Complain about a product or service

John Deere

Herman of Saskatoon, SK June 26, 2009

I grew up with the John Deere tractor. My dad and his brother farmed 2 quarter sections of land with John Deere Model "D" on steel in the thirties. Later on they acquired a John Deere Model "A" rowcrop tractor. I just about froze to death on that thing in the spring and almost melted in the summer, but I sure enjoyed that John Deere! That was a tractor! A 4 cylinder "tractor" sounded like a car! How could they call it a tractor? So,, I am a John Deere man!

I have a John Deere F725 52" front cut riding lawn mower. I am very happy with it, it is a very dependable rugged machine. My beef is with the John Deere Co. The plastic grille (part No. M78282) is kinda battered up (my fault) and I don't want to sell it that way (we're having an auction sale). I ordered a new grille, the man asked, "you mean the one with the emblem?" "yes" I said. It was a bit pricey (129.00 CDN plus taxes) but I ordered one anyway (not in stock). When I opened the package at home I couldn't find the emblem, it was missing! I only got 9 tenths of the part I ordered!

I called the parts department and they told me that the emblem is a another part and is sold seperately. Now why did he not tell me so in the first place? (So, I really do have a compalaint with him as well) The emblem is another 8.00! Another 8 bucks just for a 4x4 sticky! I said "Now that is really stupid!" So, tomorrow when I go in to the city on other buisnes, I'll stop in and pick up the emblem, which, in my opinion should have already been pasted onto the new grille, and I should not have to pay for it - it's your advertisement, not mine! The least you can do is refund my 8 bucks! I like John Deere equipment, so please don't let me say anything bad about the Co. Please let me hear from you,

Kenneth of North Manchester, IN June 24, 2009

John Deere has no customer service for their popular mowers either on-line or by telephone. My L130A blew its mower deck belt. My operator's manual, which I took with me to a dealer, covers five models, L100-L130, but does not list or cover the L130A. Evidently, the two 130's have different decks (and none of the photos in the manual matches the L130A). The parts dept. checked my manual and sold me the wrong size.

I pointed out that the photo for the 48"deck doesn't even complete the belt routing path. The clerk replied that John Deere makes changing belts difficult so that owners take their mowers to dealers instead of doing it themselves. Summary: expect a Dear John from John Deere. The company doesn't provide adeqaute assistance or even decent manuals.

Kevin of enfield, CT June 5, 2009

I bought a ne LA 135 lawn mower from ellingto agaway, a john deere gold star dealer,. Within a month and with less than 3 hours, the mower deck drive belt started to wear the deck out by going through the paint and now the deck. I purchased the mower in april and the wear started less than a month after. I contacted Ellington Agaway in Ellington CT and they said it was normal. I than contacted John deere customer service center before the the 30 days was up.

After the 30 days I could return it were up they then contacted me. I had to go through three service rep people until I got to patty-sue(ext 3226). She told me it was my problem to deal with the dealer, great customer service there! I than called the dealer, Ellington Agaway the "Gold Star Dealer", and they said it left there place it tip top shape after they charged me a set up fee, and said it was my problem now. What a wonderful gold star dealer they are, I hate to see a non-gold star dealer response to this.

Now It's after the "30 day" return period and I am stuck with a [bad] product, and LA 135 lawn mower. I now know it's there lower line but there is no reason for the response I got from them. I was better off going to Homne depot or lowes to get the product because I would not have to jump through hoops of fire to get a response. I bought a john deere snow blower from John deere from lowes and that items is fien. If you buy john deere buy from the big box stores because theyare easy to deal with customerservice, john deere customer service [is bad]!

chris of willow, NY June 14, 2009

It is so sad to have bought a john deere tractor, thinking it might have been something close to the quality of the tractors of my youth. Everything on this tractor is cheap, crummy plastic, junk that breaks or needs replacing very quickly.

Bill of Lublin, WI June 8, 2009

I bought a new JD LT 160 in 2003 and the Tuff Torq transmission went out. Dealer replacement is over 600 dollars. Can't get the K48C trans from Tuff Torq,but can get the K71 for 199 dollars that they use in the Simplicity. What ever happened to JD quality? Am I just paying for the name?

Phillip of Taberg, NY May 31, 2009

Howdy, I purchased a used L120 (85 hrs)in summer 2006. I was in love with the tractor until the first winter. I have the 48" deck, 42" snowblower & 46" snow blade for this L120. Tward the end of the winter the transmission stops moving. As others have mentioned JD doesn't work on this transaxle. I did find out however that all parts are available direct from Tuff-Torq the company that makes this hydro. I fell that the price on the parts is OK & they will rebuild you old one for under 400.00. My complaint is that all the gears in this transaxle are made with the powder metal process. I believe that they are not getting the tempering they are suppose to be getting. This literally makes the gears disolve in the trans axle.

Now as others have said, for a 1000.00 dealer repair you would think there would be substantial warranty on the new part. Nope, 90 days. I for one have the ability to fix these my self, & will do so. I just think that repaceing this trans mission twice a year is ridiculus. Yes, I have replaced this tranny 7 times already. I have kept all the old one to rebuild them. Be informed that this K46 tranny is used by almost all tractor manufacturers. Now for you folks who wish to cure this once & for all, heres what you need to do. The JD G110 ('03', '04') have a Tuff-Torq K62 rear end. This has 1" axles, not 3/4". there is also an extra frame support for it.

The only thing that may be flukey is the engine drive pulley. The K62 uses a 23" rim & the K46 a 22". Since both machine use the same electric clutch, you may want to get a G110 drive pulley & belt. If you can do the work yourself, you can get the individual parts. This won't be a cheap operation though (1500.00 - 2000.00). But, this will stop the tranny failures. I am in the process of doing this to mine, for me it is worth it. I can deal with the other small things that crop up. FYI I have 290 hrs on it now, I snowblow more hours than I mow.

Dennis of Wilton, CA May 29, 2009

Last May 28, 2008 I purchased a LA 135 Lawn Tractor. Approx 2 months later I purchased the Grass Catcher Assembly. I installed it, the bags would never fill with grass. This last March I discovered the tube was half blocked and fixed it. The bags now fill with no problem. I then discovered a manufacturing defect in one bag which leaves a large gap open at the bottom. The dealer and Customer Center both said to bad, we'll sell you another bag!!!! Lawn Tractor has 9.4 hours on it!!! Bags have about 6 hours on them!! Some warranty!!!

Rob of Yacolt, WA May 27, 2009

The factory wiring was misrouted around the PTO shaft on my LA130 riding mower. After 68 hours of use, the wiring insulation rubbed off the wires and shorted out the electrical system. My warranty was 3 days from expiration (2 years/120 hours) The "authorized dealer" that "assembled" the machine told me to contact John Deere as that is where the wiring is installed.

Also, that even though currently covered under warranty - they would not be able to service the mower for 2 weeks and since the warranty would then be out, it would not be covered under the warranty. John Deere also confirmed that even though it was a warranty issue, I would not be compensated for the purchase of the ignition switch (burnt when the positive PTO wire shorted) and I would have to pay the dealer to install new wires as that is not a consumer servicable part. So the warranty is not actually 2 years... it is if a dealer will inspect your machine within 2 years...

Lauren of Hanover, PA May 27, 2009

Like the others before said, 90% of the tractors listed here (The STX series, the LA series, the L series, Z400 series z-turns) are made mostly for Mass Channel Stores (ex. Home Depot, Lowes, TSC) They are cheaply made (because they are cheaper priced) and are made to be used on the average size lawn (1 acre, flat land) They are almost made to be throw aways anymore... Hence the reason these machines only carry a 2 year 120 hour warranty, the better made tractors that you find at a JD dealership carry 4 year warranties ranging from 300-700 hours. I have never heard of anyone being unhappy with an X300, X500 or X700 series or the Z700/Z800 series z-turns. Sorry to say.... but, you get what you pay for.... And that’s with anything sold these days...

Matt of North Branch , MN May 21, 2009

I am trying to figure out what is the matter with your machines. I purchased new in'05 a John Deere L108 automatic, and I have used for 4 summers and haven't had to do anything but sharpen blades, change oil, and add gas. I have even used as a brush cutter mowing over "finger" sized brush that has been growin for years in the far back yard. I have hit rocks and sticks and Dog play-toys and Dog poo. You name it I've hit it, it does nothing but dull the blades. I took it to my Dad's and mowed his grass all summer because his stupid "Yard Machines" was in the shop, again. The last John Deere, which I bought new in 1987 was a RX75 rear engine rider, which I used for years at my work until they contracted it out. The only reason I retired it was because the rearend was starting to make noise, and the engine was getting a little tired. My L108 has been as good as the RX75 and I don't expect any prolems, I do wish they still used the Kawasaki engine as I think it was smoother than the Briggs Intek.

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