Cub Cadet
Reviews and Complaints

I have a 2016 Cub Cadet XT-2 Enduro mower which I bought used with about 16 hrs. on it. It now has about 60 hrs. and has been a good mower for my 2 acres, but when I put the deck at a low height (1" +/-) the steep angle created by the belt on the deck w/respect to the engine drive pulley causes it to jump the engine pulley. This in turn allows the idler pulley arm to suddenly and forcefully swing CCW to the right and jump the left deck-suspension bracket. There's a square hole in this bracket to accept a 3/8" ratchet to allow rotation of the idler arm, but after it's jumped the bracket it takes at least two people to rotate the idler arm, reposition the belt and force the arm back over the bracket. BTW, a 3/8" drive ratchet is far too short to provide enough leverage to rotate the idler arm back over the bracket w/o an extension pipe (cheater) on it. A 1/2" drive hole for a longer ratchet would have been much better. There appears to be too much vertical play in the idler arm pivot bolt, allowing it to jump the bracket. Tightening this bolt may be futile as it will probably strip the threads out of the deck into which it screws. BTW I tried to pull the arm back across the bracket with a pipe clamp, but it just jumps off the arm when it starts moving upward to cross the bracket.
One other problem: the same as with the other Cub cadet mowers in this forum, one front tire has to be pumped up each time I want to mow. No punctures, just a bad wheel bead or tire design/manufacture.

In September 2015, we purchase our Cub Cadet XT-1 mower from Home Depot. In 2016 the mower had no problems. In August of 2017, we had to have Niagara Lawn & Service align the front wheels and steering wheel. In June 2018, we had the same problem with the front wheels and steering wheel not in alignment. We had to contact Hodgson Service to pick-up my mower to align the tow in of the front tires and steering wheel and then have them deliver back to us. We feel this shouldn't have happen two years in a row! We are concern this may happen again next year and we will be out of warranty. We are asking to you provide an extended warranty just in case we need another alignment next year. Also, looking for reimburse we paid Hodgson to pick-up and delivery charges in the amount of $63.60. We had a John Deer for 20 years and never had a problem with the front tire and steering wheel alignment. Please see the attached Hodgson Service Order [protected]

Jesse Pritchard
11 mins ·
Well, if you are in the market for a new mower, I highly suggest to NOT purchase a cub cadet. Zero customer support. Literally none. They won't answer the phone.

Also would not purchase one through Birkeys that is not on hand. 5 different stories of what is happening and 3 different days of being assured it would be here by that have all came and went and still, a month later, no tractor. They also do not return calls until the key word of lawyer is mentioned.

Now to their credit, they have offered the use of a loaner. However, I don't get home till after they close and I have other obligations on weekends so that is not an option. And considering I have been given ZERO reason to trust them at this point, how do I know they won't try blaming me for something already wrong with the loner.

Bought a self-propelled walk behind lawn mower brand new two months ago. Used it ONLY THREE TIME on a 3/4 acre lot with fresh 100% pure gasoline. The fourth time, it wouldn't start. Finally had to get a have it serviced, and the independent service pro got it running. Went to use it, and it wouldn't start again—only sputtered. This time I called Cub Cadet Customer Service. Went through the procedure recommended by their customer service rep (drain the tank, spray a can of Start Your Engine in the tank, etc). "That should fix your problem, " said the Cub Cadet service rep. It did not. Still only sputtered briefly and shut down. I also learned in the conversation with the customer service rep that the 3 Year Warranty is basically worthless and that my choice now is to take in for another service (two weeks and about $150) or buy another mower. I am VERY pissed off.

Bought a wood splitter in the fall. One hour after use the exhaust cover fell off, then the hydraulic return line came off spraying hyd. oil over the yard. Contacted customer service several times spoke to Sarah, Scott, Tyler and Mickala. All gave me the run around saying that they require a certain type of hyd. fluid that can only be bought in 5 gal. containers. They would pay for one, leaving me with 4/5 ths of the bill for the repair. They would not send me 1 gal that I needed, making me find it and buy it in the 5 gal container. I really like the splitter now that I have spent the money myself to fix it. It works great. I highly recomend the wood splitter, however, if something goes wrong. This company sells things as is. Don;'t bother with customer service, you'll get none.

These people could not care less about their customers. I bought a new lawn mower from them and it was missing parts when it arrived after shipping to my home. Essential parts, as in I can't use the product without them!

Cub Cadet will NOT help me in getting those missing parts to me. The will not pick up their phones if I call, they will not respond if I email, chat does not work because they simply tell me I have to use the telephone, to which they never pick up. They don't even care if you let them know how bad off you are on social media. Go ahead and complain on their Facebook page, they don't care.

So stay away from this company! They will take your money, and will not deliver the goods for that money you spend!

My first new tractor, biggest piece of crap I ever bought! Can't even climb side hill from back yard.! Motor has the power, but junk hydro is worthless. Always was. I see you recalled them for a parking gear or something. You should replace them all! I will certainly not be recommending these to my friends. model # 13wq91ap009. Serial # 1c30h60-102 if you truly stand behind your products, you will contact me and make this right. Pat spicer 12275 coral rd. Coral, mi. 49322.

I have a 2015 X T1 Cub cadet That keeps throwing its belts off. What is wrong with this thing. I've had it 2 years replaced the belt twice and had to put it back on probably 15 times in 2 years. I can't even get thru mowing g my yard without replacing g the belt 10 each time I mow! What a piece of crapp. They need to fix this issue by doing a recall. I will never buy another!

I had purchased a brand new 2X snowblower for $800 this past year from Home Depot.I also purchased an extended repair program for $150 so I would not have any issues. I never used it after purchase and stored it properly as cub cadet informed me too. I went to start it for the first time this winter and it would not even get close to starting. I was on the phone numerous times all the week of 1-15-18 thru 1-19-18. I had to take it to a cub cadet serviceman near me and pay for the repair myself. It was $80. I was told it was a fuel issue that it is my problem. That is an unacceptable answer to my problem. If it has never been used how is that the customers problem. It clearly came from the manufacturer with the problem. Or the store. All I asked was for help with that payment to keep a good customer happy. So from here forward neither myself or anyone I know for that matter will ever do business with your products again. Unfortunately I do not have any photos of the work done because I was just told about the problem. There wasn't anything to show me. According to the rude Cub Cadet customer service representative.

I have now owned this tractor for three years, it is kept inside and maintained and is in "like new" condition. I have had numerous issues, all related to poor product design. This unit has been a constant source of problems, and finally after only 50 hours the engine governor has failed! this is the last straw; find a list of VERY poor designed components that I have had to fix;

Throttle cable outer sheathing clamp on the dash insufficient (slips) 8 hours
Battery size undersized for engine starter at new (dealer would only replace with same size battery - still insufficient)
Ignition switch failed (very flimsy design) 16 hours
Tires failed due, weather checking within 1 year, installed tubes, tread good
Hydro-static drive seal on right wheel failed (2 year) 35 hours
engine governor gear (internal) PLASTIC! failed at 50 hours

This issue is a factory defect with the mower deck drive belt set up on my 2012 Cub Cadet LTX 1050 KW. I was informed by the Cub Cadet Dealer in Mt Pleasant Michigan that this particular model of Cub Cadet has a factory defect and will continue to break drive belts. I replaced the mower drive belt after it failed in June of 2017 with an OEM Cub Cadet belt and on August 7th of 2017 it failed a second time. I am an ASE certified technician and installed the belt properly. This was confirmed when the dealer inspected the failed belt. The defect is that the belt and pulley set up is not sufficient for the deck and fails under normal operating conditions. The dealer informed me that it needs to have a 5/8 belt and the original set up will not accommodate that belt. I was also informed by the dealer that Cub Cadet is sending updated replacement mower decks to the customer. I need this replacement deck because the belt is expensive and not easy to change and is a serious inconvenience.

I received a brand new cub cadet. Within 5 mins the blade was bent. Didn't run over anything. Right away it was giving me problems and would die out in reverse and thats when I noticed the blade was bent. I did not run anything over except grass. Cub cadet had me contact a local dealer who is supposed to provide warranty service and repair. This dealer said that he only serviced the product he sells. Contacted customer service and they said they could give me a replacement blade but if I put it on wrong it would void my warranty. They said I could contact other dealers and would give me a list of numbers but wouldn't say if any would come out to me. Found its common for their dealers to refuse service on products they did not sell. Also read it's common for there decks to come out of the factory missing pieces causing blades to bend. You spend $3000 on something you expect better customer service! First new mower I ever bought. Never ever had this problems with used supposed crappy ones I've had. Worst customer experience ever! Read there complaints it's a mile long! Never will buy their POS products again!

bought a Cub Cadet 3 years ago a LTX 1045, it's been a p.o.s. since the first set of bearing assembly for blades went bad from start to 19 hours. of course with no way to put grease inside the bearing assembly, for there is no grease fittins. and the only way to get grease in side, is to pop the bearings out, which you can't reuse. by taking them out to put grease in, you have to either order the whole assembly/bearings and all, and you still have the same problem. so you say, why not drill/tap for grease fittings your self? great idea, but the bad things about this idea, is that fastening the assembly back to mower deck the housing is made of soft metal, and they come with self tapping screws/ sold separately of course. and once screwed down tight you'll have a problem of wallying out the treads after you tighten it down. blah, blah, blah, and bout every 30 or so hours the bearing go bad. and if this was the only problem with this P.O.S. i may could live with... maybe, but dam-it already, i'd make one heck of a long list here. it's just a shame that the customer support had any support about them. bunch of smart ares of there. that another story in it's self. i'll never buy another, they'll not get another dime. i'll do all i can to speak out against the vile creatures there at customer support head quarters, and bout their product.

Cub Cadet has been absolutely unprofessional and unreliable. Our business used to use three of their Cub Cadet® 18 in. 187cc Rear-Tine Dual-Direction Tiller on a daily basis. We have them professionally maintained on a regular, quarterly basis. So we thought that when we took one our tillers in to an official Cub Cadet dealer and repair shop Dewinne in San Antonio to fix what turned out to be a blown motor, which *is* a clear warranty problem. Jeff at Dewinne on Bandera in San Antonio, the authorized repair man, asked our delivery man if he had put oil in it, and since it wasn't his job, but the job of our *professional* maintenance man, he said no.

Jeff at Dewinne then said that this, FALSE, information voided our warranty and relayed such back to Cub Cadet. Absolutely every effort to correct the information has failed miserably, due to what appears to be one of those lovely good-ole-boy networks, with the horribly sexist customer service of Cub Cadet (Bill by name, no last name, no extension, and apparently no responsible supervisor) attempting to grill our office workers about the workings of a tiller, and speaking to them with disrespect and condensation when they did not know exactly what was going on with the tiller. Jeff at Dewinne was also horribly sexist and condescending towards our office staff.

Jeff at Dewinne now wants more money than we paid for the tiller just for *looking* at our tiller, and is holding our tiller, and the parts he has been paid for, at his shop for ransom. For what, by all rights, is a valid warranty repair. He maliciously and with intent and purpose, decided that he would be greedy and claim that we had vioded our warranty.

Bill at Cub Cadet has stated in no uncertain terms that they *will not* do anything to rectify the situation, will not accept a return, will not negotiate a rate and will not honor their warranty. He was rude, crude and entirely unacceptable.

Our company now has two tillers, and one being held ransom, that we will not be using anymore and will be buying tillers from people who *aren't* Cub Cadet. And if those tillers need repair, we will be going somewhere that is *not* Jeff at Dewinne.

If you bought a 2013 Tank SZ, your steering will stop working. The gears appear to be cast, which is a joke. What's more is that the bolts that hold the gears to the caster pull down on unsupported areas of the gears, causing them to snap. After 25 hours and meticulous maintenance, both sides of mine are broken, preventing use altogether. Simple spacers would have prevented the problem, or a properly designed gear. Is any company reliable anymore, for any cost? This is a $10k+ machine.

When the temp is in the single digits the UTV starts fine and when you depress the accelerator to go forward or reverse the throddle sticks wide open and all you can do is turn it off. you cant shift it out of gear to neutral. Once the temp warms up the problem goes away. Very Very dangerous

I bought a new cub cadet RTZ 50 from tractor supply in The middle of may. The machine seam to run OK for about two months and didn't see much cutting do to an unusually dry summer. One day in the middle of august I was mowing and the left side of the mower started to make noise and the wheels quit turning, at the same time the drive belt started smoking and fell off. I called tractor supply and told them the machine had a problem. Even with the belt replaced the left drive would not work and the right drive was starting to grind as well. Tractor supply was willing to have it repaired for free, but was unsure how long the repair would take. Being it was only a couple of months old I insisted on a new replacement. So I loaded up the old mower and went to get the new mower.
When I got to tractor supply they could not get the new RTZ 50 to run. It would crank over, it had plenty of gas, but it would not fire up. There was also another RTZ 50 at the store that was returned for some problem {the mower was there but the associate said that he didn't know what was wrong with it}. At that point I asked for a refund and I am led to believe that there are common mechanical issues with this machine. Paul

Bought a new Cub Cadet ( CC ) lt1045 mower with extended warranty from Lowes...what a mistake. Did not use it but once and the drive belt came off. Told I had to take it to authorized service 4 hours round trip to get service. Local companies selling CC only serviced what they sold and said the CC warranty reimbursement program bad bad bad. I fixed it myself...$5 spring.
Then deck belt kept coming off and I had less than 40 hours run time. Belt tensioner bad design. Had to put washers to keep belt tensioner at right angle for deck height.
Now steering gear at bottom of steering wheel shaft keeps stripping even though I change all parts. What a piece of junk. Only good part is the kohler engine because they did not make it.

Pulled lawn sweeper behind mower periodically but had to stop that because metal so thin at back of mower it started tearing frame connection on mower. CC used to be all about quality, what happended to their management...they should be fired.

I purchased a cub cadet recon commercial brand new to cut about 3 acres of are grass i purchased a new mower so i would have years of trouble free service. About every 3 or 4 times i use this mower it quits working i've had this in the shop at least 8 times and i've only had this mower for 2 years and that's not including the several times i've fixed this myself. I've contacted the company with no response there customer service is almost as poor as the quality of the product they make don't let the words commercial mower fool you this is sure not one. From what i've read there's other customers that have had the same problems with the drive train

I have a zero turn mower and earlier this summer i had a transmission on left side break an axle. They covered that part under warranty and got me back in business. Not even 4 more hours on the machine and the same thing happened on the right side now they won't cover it is this the kind of products cub cadet is making. I thought is would be good machine thats why I bought it now its turning out to be junk. I hope some will respond this I feel I got the raw deal on this one.