Kubota Regen Warranty Policy Change?

[SDT]

It appears that Kubota has recently changed their policy regarding regen warranty claims.

I will not go into details at this time but it appears that Kubota has decided that they are spending too much money for regen issues submitted during the warranty period, and is aggressively looking for reasons to deny such claims due to "operator error," even if it is not.

Accordingly, to avoid having your claim denied, it may be wise to say as little as possible if you have a regen issue within the warranty period.

Though this issue regards primarily the small 4 cylinder engine used in the B3350 and high end F series zero turn mowers, it would appear that the policy is not limited to this engine.

This, of course, puts Kubota dealers in a no-win situation.

Anyone know more?.

SDT, who once did warranty analysis for GM, and knows how such things work

 

[sheepfarmer]

That's too bad, I hope it doesn't affect too many folks. I can see where they are coming from. Initially there were so many people not following directions that many problems actually were operator errors. Not all but plenty. But there were also a couple of design flaws that needed to be fixed, and Kubota did fix many. The b3350 was surely starcrossed as far as design goes, and it is not clear if they are now fixed. However I'd surely be ticked off if a problem surfaced on my L3560 and it wasn't covered.

Some of this depends on how good the dealers are too. There are several recent examples of people plunging in and trying to fix a highpressure common rail system without a shop manual or having a clue about the fuel system , and probably doing more harm than good. They all say it is because they don't like their local dealer. Or they took it in and the dealer couldn't fix it.

SDT what is the source of your information?

 

[edritchey]

This whole regen thing pisses me off I bought this thing to work if the engine does not hold up because of this bull crap I am gonna be livid.

 

[Bulldog]

It makes me mad because Kubota is by far the most efficient and cleanest burning engine out of all the tractors I've owned or operated but they still had to put this emission crap on there and make it more expensive and unreliable.

 

[lugbolt]

They didn't have a choice in putting the emissions stuff on them. EPA said clean them up or quit selling them in the USA. Or pay for credits that extend the time period, which is what Mahindra did (as did others). Kubota did too as long as they needed to in order to "perfect" their systems. Once acceptable, they were released to the public and for the most part haven't had too many issues that weren't operator related. At least not in this area.

Careful posting issues like this on public forum. Never know who'll get the wrong idea. Potential greedy attorney? You never know.

It's not just regen stuff. I know a little too, and won't discuss it publicly or PM. You'd have to discuss it with your RSM, or would've gotten all the info at Orlando if you went, and if you didn't contact your dealer personnel who did. From a dealers' perspective, things are fixin' to change in the next ~year or so.

It should not affect customer relations and satisfaction. But there will be a learning curve for the dealer personnel, mostly the writers and managers. And of course, they put more on "us" (dealer personnel) and "we" will also expect higher quality service out of the warranty department, but that is also a discussion that doesn't need to be here. Every manufacturer-and dealer....cars/trucks, mowers, basically anything with a warranty is/had/or will have issues at one time or another.

I won't disagree with the EPA's ruining of diesels +25hp.

I've been thinking /pondering if using a gas engine with a low-boost turbocharger wouldn't do the same job and with a simpler design at the expense of slightly more fuel usage.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

It makes me mad because Kubota is by far the most efficient and cleanest burning engine out of all the tractors I've owned or operated but they still had to put this emission crap on there and make it more expensive and unreliable.

Sadly it's the governments of the world that did it, not Kubota, I'm pretty sure they were happier without it too.

 

[dlundblad]

Not surprised the B3350 is on there. My local dealer doesn't even stock them and threatened to send me to the competition if that's what I really wanted.

 

[SDT]

Sadly it's the governments of the world that did it, not Kubota, I'm pretty sure they were happier without it too.

Bingo.

Manufacturers must meet the nonsensical Tier IV regulations if they continue to sell product in the US. It's not their fault. Write your congressman.

Of course, I do not blame Kubota.

Fortunately, we are recently seeing some return to sanity at the federal level.

Stay tuned and pay attention.

If this nonsense is rolled back, you won't be able to give a DPF or DEF machine away.

SDT

 

[SDT]

They didn't have a choice in putting the emissions stuff on them. EPA said clean them up or quit selling them in the USA. Or pay for credits that extend the time period, which is what Mahindra did (as did others). Kubota did too as long as they needed to in order to "perfect" their systems. Once acceptable, they were released to the public and for the most part haven't had too many issues that weren't operator related. At least not in this area.

Careful posting issues like this on public forum. Never know who'll get the wrong idea. Potential greedy attorney? You never know.

It's not just regen stuff. I know a little too, and won't discuss it publicly or PM. You'd have to discuss it with your RSM, or would've gotten all the info at Orlando if you went, and if you didn't contact your dealer personnel who did. From a dealers' perspective, things are fixin' to change in the next ~year or so.

It should not affect customer relations and satisfaction. But there will be a learning curve for the dealer personnel, mostly the writers and managers. And of course, they put more on "us" (dealer personnel) and "we" will also expect higher quality service out of the warranty department, but that is also a discussion that doesn't need to be here. Every manufacturer-and dealer....cars/trucks, mowers, basically anything with a warranty is/had/or will have issues at one time or another.

I won't disagree with the EPA's ruining of diesels +25hp.

I've been thinking /pondering if using a gas engine with a low-boost turbocharger wouldn't do the same job and with a simpler design at the expense of slightly more fuel usage.

Perceptive, lugbolt.

I too believe that the federales are driving certain markets back to gasoline (though they certainly do not know or care that they are doing so).

The current regulations make gasoline engines much more attractive and cost effective in the sub 100 HP or so market (as well as PU trucks). Moreover, improvements in gasoline engine technology could be utilized to optimize gasoline engines for use in tractors and similar machines, greatly reducing the advantages of diesel engines.

If the regulations do not change, I expect that manufacturers will eventually respond. The risk, of course, is they could invest $$$$ in development and the federales could turn it all into waste with the stroke of a pen. I would certainly hesitate to take such risk.

SDT