The Woe-some Tale of the Low Hour SVL90-2 from Oklahoma

[hseII]

I’ve been looking for a large frame skid steer for about 2 years. Having previously owned a Kubota SVL90-2, I was leaning towards another.
This one was to be A/C & high flow where my last 90-2 was an open station standard flow.

Having used most brands including Bobcat, Case, Caterpillar, New Holland, & Takeuchi, I am familiar with skids.

As is bought 2 tractors previously from local Kubota Dealers & had positive experiences, I assumed Kubota dealers as a whole had a level of integrity that would be higher than an independent dealer, or an Auction Yard.

After both reading & seeing first hand the woes associated with a DEF machine that is older, I decided I would prioritize a non-def machine first.

I found a half dozen SVL90-2 machines online & started reaching out to find out details.

There was one in Virginia, one in Ohio, one in New Hampshire, no one just over 2 hrs. away in Dalton, GA, one in Tennessee, & a machine in Oklahoma.

I called about the one in Dalton during the week of Christmas & was told it would not be available until after the first of the year.
Asking price was $40k; I offered $35k over the phone & was told by the salesman he would get back with me after the holidays. That call has yet to come in. JD dealer in Dalton, GA.


I called about one in Virginia which was at an independent dealer, & found out it had undercarriage issues.
Price was $40k & hours were around 1,400.

I called about the one in Oklahoma & found out that it was at the Kubota Dealer for that area.
After receiving photos & talking with the dealer, I was lead to believe this would be the best choice, as this SVL90-2C HF had 1525 hrs., was a 1 owner machine, & had just been traded in during December 2025 for tax purposes.

$39k + shipping to me was the cost.

The salesman stated that the machine had been purchased by a smaller dealer which had been bought out by the larger dealer he worked for, so maintenance history wasn’t known, but judging by the photos & how it ran the CTL had been well taken care of.

It qualified for KTAC, Kubota Tractor Insurance & KCC Kubota financing, & as I’d purchased 2 tractors previously with these tools, I was inclined to use them again.

I sent the down payment on 01/07/2026 & agreed for them to take a week & run it thru their shop to check it out & they would have it ready for transport. I arranged for shipping & it was picked up on 01/15/2026.

I received it on 01/23/2026, & upon unloading it determined that it was down on power. I sourced a WSM & reached out to the salesman on 01/25/2026 to ask what they considered running it thru their shop & checking it out, as agreed.

He informed me that running it thru their shop meant topping off the fluid levels & the shop found no issues with it when they checked it out.

Continued

 

[skyking1]

Sorry for your troubles, and it will serve as a good thread for only purchasing something you have had your hand on.

 

[hseII]

Besides having a low power issue, the SVL front lights did not function & the auxiliaries did not work- code E:016.

After going back & forth for a few days with the salesman & him telling me that the above code meant the machine needed to regen, I had the SVL brought to my local dealer where they performed a cylinder cut out test & diagnosed the low power issue to be due to a dead cylinder.

The auxiliaries issues were 2 fold-
1 there was faulty wiring In the right joystick, &
2. Damage to the high flow piping on the left arm that required over $2000 to repair.

They also inspected the rest of the machine at my request, & identified $18k worth of repairs in order for it to not have any issues.

I shared this estimate with the Oklahoma dealer, & they informed me that they had no responsibility with the machine as it was “as-is”, even through they had ran it thru their shop & even though it qualified for KTAC & KCC.

After my previous experiences with local Kubota dealers, I was shocked to say the least. I reached out to their VP & President on Linked In & within 1 day got responses that they would look into the situation & get back with me.

A few days passed & their VP reached back out in an email & put me in contact with their General Manager.

I spoke with him multiple times over the next couple weeks & in the end, the problem is mine to fix. He informed me that in the fine print of the Purchase agreement, there is a clause that states the purchase of the machine is as-is where is. Sure enough, he is correct.

He initially informed me that if I was unhappy with the machine that they would buy it back, but then that changed to they would buy it back if I would purchase another machine thru them.

I asked for additional information on one of the 3 machines mentioned, & as of today have yet to get a response.

Cost to date-

$6,000 down payment 01/07/2026
$1,750- transport from OK to GA.
$2,358- monthly payments
$360- wrecker service to & from my local dealer.
$450- local dealer diagnostics-( they were understanding of the situation & cut me a break of $400 on the shop labor)
$400- WSM printing

Total-
$11,318

This is before any repairs have been made except for the wiring which was repaired during the diagnostic work at the local dealer.

I’m sharing this in hopes that others do not wrongfully assume that there’s more integrity with a brand dealer than an independent shop or an auction yard.

The independent shop told me flat out that the machine in Virginia needed at minimum a rear bottom idler, for instance.

If there is not a warranty period, no matter the situation, you’re on your own if a machine is not as advertised.

Good Day.

 

[hseII]

Sorry for your troubles, and it will serve as a good thread for only purchasing something you have had your hand on.

That is wholeheartedly my intent- to share my misfortune in hopes that others will not take a dealer’s word for any tangible value.

 

[Deere500a]

Sad Sany is taking over for that reason salesman want to build company. My dad was 25yrs with Deere parts dept guys as a kid they remember me still later on but past door ol man was no body. Name sells itself don't require effect

 

[KSSS]

That is awful. It appears to me the only possible way to save this is buying something else from the company that mislead you in the first place. You have to also know that the number they give you on another machine is going to be taking into consideration on the 18K in repairs on the one you bought. Assuming that they even give you a number. I feel for your position. You will never be right side up in that machine. I would probably end up in an Oklahoma prison breaking rock with a sledgehammer.

 

[MG84]

I trust absolutely no one when it comes to used equipment or vehicles. I would only buy something sight unseen if it were a small enough dollar amount I was willing to just throw that money away. A $40K piece of equipment I'm taking a day or two round trip to drive out to see it or buying a plane ticket.

Sorry for your misfortune, I guess your only choice is to fix what you can to make it useable and move on.

 

[hseII]

That is awful. It appears to me the only possible way to save this is buying something else from the company that mislead you in the first place. You have to also know that the number they give you on another machine is going to be taking into consideration on the 18K in repairs on the one you bought. Assuming that they even give you a number. I feel for your position. You will never be right side up in that machine. I would probably end up in an Oklahoma prison breaking rock with a sledgehammer.

The machine being discussed was $60,000. So another $20k.

I don’t look good in orange or stripes.

 

[hseII]

I trust absolutely no one when it comes to used equipment or vehicles. I would only buy something sight unseen if it were a small enough dollar amount I was willing to just throw that money away. A $40K piece of equipment I'm taking a day or two round trip to drive out to see it or buying a plane ticket.

Sorry for your misfortune, I guess your only choice is to fix what you can to make it useable and move on.

You are correct.

I hope that others see this & decide not to take a salesman’s word.

Because this experience proves that their words are of no value.

The only thing of any value is what’s in black & white & signed.

 

[Welder Dave]

Is there a consumer and corporate affairs office in the city/state the machine came from? If they failed to tell you of known problems or advertised it as having no issues you may have a case to get a full refund. It has nothing to do with warranty or as is where is. It seems highly unlikely they wouldn't have found at least some of the problems when it "went through their shop." Pretty hard to claim ignorance when there's major problems with a machine especially from a dealer familiar with the machine.

 

[HarleyHappy]

I have a special place and word in my heart for salesman that screw me.
I feel for you and hope you’re made whole but unfortunately that doesn’t seem likely.

 

[hseII]

Is there a consumer and corporate affairs office in the city/state the machine came from? If they failed to tell you of known problems or advertised it as having no issues you may have a case to get a full refund. It has nothing to do with warranty or as is where is. It seems highly unlikely they wouldn't have found at least some of the problems when it "went through their shop." Pretty hard to claim ignorance when there's major problems with a machine especially from a dealer familiar with the machine.

I agree completely but I also know that going for that will involve litigation & the chances are not in my favor.

Supposedly the young salesman was the only one to operate it, & how would he know it was low on power if all he did was drive it from the yard to the shop? That was the statement made by the GM that I was in contact with.

 

[newbee49]

The machine being discussed was $60,000. So another $20k.

I don’t look good in orange or stripes.

Thats 80K !! 2 months or so back, 1 of the local dealers has several 97-2 when the 97-3 came out, from memory, they were priced around 97

 

[hseII]

Thats 80K !! 2 months or so back, 1 of the local dealers has several 97-2 when the 97-3 came out, from memory, they were priced around 97

$60k is $20k more than the original machine’s cost.

 

[Welder Dave]

I agree completely but I also know that going for that will involve litigation & the chances are not in my favor.

Supposedly the young salesman was the only one to operate it, & how would he know it was low on power if all he did was drive it from the yard to the shop? That was the statement made by the GM that I was in contact with.

That's just the story the GM is telling you to cover his ***! I guarantee the salesman has run run other machines of the same type. Going through the shop should entail making sure everything works the way it was designed. A consumer and corporate affairs complaint might not need to go to litigation if they determine the dealer was misleading and not truthful about the condition of the machine. $20K in needed repairs aren't minor issues that are easy to miss. The threat of a lawsuit could way just as heavy, if not more on the dealer especially if the problems would be easily apparent by another dealer or someone experienced with that model of machine.

 

[hseII]

That's just the story the GM is telling you to cover his ***! I guarantee the salesman has run run other machines of the same type. Going through the shop should entail making sure everything works the way it was designed. A consumer and corporate affairs complaint might not need to go to litigation if they determine the dealer was misleading and not truthful about the condition of the machine. $20K in needed repairs aren't minor issues that are easy to miss. The threat of a lawsuit could way just as heavy, if not more on the dealer especially if the problems would be easily apparent by another dealer or someone experienced with that model of machine.

They are a big outfit & have lawyer types for VPs & President roles.

I hear you, & I will look into that but I also don’t have $10k to chase $10k.

I should have ran the machine before purchasing or bought a machine closer to home.

 

[Welder Dave]

If they misrepresented the machine giving you your money back might be their best option. Here I think consumer and corporate affairs will go to bat for you if it's clear the company is in the wrong.

There was a guy that was refused warranty on a Dodge truck because it was bought at a dealer hundreds of miles away. It was clearly a Dodge warranty issue. He made a big sign saying not to buy there and they don't honor warranties and basically picketed on the boulevard outside the dealer on a very busy freeway. It wasn't on the Dealers property so wasn't illegal. No different than someone in a costume advertising a business. His warranty got approved in record time! It was all over the news.

 

[KSSS]

When someone says they want it run through the shop. I think the assumption is that it is checked to ensure that not only the levels are right but that it is running right. A service tech certainly would have known that it wasn't running right. I agree that fighting would be tough. Those purchase agreements are typically worded pretty tight and take money to fight. The dealer states that running through the shop only means checking the fluids (and you end up with the break down of the word assumption). Maybe mandating at least a minimal warranty would have given you something to go off of. They certainly would have made sure that it really was running right if they had to stand behind it.

 

[hseII]

When someone says they want it run through the shop. I think the assumption is that it is checked to ensure that not only the levels are right but that it is running right. A service tech certainly would have known that it wasn't running right. I agree that fighting would be tough. Those purchase agreements are typically worded pretty tight and take money to fight. The dealer states that running through the shop only means checking the fluids (and you end up with the break down of the word assumption). Maybe mandating at least a minimal warranty would have given you something to go off of. They certainly would have made sure that it really was running right if they had to stand behind it.

 

[Shimmy1]

If they misrepresented the machine giving you your money back might be their best option. Here I think consumer and corporate affairs will go to bat for you if it's clear the company is in the wrong.

They didn't misrepresent anything. They had a machine for sale, the OP bought it. He should probably feel extremely lucky that he didn't get completely scammed by not going to look at it personally. My guess is that shop probably didn't do a single thing more than wash the machine up if they were sending it to someone that hadn't even darkened their doorway to look at it.