We own two of the mulching mowers with the Xenoy decks. The 2006 model has had three service calls to replace cable; the last charge was $186. However, the 2009 model has had a complete transmission replacement and is now having a similar slow down problem. The problem appears to be excess grass materials getting to the transmission. Now, I was told that the 2006 model needs a new transmission and cables, which is another $180 with Honda's assistance.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
For a change, this is a praise. I would just like to say that my family, neighbors and friends have Honda mowers, some for over 22 years, and we are all delighted with its build, quality, design, performance and reliability. Buy a Honda and you are buying the best.
I purchased the Lawn mower that Sam's sells with the Honda motor. After using it three times, the rear wheel's inner plastic rims shattered. Sam's did reimburse me, and informed me that this was the seventh one returned. They have pulled the mower from their shelves, and sent them back.
Honda HRX217HXA Purchased mower in fall of 2007 at Home Depot. Mower is total garbage. Among the problems:
1. When I attempted to remove the blades to sharpen, the bolts were ridicuously overtightened requiring a 4 foot breaker bar on the end on my wrench to loosen.
2. Roto Stop blade drive periodically (and with increasing frequency) disengages.
3. Fuel leaks from carb after shutting off, requiring the fuel shutoff to be used when you have 5 minutes of mowing left in order to drain the fuel system.
4. Rear wheels lock, preventing the mower from being pulled to the rear without dragging the wheels.
5. Bagging system allows a large amount of clippings to collect in areas where they fall to the ground when the bag is removed.
6. Plastic air filter cover is held in place by two plastic clips. They are on the outside of the mower and are the first thing to hit shrubbery, etc. They are small and break with a minimal impact.
7. Deck has no wash out port.
8. The number of speeds for the self-propelled feature are deceptive. The mower doesn't even move in the lowest two settings. There are only 3 useful settings.
9.The throttle did not fully engage when new. (Yes, I made an adjustment to remedy this.)
10. The height adjustment requires that each wheel be adjusted. The rear two wheels are very difficult to move.
11. Changing oil is inconvenient and requires the mower to be drained of gas and held in the air while draining.
12. Honda lied about the horsepower. This issue was the subject of a class action lawsuit that only the attorneys benefitted from. It is the least important of the flaws and defects with the mower. If you are stil cosidering buying a Honda mower - seek help.
Owners manual for a hrx217 mower says every 250 hours to remove exhaust cover and clean out carbon deposits. 2 screws 3 inches long hold the muffler on. One came out but the threads were stripped on a 1/4 inch section. The second screw turned out 1/2 inch and broke off inside the block housing. I tried using a screw extractor, and it broke off inside also. Warranty expired July 29, 2010. Called Honda to complain bolts should last longer than 4 years of use, since I use mower 50-60 hours a summer in the midwest. Honda rep said since it is out of warranty, not much for them to do. I told him that was a poor designed bolt,and Honda should stand behind it, he again said no help.So I took it to my local Honda engine repair shop to be repaired,at my expense,since I cannot put the muffler back on.
This is the third season with the mower. Shortly into the first season the rear wheels would lock up when you pulled it backwards. It is self propelled. Took it to Home Depot and they sent it to be repaired which took three weeks. The rear wheels locked up when I pulled it off the bed of my truck when I got it home. I needed it too badly to return it for another three weeks so I drag it around when going backwards. It does okay sometimes but most of the time the rear wheels will drag when you want to back up. Never will I buy another Honda.
I recently purchased a Honda Lawnmower from our Home Depot. I purchased it for approx. $600 in May of this year. While mowing, my son hit a portion of a tree stump and bent the crankshaft. I sent it for repairs through Home Depot. The contracted service they use contacted me and told me that repairs would cost me $600. I think this is some kind of a racket and should the lawn mower come with some kind of shear pin to prevent this kind of damage? This *** me off to no end!
Just read the Honda complaints on your site. My Honda HRR is 4 years old with not a single problem. No maintenance done, except oil changes. The best I ever had. I purchased it at HD. I have a half acre lot that I cut grass off at least weekly in Ohio. Some of the complaints listed are wrong. Sam's Club does not sell Honda lawn mowers. Like Sears, they sell their brands with Honda engines. These are not Honda lawn mowers but confuse a lot of people. HD does sell Honda lawn mowers. I bought mine there.
I bought a self propelled Honda Lawnmower from Sam's Club, and the self propelled wheels stopped engaging. The belt seems to be okay and the mower starts. Can someone tell me how to get the wheels to turn? When I pull the lever back to engage the wheels, it does nothing! This Honda mower is just 3 years old! I am a senior that cuts my grass and need a mower that works better than this Honda thing! I can't find a repairman to work on it.
I purchased a Honda mower four and a half years ago, and the self propelled feature would not work. I took it into a repair location for diagnostic and they indicated that the transmission to be replaced costs $222.00. Initially, the problem was that the self propelled feature would not engage. I will never purchase another Honda or a Pilot SUV which we had put a deal on. I can't get consumer information on the Honda site so I presume that this will never be paid attention to.
I bought my HRX 217HXA mower. I love it too. I read that some people had some problems with their mowers. But they are avoidable to a good mower. Do not get from Home Depot for their warranty service way not be good. Go to a Honda dealer. I found the prices are the same and even less then Home Depot, and plus it already assembled for you. Who can't pass this up?
There are 3 models of HRX series mowers. The first one has the thumb petal, much like the HRR where your wrist and thumb can get tired. It sells for $599 at the dealers in my area. I highly advise not to get that model. The second one has cruise control, which has the very dependable, proven Hydro-static transmission, unlike the first one. It also has a blade clutch, where you can disengage the blade without turning the engine off. This mower goes for $699 in my area. If you really can spend that $100 extra, get it from somewhere because you will be doing your thumb and wrist a favor, plus have a good extra features.
The third mower is exactly the same as the second one only with an electric starter. That mower goes for $849 in my area. Honda engines are very easy starting engines and therefore I consider the extra $150 a waste of money. If you have bad memories of hard starting mowers and only have a $700 budget for a lawn mower and require a electric starter, and can't afford a $850, resolve to do without the electric starter for the great features of this Honda mower. And your perception of manually started lawn mowers will be blown away.
I bought for the second time Honda's top of the line lawnmower complete with blade stop feature. It is indeed a mower to care for as I have. The problem is with the wheel drive, the cable broke on the second mower as with the first. My belief is that Honda has to look at their Engineering Department, twice with same mower, just after the warranty expired.
I purchased a Honda HRX series mower from Home Depot on August 30, 2009. By the end of Ocober I had less than 10 hours of run time on this motor and it just quit. I tried to restart it but noticed there was not any compression when I pulled the starter rope and there was a rattling noise coming from the engine along with a puff of blue smoke.
I called Home Depot and spoke to customer service and they transfered me to the lawn and garden department. The individual said that the purchase was over their 30 day return policy on gas powered equipment and recomend I take it to Smitty's Lawn and Garden in Olathe. I took the mower to Smitty's (local Honda service dealer) and they said it would be 4 to 5 days before they even get to it. I called over a week later and they found that the valve spring had broke along with other mechanical malfunctions and that the motor was shot. Smitty's told me they would file a warranty claim with Honda to replace the motor.
I called again on November 17 and found out that Honda wanted them to REPAIR the damage which meant rebuilding the entire motor. Smitty's is still waiting on ALL of the necessary parts to finish the job. This doesn't make sense to me to have all of the time and labor costs involved to repair what was a NEW mower instead of just replacing the motor. Or better yet giving me,the consumer, a new mower. This story is on going, so be aware about the horrible customer service from HONDA MOWERS.
Purchased a new lawn mower 5/7/09 that has a "quadra cut blade" and rear bag. Mower fails to cut on a first pass basis and bag collects clips between the rear opening and the bag failing to actually collect 20% the grass clippings. The Honda lawner mower model HRR216K3VXA cost over $500; the quality is much less than can otherwise be bought for $100 in any other brand.
I own 2 honda products: a manual start lawnmower and an electr9c start single stage snow blower. I purchased both products a the same time 3 years ago. Both are extremely hard to start and now I have to take the mower in for an overhaul. Living in Wisconsin gives me a grass cutting season of 5 months. This product didn't even last 3 years. I will neve buy another Honda product as long as I live.
About 2 years ago I bought a Honda lawnmower. As a single mom, not mechanically inclined, I needed something easy to use. Right on the mower it reads, Easy Start. It has never been an easy start. It has always had problems starting since I bought it. Of course the dealer claimed there was nothing wrong with it. I have to turn it upside down to get the engine primed so it will start every time.
Then the gas leaks out into the airfilter if I'm not careful and I have to replace that. At the beginning of this summer the airfilter cap fell off and got cut up by the mower and now the pull cord doesn't pull. I have never been so frustrated with a piece of equipment in my life. And I paid more for this mower than other cause I thought I was getting a reliable machine. Never again will I buy a Honda. My previous lawnworks lawn mower started everytime for over 10 years and never gave out, even after the entire handle rusted off....I should have replaced the handle rather than the mower.
I puchased a honda, commercial lawnmower, used, for $250.00, 1994. It started the first time all the time since then, may one or two times i had to pull rope more than once. I cut weeds 20 inches high, my own lawn every week during summer, sometimes my nieghbors yards for various reasons. I think Honda makes the best lawn mower in the world. The ole honda sterted smoking last summer, now so much oil is getting by the rings, today i put a new plug in it, it lasted 15 minutes before i could tell she was about done in.
I actually feel bad because we have cut so much grass and weeds, i wish i could get her rebuilt or a new motor, or something. I live in Wy. I amprobaly the only one in town that has a honda, but i have mowed thousands of yards since i was 12, i am now 62. I will check and see how much honda lawnmowers are now, dont think i can afford a new one, i am on a very los monthly income now. but i will look for another honda,
I have a Honda Mower HRX-217 KVKA mower used less than 1 season. The rear wheel drive power belt broke. The belt is almost impossible to replace. The mower is assembled around the belt - literally!!! There is no physical access to replace this belt barring engine removal as well as most of the plastic deck components cowlings etc.
I am an excellent mechanic, but this mower takes the cake. It adds a new definition to no the throw away society. One belt, and toss. I am already 3 hours into repair, and still have not figured a way to replace this belt. What a piece of crap. I own two Honda Automobiles one a civic hybrid, but this makes me want to get rid of any thing that has Honda in the name.
I purchased a Honda HRM215 Lawn Mower in April of 2002. In June of 2004 the rear height adjustment brackets failed and required replacement. In July of 2007 the rear wheels completely wore out and required replacement. In August 2007 the engine completely seized and lost power. Diagnosis by the dealer was the transmission - $335 to replace. Honda offered no assistance claiming it was outside tht e2 year warranty.
I purchased a Honda model HRR2163VXA lawnmower about a year ago at the local Home Depot. Within 3 days I had to return it. The Roto-stop blade control kept releasing on its own until it was impossible to cut any grass. It would not operate normally for more than 3 or 5 feet and the blade would stop with a loud clack noise.
Home Depot excanged the first mower for the same model. That one operated normally at first, but increasingly over a period of a few months, would also release the Roto-stop blade control without my letting go of the safety bar on the handle. The lawnmower is now totally unuseable, just like the first one. It just took longer to get to that point. I really think that Honda has a design or quality problem with this model. The mower at the last of this defective operating had a smell coming from it like overheated brake linings, also.
American honda has a 30 day return policy for lawnmowers BUT lets dealers set their own policy stuck with $900.00 lawnmower that we cannot use due to disability
I bought a Honda Lawn Mower HRR216VXA from the Home Depot in Kohler, WI. They have a one month gaurantee to replace it or return your money if you are unhappy. I liked the mower but within a month the Rotor Brake system did not keep the blade engaged.
I brought the mower back to Home Depot and it was replaced with anew one. Within a month the same problem came up.
Again I repaced the mower with a new one Home Depot gave me.
The third mower I got seemed to work and did not have the problem. I used it the rest of the summer. Over winter I received a recall notice from Honda on the problem. Brought it to a repair shop authorized by Honda. Had the repair made.
Now after using the mower six times the same problem is back.
I recently bought a Honda HRR216VXA lawn mower. I will have to get rid of it before the next mowing season because of design flaw. The rear wheel adjustment bar drags at least an inch lower than the blade housing, thus hits anything lower than the blade. It digs up the grass behind the cut as well as stepping stones. It may not be seriously dangerous, but it is a problem.
About three years ago I bought a Harmony II HRT216 self-propelled mower. Being a big Honda auto fan I paid more than I would normally have for a mower figuring Id be making an investment in quality that would last me for years. My only other mower was a Kmart purchased in 1972 that lasted for 30 yrs. with a Briggs & Stratton engine.
Within the first year the problems began.
The catch basket kept falling off. I had to bend the holding bracket to get it to hole the basket.
The cover to the air filter kept falling off had to stick a nail under one of the latches to keep it on.
I noticed that when I release the drive handle and pulled the mower back, the right wheel locked up and it had to be dragged.
Then I noticed that only the right rear wheel had traction and was wearing out that tire quickly. That reduces the effectiveness of the self-propelled ability and you have to steer hard to the left to keep it on track. My left arm gets a big workout after I mow my lawn which is a pretty good size.
The engine began to run poorly wouldnt idle. Changing the spark plug and air filter made little difference. Sometimes it will idle down and sometimes it wont.
There is a feature that lets you put a shoot on the side for letting cut grass shoot out the side. The design of the attachment for this is pathetic. The shoot keeps falling off.
I talked to my local Honda authorized service center. They told me that to replace/repair the transmission would be up to $275.00 more than a new mower of many brands.
I wrote Hondas small engine division just expressing my dissatisfaction with the quality of the product. I told them I didnt want anything expect to express my dissatisfaction. I provided my name but no address or telephone number. To their credit, they got the fax number from the fax I sent and responded that theyd like me to take the unit to the local authorized service center. The implication was they may cover some of the cost of repair. I didnt do it. That wasnt the reason for writing. You cant fix poor design. You redesign to make things better. I may buy another Honda car, but not another mower.
Within the first year the problems began.
The catch basket kept falling off. I had to bend the holding bracket to get it to hole the basket.
The cover to the air filter kept falling off had to stick a nail under one of the latches to keep it on.
I noticed that when I release the drive handle and pulled the mower back, the right wheel locked up and it had to be dragged.
Then I noticed that only the right rear wheel had traction and was wearing out that tire quickly. That reduces the effectiveness of the self-propelled ability and you have to steer hard to the left to keep it on track. My left arm gets a big workout after I mow my lawn which is a pretty good size.
The engine began to run poorly wouldnt idle. Changing the spark plug and air filter made little difference. Sometimes it will idle down and sometimes it wont.
There is a feature that lets you put a shoot on the side for letting cut grass shoot out the side. The design of the attachment for this is pathetic. The shoot keeps falling off.
I talked to my local Honda authorized service center. They told me that to replace/repair the transmission would be up to $275.00 more than a new mower of many brands.
I wrote Hondas small engine division just expressing my dissatisfaction with the quality of the product. I told them I didnt want anything expect to express my dissatisfaction. I provided my name but no address or telephone number. To their credit, they got the fax number from the fax I sent and responded that theyd like me to take the unit to the local authorized service center. The implication was they may cover some of the cost of repair. I didnt do it. That wasnt the reason for writing. You cant fix poor design. You redesign to make things better. I may buy another Honda car, but not another mower.
After three years of babying this thing, Ive decided it would have been better to buy a $150 cheap mower every other year than invest in high quality, name brand mowers.
I purchased a Honda Harmony Lawnmower from Home Depot, after the transmission was replaced by an authorized dealer 3 times, Home Depot took pity on me and replace the mower with an identical one. I am now having the same problem and am being told by my "authorized repair dealer" that Honda knows that this is a problem because they fixed over $200 last year with the same issue, but they are doing nothing to fix it. I will be without a mower again for three weeks while this is being repaired again. I called Home Depot to see if I could get my money back, but unfortuntely he said he cannot assist as Honda will not re-imburse them. The "authorized dealer" also advised that the mower sold to the big chain stores are not made with the same quality parts as the ones you find in a specialized shop. That would have been good to know as a consumer. I assumed since they could buy in volume they could give us a better price, but in reality it is because the products they sell are not of the same quality as the specialized stores
In Feb I was researching new lawn mowers and decided to purchase the HRX with the XENOY deck. I liked all the features on this mower. I was getting an uneven cut, I thought that it was new and I would have to get used to it. It seemed to be getting worse so I got on the web site and found that the Home Depot wasnt authorized to handle this situation so I found an authorized Honda repair which was Norwalk Power Equipment. I took it to them and they checked everything, wheel height, floor to blade, adjustments and said the only thing they could figure that the deck was twisted and that I should take it back to the Home Depot.
I took it back to Home Depot in Downey and they were proceeding to replace it when the manager stepped in and said that because it was so old that the only thing he could do was send it out for repair. It would be picked up on Tue or Fri and that they would get back to me on what they would do. I told him that wasnt acceptable, because this time of year I need to mow my lawn twice a week. The problem here is that Home Depot isnt qualified to talk to you about the product and Norwalk Power does not handle the HRX. What I need to discuss with someone is if the XENOY defective then do I want to consider going with the medal deck?
