Lawn Mowers, John Deere JD 116U

Repair/Service

John Deere

From:

Date: Saturday, September 01, 2001 12:00 PM If you were charged $3930 to replace a 1.75 inch bearing and seal costing less than $15 on your $30000 SUV or car, do you think you would deserve a partial refund of the repair bill? Of course you had to pay at the time because the mechanic was holding your vehicle that you needed for ransom. This charge is equivalent to $2227 for a $17000 vehicle or $11000 for a $84000 farm tractor. Just think that you are a farmer needing your tractor to cultivate or harvest your crops, but John Deere (JD) was holding your tractor hostage, after cultivating only 200 acres, until you paid $11000 for a 1.75 inch bearing and seal! On May 4, 2001, a JD dealer and service company picked-up my JD 116H mower to replace a 1.75 inch bearing and seal. After having my mower for 28 days, they charged me over $550 for this repair on a mower costing approximately $4200 in today’s dollars. The reason for the high cost according to the dealer was that the JD 116H had to be disassembled/reassembled requiring 8.4 hours of labor. Therefore, I had to pay $550 because of a poorly designed JD 116H that required the disassembly of the mower in order to get to the transmission where the bearing was located in the outside housing. This bearing was not "buried" deep inside the transmission. After numerous phone calls (800-537-8233) to JD Customer Service and after three letters to JD CEO Robert W. Lane in Moline, Illinois, JD is continuing to deny any responsibility and any partial refund. The best explanation offered by Sandra Harwood, Executive Office Administrator (919-850-0123) is that "bearings do fail" (after 200 acres?) and I was "fortunate to own one of JD mowers whose transmissions could be repaired". To date the JD CEO continues to pass the problem to Ms Harwood who denies that JD has design and reliability problems with their 116H mower and refuses any partial refund of a $550 charge for a 1.75 inch bearing and seal. Do you have any suggestions on solving this problem? What problems have you had with your JD products and service? How expensive were your repairs? Have you received any partial refunds for repairing JD poorly designed products? How satisfactorily did JD resolve your problems? JD customers and potential consumers, please post your answers at this complaint website and e-mail me. Thanks Email User