Need advice please help??

yukonhunter · Jul 19, 2017

I'm going to try and make this as short as possible, I'm so frustrated. About 5 years ago I bought a brand new 4520, i only had about 70 hrs on it and long story short it had an electrical problem to where it would sit for 2 or 3 weeks and then not start up. I didn't have my tractor for months throughout the year. It was In the shop multiple times and they could not figure out the problem. It also had several mechanical issues.*
After a long hard fight with corporate they told me they would buy the tractor back but I would have trade up to a 4066r so for about 7000 dollars more that's what I did. I noticed from the start the hydraulics seemed very weak on the tractor. I told John deere about it but they said they were up to specs. Last fall there was a recall on engine. I took them till spring to fix it. We also noticed a rear axle leak , tractor was still under warranty. I told them while in the shop to check the hydraulics and the loader problem as mentioned on this forum. The axle leak was back ordered for months and again my tractor sat in the shop for 6 weeks. They told me they would return my tractor and to run it with the rear axle leak. Finally the part came in , it took 2 more weeks in the shop they finally fixed my tractor and said the hydraulics were up to specs by a field rep.*
I got the tractor back and just bought a new drill. My tractor should have picked it up no problem, it didn't budge it an inch off the ground. My buddies*kubota*mx5100 lifted it with no problem, it has less lifting capacity the my jd by a few hundred lbs. So I call them again. While on the phone with a different dealer. He mentioned they now have a "product improvment" warning for the loader the I mentioned. I gave them the I told you so and my tractor is now back in the shop. They supposedly fixed the loader problem, but are now waiting on back ordered parts for the new improvment problem with the pistons and valves for the 3pt hitch. I told them I'm done with this tractor. It just turned 2 years old and has 170hrs on it. I'm losing money in my sweet corn and pumpkins etc. They may give me a deal if I trade up to a 5090m, but I'm so scared to get another deere at this point. I have a b series kubota with zero issues..I'm not a picky or crazy consumer... .does this seem fair to be jerk Ed around like this??? Are the bigger tractors better quality? This is too much time with large tractor payments and no tractor to use.

yukonhunter · Jul 19, 2017

Also...the whole time I have been in contact with corporate...they can care less and are extremely rude.

jenkinsph · Jul 19, 2017

I would find a different dealer, this one just isn't good enough. If you do buy another tractor I would recommend you look at all major brands and the dealers that sell them.

My 2009 4520 cab tractor has been very good and have over 1000 hours so far. I did have to take mine in for a computer problem which was found to be a bad ground connection. Total time in the shop was about 3 days. It has never been back to the shop since then.

yukonhunter · Jul 19, 2017

Problem is every dealer for jd within 100 miles is now the same company, they bought all the stores out. And If I go with a different company I will get killed on a trade

jenkinsph · Jul 20, 2017

Prior to responding this morning to your threads I did review your posts since joining TBN. It appears as though you have had a multitude of problems with your previous 4520 and this 4066R. Having a total of about 3300 hours combined on my 110. 4520 and x749 and one trip to the shop for repairs on each. Each time the tractors went in for repairs all of them were fixed right and did not need to go back. Looking at your posts it is obvious to me your dealer is at least a large part of your problem. Just my opinion but your issues with the 4520 should have been fixed and resolved without the need for trading to the 4066R.

Customers really should not have to contact corporate for repair issues, a good dealer should be able to handle the problems with the equipment through the JD rep. My dealer for the 110tlb is 140 miles from my home, the 4520 dealer is 75 miles away. Under normal conditions the longer distances should not be a problem compared to a poor dealer that may be close by but has no follow through and or competence.

To be fair and diplomatic though this is only one side of the problems you have experienced. You may have been sold lemons or your operation of the equipment and maintenance of the equipment may be flawed. No way for me to really know.

In the past I have had JD, Case, Ford and IH tractors all have been okay without a lot of issues. Over the last 42 years of ownership I have found that Deere has been the best for my uses followed by Case. Deere and Cat seem to have the widest selection of machines for my uses and have the best parts distribution networks. Kubota now has a dealership close enough to me to consider and will be in the selection process for new purchases. While I have operated a few of the Kubota's I have not owned one yet.

If it were me I would try to get the 4066R fixed and see how it works out with the new hydraulic updates. If afterwards I was not satisfied and wanted to buy a replacement tractor it would be from a different dealership.

yukonhunter · Jul 20, 2017

Yes I agree...and the use I put my tractor through is very light. No amount of use can cause the need for "improvments" to a tractor. They know there a problems with these tractors and instead of recalling them and fixing it, they wait for the customer to complain. I very disappointed with John deere

TheMan419 · Jul 20, 2017

It sounds like you have bad dealer support. My NH is my one and only tractor. I am having an issue with a quick connect leaking. Just literally got off phone with dealer and they first told me the loader was an attachment and thus not covered by the warranty. I was never told this when I purchased. So they are trying to get it covered under warranty. I am pretty confident they will.

So my point is that dealer is as (if not more) important than brand. I would see if you can just get JD corporate to buy you out of the deal at a reasonable price. Then go get another color with good dealer support in your area.

Not bashing JD, sounds like you sadly got a couple lemons and have poor dealer support on top of it.

Good luck!

paulfun9 · Jul 20, 2017

Why would anyone spend more of that hard earned money on an other purchase from the same company that isn't totally standing behind their product now. Your just saying "Hey its OK to screw me over I will just open up my wallet and give you more cash so you can screw me some more"

Find the most cost effective way to get out of it and look at other brands for replacement!

terryknight · Jul 20, 2017

try a different location of the same dealer. might have better luck.

jenkinsph · Jul 20, 2017

yukonhunter said:
Yes I agree...and the use I put my tractor through is very light. No amount of use can cause the need for "improvments" to a tractor. They know there a problems with these tractors and instead of recalling them and fixing it, they wait for the customer to complain. I very disappointed with John deere

I agree 100% that John Deere has handled the loader and hydraulic problem terribly. Same was true with all the MX6 rotary cutters with the faulty shafts, I sold mine with full disclosure before it broke. There are skeletons in everyone's closet though and for the most part Deere tractors have worked well for me. With all the problems you have had I would feel differently..

A good competent technician could have fixed your 4520, quickly too. That said since you now have the 4066R I would get the new updates and see how that works out. Reasoning that trying to get the tractor fixed is the cheapest solution. Selling a tractor that isn't fixed would put you in a worse position.