Complain about a product or service

MTD - "Overheated Muffler"

Sherrie of Royse City TX (8/6/03):
The muffer overheated and caused a grass fire on our property. A Yard Machine riding mower was burnt to a crisp along with patio furniture and 1/4 acre. This mower was right at a year old and cost $1198.00. MTD first told me that the muffler is part of the engine and Briggs and Stratton manufactured the engine. They claimed that Briggs would replace my mower. All I needed to do was take it to an authorized service dealer and they would contact Briggs and we would get a new riding tractor.

It sounded too good to be true and it was, I did as they said and the service center said their is nothing they can do. I called MTD customer service back and got a rude manager. He claims that they would have just referred me to my insurance. I stated to him that is not what happened and my insurance has taken care of my issue. I am so furious with MTD, we will never puchase another one their products. I just want them to uphold the false promise that they made on behalf of Briggs and Stratton. I add that Briggs has been nothing but nice about this and Iam currently working with them on this issue.

I also want a recall done on the 42-inch Yard Machine by MTD PRODUCTS sold at Lowes and other home improvement stores. They still are claiming that they have never had this problem, and to quote the customer service person, "Well mufflers do get hot."

Well, mufflers do get hot. We're not certain the company is to blame for this. Sherrie should look first to her homeowner's insurance policy.

Glen of Vacaville CA (9/20/03):
I agree with Sherrie of Royse City, Tx. My husband was mowing and he saw smoke coming from under the mower. He looked under it and had a fire going around the blade area. He tried to pull the grass out and put it out. Then more grass started to burn. Half of our front field and our neighbors burned before it was put out. The fire burned so hot and fast at the mower it completely burned the mower to the ground. It burned the tires right off of it. I don't know if it was a muffler fire or gas leak.

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