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Kohler

Kohler • High-Pressure Toilets • Shower Doors • Lawn Mowers

There seems to be a big problem with the Kohler high-pressure toilets. Best case, they don't work very well. Worst case, they explode and flood the house. In neither case is Kohler very interested in helping to solve the problem. Other complaints about Kohler products include their shower doors and lawn mowers.

Dissatisfied of Margate, FL March 12, 2010

Practically NEW (less than 6 mos old) mower starts and runs for 5 seconds then shuts down. Oil checked and ok, air filter clean. Fuel good. Upon trying to contact Kohler Warranty, the run around began. In My Opinion, it is a mistake to purchase Kohler products. I will likely put the mower out to the curb....

Bob of Gaithersburg, MD November 28, 2009

I was just visiting our rental property that has been empty for a while. I was flushing all of the toilets and running the sinks to keep the traps wet. Flushed the Basement Power assist toilet and walked away. B O O M, C R A S H, Tinkle Whoosh...The tank EXPLODED, hurling the lid up and crashing down and shattering, pieces of toilet innards every where, water spraying.... what a mess.

I turned off the water and mopped up. I was glad I was there when it went, would have flooded several rooms. Just now learning that the are some models that have a history of this. I will go back and get pictures, Manufacturer and model numbers and the like and post them if I can get an email of who to send them to.

Bill of Chocowinity, NC October 12, 2009

I have a 18 month old Troy Bilt Riding lawnmower with an 18 HP Kohler engine on it. The Engine locked up on it 30 days ago. Acording to Kohler it had low oil and a dirty air filter,therefore it's my fault that the Engine locked up on it, I called to complain about this and found out thru the service man working on the lawnmower That Kohler never looked at my mower. He placed a phone call instead to the mechanic, Now that i've complained They say now it has very low oil A clogged filter and even more wrong with it than before. All this is on new engine less than 18 months of cutting a lawn. with the engine oil being chaged in Jan. of 2009

delores of queensvillage, NY September 28, 2009

I, purchased a Kohler whirpool tub in 2006.The bathtub is leaking from a crack and a hole within the tub itself. I had a technician at my home three times to repair the bathtub. The last technician finally told tell me, it was the bathtub, it is made of fiberglass and leaks is from tub not my plumbing. I called Kohler and I spoke with Gary in customer service .They sent an adjuster who informed me that the warranty was for 1 year and that Kohler would not repair the tub. I paid 900.00 for this tub three years ago and i should not have to replace a tub that was a defect product. I have to replace my kitchen ceiling from leakage and the tub.

John of Salt Lake City, UT September 2, 2009

Kohler 81100 Pressure Clean Flushometer toilet has flushed poorly for quite some time (a few years), requiring 5 or 6 flushes or more to clear the bowl. We seldom use this toilet, and so have tolerated it to some degree. Upon contacting Kohler, I was told that parts are not available to repair the toilet. When I asked why, the rep gave no reason; said he didn't know. Phone rep indicated Kohler would offer a good-will 75 credit toward another Kohler toiler. Again I asked why. No reason, no answer. Only now after reading others' accounts do I understand why; tanks explode! Since there is a limited height space for this toilet installation, I don't know what other short-height toilet would work as a suitable replacement. Very disappointed in Kohler's hiding facts and truth regarding this product design failure. If this unit is not replaced, eventually I may encounter a burst tank and flooding -- or even worse, personal injury.

E. of Seattle, WA July 28, 2009

About eight years ago purchased a Kohler San Rafael single unit toilet. Everything works fine interms of toilet flushing etc. This year I moved my mother into our home and needed to change the toilet seat to a toilet bidet system. I have spent three days trying to remove the toilet seat. The seat was anchor bolted into the toilet. I called Kohler early Friday morning last week and was told that they had a kit for 47.10 that would remove the screw and the anchor bolt. Since my mother was coming home from a nursing home the next day I wanted the seat replaced and ready for her use. I asked for overnight delivery and was told it would cost extra which I was willing to pay. Amber said that FedEx would deliver.

Saturday at noon I called Fedex to track the delivery and was told it would not arrive until Monday. I sent an e-mail complaint to Kohler. Monday the kit arrived. Spent the whole evening trying to use the kit. It did not work. That Kohler did not have some of these instructions on their website is appalling. Tuesday morning I called Kohler. They do not have any simple way to talk to someone about your complaint. Laura told me that all the expensive toilets were desiged this way and that they do not have a problem. I asked for another option and she said that I could take a hacksaw to it. When I said that the did not meet my delivery date they said to take it up with FedEX. When I said I needed to present a stronger complaint she said I could complain to the designers.

I have now spent the equivalent of three days trying to resolve what should have been a simple replacement of a toilet seat! I will take a hacksaw to the bolt and do not know how much more work will be involved to complete the removal. Financially i am out 78.94 for the kit and "expedited" delivery. This is a frustrating experience. I liked what Kohler had been doing in trying cutting edge designs. But their follow up support is pitiful.

Jeff of Truro, MA July 17, 2009

A few years ago, I purchased our house on the Bay in Truro, MA. The house had a two year old, top of the line, 70kwt Kohler stand-by generator - purported to have been designed to live outside in a salt air environment with a fifteen plus year life expectancy. Today, two years later, it is totally dead - its panels and controls have totally rotted out. A product that is supposed to last for at least fifteen to twenty years has not even made it through half of its normal life expectancy!

The generator is now dead! I spent 880 in repairs last fall and now the control box has totally rusted out and need another 1,100+ in repairs. I am through spending good money after bad and will have to replace the entire unit.

I've serviced the unit properly during my ownership of the home and have accommodated everything Kohler Power has requested of me, yet they still refuse to help. As Kohler has hardly responded to previous letters and emails asking for their assistance in repairs, I’ve started a site over at KohlerCustomerService.com to make case public and to let others who are in the same predicament as myself are not alone.

diane of fremont, CA May 22, 2009

I purchase a single basin, prcelain over stainless steel, Kohler kitchen sink in 4/09. From the very beginning the surface mars and stains with normal kitchen use and the marks won't come out. Their instructions included with the sink states very clearly not to use abrasives. The price of the sink without installation was 330.

I called customer service about it and they said there wasn't any defect, claiming their sink surfaces do not contain as much metal as the older sinks, and that was the reason for the marks and stains. I was also told they would not do anything about it. They said they would send a sample of Bon Ami (an abrasive) and to mix it with a little water and see if that would help. They could be of no further assistance.

Cathy of Clearwater, FL April 7, 2009

Cathy of Clearwater FL (04/07/09)
i just purchased a Kohler efficiant flush toilet, model K-11471-0 and here it is 3 days later and the toilet is clogged. I have plunged the better part of today, tried water flushing with buckets of water, and even used a chemical flush, but nothing will make this toilet do it's job. I have contaced Kohler on line via their web site and am waiting to hear back.

Economically (or so I thought)and environmentally, this was suppose to be a top grade toilet. Between the cost of the toilet and the cost of the installation by my plumber, this toilet has cost me over 100.00 a day for the 3 days of usage I got out of it (it actually only worked for 2.5 days, but I've rounded it). I just lost my job and cannot afford to have my plumber come back out, plus my daughter has medical needs and we just cannot be without a working toilet, but what family can? HELP?

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