Complaint Review: Wal-Mart & MTD CORPORATE

WE PURCHASED A MTD LAWN TRACTOR (50 IN CUT) FROM WALMART IN OTTAWA ILLINOIS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WE NOTICED WAS THE NUTS AND BOLTS TO ATTACH THE BLADES WERE MISSING. WE CONTACTED WALMART AND THEY FOUND THE PROPER EQUIPMENT FOR THE ITEM AND WE RETREIVED IT.

THEN THE SAME DAY WE HAS THE TRACTOR READY TO GO MY 12 Y/O DAUGHTER DRIVING WITH THE SUPERVISSION OF HER DAD, AND THE FRONT TIRE FELL OFF THE TRACTOR. MY HUSBAND CALLED WALMART WHICH STATED THAT THE TRACTORS COME ASSEMBLED AND MTD IS RESPONSIBLE. WHEN CONTACTING MTD THE TOLD US WALMART WAS RESPONSIBLE. MY HUSBAND FIXED THE PROBLEM AND WHILE PUTTING THE TIRE BACK ON FOUND OUT ALL THE BOLTS ON THE TRACTOR WERE LOOSE.HE TIGHTENED THEM UP. LATER THAT WEEK WHEN WE MOWED THE LAWN AGAIN THE MUFFLER FELL OFF.

WE AGAIN CALLED MTD WHICH TOLD US THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MUFFLERS. APROXIMATLY 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AND THE LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING. WE BELIEVED IT WAS A WIRE SHORT AND CLLED FOR SERVICE. WHILE IN THE SHOP THE SERVICE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PRODUCT. AGIAIN WE TOOK IT HOME AND JUMP STARTED IT EVERY TIME WE NEENED TO USE IT (WHICH DID CAUSE A BIG INCONVINENCE). DURING THE NEXT SEASON THE TRACTOR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH NOT WANTING TO MOVE AND DYING FOR NO APARENT REASON. WE CHANGED THE OIL AGAIN (IT WAS DONE A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR)SHARPENED THE BLADES, AND CLEANED OUT THE GAS TANK. STILL NO LUCK.

WE THEN CONTACTED MTD AGAIN AND THEY SENT US TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR SERVICE. THIS DEALER FOUND THE ALTERNATOR PROBLEM, FIXED IT AND BILLED US FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE GAS TANK BEING CLEANED OUT (WHICH WE HAD JUST DONE) AND FOR A NEW AIR FILTER (WE DID NEED THIS).

SENT IT BACK TO US AND NOT 1 HOUR LATER IT WAS DYING AGAIN. WE CALLED MTD BACK AND THEY HAD THE SERVICE PROVIDER COME GET THE MACHINE AND FIND THE PROBLEM. AGAIN THE SERVICE PROVIDER CLEANED THE FUEL TANK AND BILLED US (WHICH AFTER 2 TIMES OF IT BEING CLEANED BEFORE AND NOT FINDING A PROBLEM I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BILLED FOR.)THEY BROUGHT IT BACK TO US AND WHEN WE TRIED TO RUN IT AGAIN IT WOULD STILL DIE. WE WERE TOLD BY A FAMILY MEMBER TO START THE TRACTOR AND DONT TRY TO MOVE IT (THAT IS WHEN IT WOULD DIE) AND RUN IT OUT OF GAS SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP. IT DID HELP AND WE HAVE NOT HAD TROUBLE WITH THAT SINCE.

AFTER 1 WEEK THE NEW ALTERNATOR WOULD NOT WORK ANY LONGER WE CONTACTED MTD AND THEY SAID IT SHOULD NTO BE A PROBLEM. (FOR WHOM ME OR THEM IT WAS NEVER FIXED) DURING THE LAST 3 SEASONS WE HAVE HAD TO CHANGE 7 PTO BELTS WHICH KEPT GETTING LODGED IN THE PULLIES NAD BREAKING. WE DID NOT CALL MTD ON ALL THE BELTS AS WE NEVER GOT A CALL BACK ON THE FIRST ONE.

THE FINAL THING WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH IS THE BERRINGS WENT OUT ON ONE OF THE BLADES CAUSING IT TO FLING FROM THE TRACTOR (THANK GOD NOONE WAS INJURED). WE WROTE MTD AND CALLED THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM THE TRACTOR IS NOW OUT OF WARENTEE, MTD TOLD US

"Mr. XXXXXX,
Thank you for contacting us. I am sorry to read about the problems with your lawn tractor. Please call our technical support group at 1-800-800-7310, option # 3, and enter 12210 when asked to enter the first five digits of your serial number. This will allow your call to connect toll free. Our technicians are available from 8am to 5pm, Monday through
Friday, eastern time, and have the resources available to help you find a resolution to your ongoing tractor problems.
Jeff Smith
MTD Products Inc

THAT WAS THE ACTUAL E-MAIL. WE DID CONTACT THEM AND THEY AGAIN ASKED US TO BRING THE TRACTOR IN TO THE SERVICE OF THEIR CHOICE. WE DID AS THEY ASKED. TODAY WE GOT THE REPORT THAT THEY WILL NOT WARRENTEE ANYTHING NOT EVEN THE ALTERNATOR.

WE ARE SO DISAPOINTED IN THIS PRODUCT AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. WE HAVE NOT FOUND A RESOLUTION TO OUR ONGOING PRTOBLEM.

THANK YOU.