioti Corporate was that they had the dealer's back before mine.

The dealer I purchased my CK2510 from totally screwed up the assembly. The ROPES was on backwards two different ways, they stripped captured bolts and replaced them with smaller bolts, the BH hydraulic lines were improperly installed, etc. I reported it here:

CK2510 poor preperation by dealer

I took delivery of my new CK2510 about 2 weeks ago. The dealer dropped it off and then wouldn't demonstrate the BH (which was the only part I hadn't experienced while shopping). He said "read the manual, it's all in there". Well it's not, and his attitude should have foreshadowed my problems...

www.tractorbynet.com

Kioti insisted it was not a warranty issue and wanted me to take it back to the screw-up dealer. They finally agreed to let me take it to a more reputable dealer, who was then angry at me since I didn't buy it from them. He wouldn't even meet with me, but his head of service was excellent.

I would hesitate to buy another Kioti for that reason. They put the dealer ahead of the customer IMO.

My BIL on the other hand bought a LS tractor. Shortly after he had a small issue or two. The dealer immediately took it back, and fixed it under warranty. If I was buying another CUT I'd consider them.

EDIT: I should point out that I purchased my Kioti from a dealer in NYS (I lived on the NY/NJ border then) and it was repaired by Bassani Power Equip in Hamburg, NJ. It was NOT purchase here in PA.

And it took a MONTH to get my tractor fixed. Kioti did NOT back me until I started contacting the CEO and threatening legal action.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[5030]

In the last 24 hours I have stumbled upon some threads of people who have reported that Kioti has failed to meet their basic warranty obligations.

Sounds to me like you are on yet another fishing expedition.

 

[perrypower]

Well my experience with Kioti Corporate was that they had the dealer's back before mine.

The dealer I purchased my CK2510 from totally screwed up the assembly. The ROPES was on backwards two different ways, they stripped captured bolts and replaced them with smaller bolts, the BH hydraulic lines were improperly installed, etc. I reported it here:

CK2510 poor preperation by dealer

I took delivery of my new CK2510 about 2 weeks ago. The dealer dropped it off and then wouldn't demonstrate the BH (which was the only part I hadn't experienced while shopping). He said "read the manual, it's all in there". Well it's not, and his attitude should have foreshadowed my problems...

www.tractorbynet.com

Kioti insisted it was not a warranty issue and wanted me to take it back to the screw-up dealer. They finally agreed to let me take it to a more reputable dealer, who was then angry at me since I didn't buy it from them. He wouldn't even meet with me, but his head of service was excellent.

I would hesitate to buy another Kioti for that reason. They put the dealer ahead of the customer IMO.

My BIL on the other hand bought a LS tractor. Shortly after he had a small issue or two. The dealer immediately took it back, and fixed it under warranty. If I was buying another CUT I'd consider them.

EDIT: I should point out that I purchased my Kioti from a dealer in NYS (I lived on the NY/NJ border then) and it was repaired by Bassani Power Equip in Hamburg, NJ. It was NOT purchase here in PA.

And it took a MONTH to get my tractor fixed. Kioti did NOT back me until I started contacting the CEO and threatening legal action.

Kioti was correct in saying that was not a warrantable issue. The issues you described are clearly a setup issue by the dealer that sold you the tractor and that dealership should be taking responsibility for it.

 

[murphy1244]

In the last 24 hours I have stumbled upon some threads of people who have reported that Kioti has failed to meet their basic warranty obligations. This is not the first time I have heard this as I was told by an ex dealer North of me a couple of years ago that he dropped them because of this. However, there seems to be two stories that get told about Kioti. One group is saying Kioti finds ways to void their warranty to get out of covering expensive repairs. The other group claims they have never had a problem with Kioti and when they did everything went over like a piece of cake. So something does not add up here and I would like to call into question what's going on with this from people who have had personal experience. I'm looking for truthful testimony from anyone that is in the know. Additionally, I will reference these three threads that spurred me to start this thread covering the topic again:

Kioti Grapple Buyer beware!!!!

Hi all. First Post here. I am kinda new to the Tractor game. I First had a Bobcat CT122 then upgraded to a 2009 CT235, i love the tractor perfect size and power for what i need. I purchased a Brand New Kioti Grapple they just came out with last fall. First off i was really supprised it would...

www.tractorbynet.com

Great Kioti Dealership

AAA+ rating goes out to Concord Tractor in Chichester, NH. I have no affiliation with this dealer at all. My posting is about my own personal experience with this dealer with my smoking and rapping engine. First off they are the nicest group of people that I have ever dealt with. I deal with a...

www.tractorbynet.com

Kioti Warranty and Parts Support ?

Kioti Owners: Has anyone had any problems getting their tractor repaired under warranty? The reason I asked is the closest dealer to me sells LS and Kioti Tractors and he is dropping the Kioti line. He states it is like pulling teeth to get these tractors repaired under warranty. I Love these...

www.tractorbynet.com

Please consider both sides before commenting about this.

What is your beef with Kioti? When are you going to buy a tractor instead of talking about it?

 

[RandyT]

Kioti was correct in saying that was not a warrantable issue. The issues you described are clearly a setup issue by the dealer that sold you the tractor and that dealership should be taking responsibility for it.

From somebody that has been in the equipment repair business for many years, I wish customers would sit down and read the details of their warranty. It seems a lot of people have the mentality that if they break it then warranty will fix it. And in reality only about 1% of all failures are warranty covered repairs. I don't know how many times I have had customers bring in push mowers from a box store with a blown engine and the oil at the very bottom of the dipstick and then wonder why warranty won't cover their low oil failure and then find out that the mower came with the correct size bottle of oil in the box, but they only dumped in half. So instead of 18 ounces they only added 9.

Or bring in a trimmer that they purchased a week ago with a broken bump knob on the trimmer head and the manufacturer spells out in the warranty page in the owners manual that trimmer head parts are considered wear items and are excluded from warranty coverage, and then blame it on me because I can't warranty their new trimmer.

 

[deezler]

Seems pretty clear that the problem is chiefly with people's sh!tty dealers, not Kioti themselves.

I bought my CK3510 used, private party, but still well under warranty. When it threw a check engine light / trouble-code, I humbly called my local dealer for coverage. They gladly transferred the warranty to my name for a low fee, and then promptly took the machine in, diagnosed the issue, and replaced the air control valve for free. Zero dollars out of my pocket for an expensive repair. No problems at all with getting the work approved under Kioti warranty.

 

[deezler]

The dealer I purchased my CK2510 from totally screwed up the assembly. The ROPES was on backwards two different ways, they stripped captured bolts and replaced them with smaller bolts, the BH hydraulic lines were improperly installed, etc. I reported it here:

CK2510 poor preperation by dealer

I took delivery of my new CK2510 about 2 weeks ago. The dealer dropped it off and then wouldn't demonstrate the BH (which was the only part I hadn't experienced while shopping). He said "read the manual, it's all in there". Well it's not, and his attitude should have foreshadowed my problems...

www.tractorbynet.com

Kioti insisted it was not a warranty issue and wanted me to take it back to the screw-up dealer. They finally agreed to let me take it to a more reputable dealer, who was then angry at me since I didn't buy it from them. He wouldn't even meet with me, but his head of service was excellent.

I would hesitate to buy another Kioti for that reason. They put the dealer ahead of the customer IMO.

This is just crazy talk, man. None of those issues are covered by a tractor warranty, which you obviously didn't read. You expected Kioti corporate to go to war with one of their own dealers, for the dealerships faults in preparing the tractor?

Let me ask you something, did you go around your sh!tty dealer, and try to ask for warranty coverage from Kioti directly? And then they DID cover you, when you took it to another dealership? And you're still upset about that?

Bad dealers do not equal a bad product. You can (and probably will) find the same exact problems from any other manufacturer with a poor quality dealership.

 

[5030]

What is your beef with Kioti? When are you going to buy a tractor instead of talking about it?

Probably never..... apparently he likes to agitate with no dog in the game. I even went so far as giving him my dealer's phone number and he called and inquired about a Kubota that interestingly, isn't even on the market yet. He says some dealer by him has one but My dealer showed me the correspondence from Kubota and they aren't being offered for sale yet.

Not wasting my time with him again.

 

[5030]

Here's an interesting tid bit... I have my 2004 M9 in the shop to have the new baler controls installed and the old controls removed but I've had an ongoing issue with it for about the last 6 months, the fuel cut solenoid chatters when cold starting it. every time. It starts but chatters. I bought a new fuel cut solenoid which Dennis installed but it still chatters. He's got the dash apart trying to find the issue and has contacted Kubota and opened a 'Case'. Looks like Kubota is going to pay for whatever he finds that is causing it and the tractor was bought in 2004 new from my dealer. It don't impact cold starts at all but it's irritating to listen too. How is that for 'extended warranty'... 17 years past the purchase date. Pretty much floored me.

It's in for it's 1500 hour tune up anyway. Of course I maintain it exactly on Kubota's maintenance schedule and Dennis always works on it too. Running the overhead on it is involved as in components like the steering controller and the ac compressor as well as the muffler have to be removed to gain access to the overhead, not something I want to tackle myself.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

I even went so far as giving him my dealer's phone number and he called and inquired about a Kubota that interestingly, isn't even on the market yet. He says some dealer by him has one but My dealer showed me the correspondence from Kubota and they aren't being offered for sale yet.

Took one for a test drive this past Friday.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

This is just crazy talk, man. None of those issues are covered by a tractor warranty, which you obviously didn't read. You expected Kioti corporate to go to war with one of their own dealers, for the dealerships faults in preparing the tractor?

What do you think he should of done?

 

[Torvy]

What do you think he should of done?

I would have addressed it with the dealer, up to the owner. If I still didn't get satisfaction, I would go to court. As many have said, this is not a problem for the manufacturer, except maybe after the fact. Might want them to know some dealer cannot put their units together.

I see a lot of times here where people go directly to a manufacturer to solve problems. There are times where that is appropriate, but usually it is better to work with the retail management.