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View Full Version : NOT happy with Kenwood right now


Fastbird
10-22-2008, 08:10 AM
Back in late December 2005 I bought my wife a DDx-8017 Excelon dvd player for her car. The top of the line 7" touch screen really nice unit. Sat on it until march when we put it in the car we decided to keep, then that car sat for another 3 months while the motor swap was going on. We got it back in July of 06 and have only put 13K miles on it since then.

In December 06 the unit started having issues, and it finally went out a few months ago. So I sent it in, and I get it back yesterday saying it needed an LCD, MCB and PCB (whatever those are), and cost is estimated at $470-570 to fix. THAT'S HALF OF WHAT I F***ING PAID! Not to mention that I simply can't afford that right now.

I called up their customer service and they're going to look into it and hopefully get back to me today. I'm not looking for a free fix, but at least split the fix cost with me because for such a low usage unit, and especially for what was supposed to be a top of the line unit, this is just pathetic that I need to spend 50% of what I paid to get it fixed when it's got the same amount of usage as someone that would have used it in a daily car for a year.

Either way, I don't think I'll buy another kenwood stereo.
BlownFormula
10-22-2008, 08:34 AM
I go with Alpine for all my head units and none have failed me yet.
chevy42083
10-22-2008, 08:50 AM
I love all my Kenwoods... but, I never get anything "nice". I usually stick with low end... my brother has had problems with the motorized flip down faces.
I just like the user interface, usually the looks, and the sound quality.
Fastbird
10-22-2008, 08:51 AM
I go with Alpine for all my head units and none have failed me yet.

I've had an Alpine CDA-7894 in my T/A (both, it got swapped when I sold my black one) since 2002. Has performed flawlessly. I got the Kenwoof for my wife because it's what she wanted.
LT1RUNNER
10-22-2008, 09:11 AM
I'll buy either Pioneer or Alpine. I used to buy Kenwood all the time before because they would give you all of the options Alpine and Pioneer gave you for less $$$ plus the sound quality was great. Not as good as the Alpine or the Poineer but it was good enough. Then the decks got ugly and cost as much as the others so I started going with Pioneer.
SoulReaver
10-22-2008, 03:45 PM
Wow that sucks. They don't have a 1 year warranty? Most companies offer a year protection from any sort of defect or malfunction. Weird.
Fixxer99TA
10-22-2008, 04:12 PM
Yeah I was going to say, no warranty? Thats way too quick man...
bricez28
10-22-2008, 04:22 PM
i have a nice kenwood one, with a littel guy doing flips on a dirtbike. pretty good so far.
Fixxer99TA
10-22-2008, 04:26 PM
i have a nice kenwood one, with a littel guy doing flips on a dirtbike. pretty good so far.

Did you have to pay extra for that?
Fastbird
10-22-2008, 11:00 PM
Mad props to Kenwood. The customer service Rep I spoke with yesterday called me last this afternoon today. They're stepping up. Big Time. Like fixing as if under warranty big time. Kenwood just re-earned my business.
Camaro_94
10-23-2008, 08:04 AM
Mad props to Kenwood. The customer service Rep I spoke with yesterday called me last this afternoon today. They're stepping up. Big Time. Like fixing as if under warranty big time. Kenwood just re-earned my business.

Thats awesome! Glad to hear!

I used to have a Jensen in-dash TV in my old Camaro. It was nothing amazing, but it worked pretty good and I never had a problem with it.

- Mike
Ponyhntr
10-23-2008, 11:02 AM
Wow that sucks. They don't have a 1 year warranty? Most companies offer a year protection from any sort of defect or malfunction. Weird.


Yeah I was going to say, no warranty? Thats way too quick man...

Guys, he bought the unit in 2005. I highly doubt many electronics come with 3+ year warranties.



Mad props to Kenwood. The customer service Rep I spoke with yesterday called me last this afternoon today. They're stepping up. Big Time. Like fixing as if under warranty big time. Kenwood just re-earned my business.

Good to hear Sean! :)
Fixxer99TA
10-23-2008, 12:07 PM
True, he dident really use it though from what he said.... So something must be covered... Right?

There must be, since they are taking care of it :D
BlownFormula
10-23-2008, 12:42 PM
Good stuff. Glad to hear Kenwood is stepping up to the plate.
Fastbird
10-23-2008, 12:56 PM
Guys, he bought the unit in 2005. I highly doubt many electronics come with 3+ year warranties.

Exactly. My basis for calling was that the car only has an "average" years worth of use on it since the head unit started getting used in mid 06'. I honestly was NOT even asking for a full repair, just some kind of help on Kenwood's part given the catastrophic nature of the failure (50% of value to me is catastrophic) and parts required for repair. It was completely unexpected when the rep said they'd cover it all.
IronOutlaw
10-23-2008, 01:05 PM
I like panasonic units but i also dont get the high end stuff.
Fastbird
11-01-2008, 06:57 PM
Update: Got this email yesterday after an inquiry:


We have ordered a replacement unit from Kenwood today. Once the order has
been processed the product will be shipped directly to you from Kenwood in
California.

My old unit must have had some SERIOUS non-standard issues for them to do that. Now......The DDx-8017 is a 3+ year old out of produciton model. I'm going to crap a solid gold brick if a DNx-8210 shows up on the doorstep (comparable model as the 8017 was an Excelon and the 8120 is the current top dawg Excelon).
96lt1m6
11-01-2008, 07:38 PM
nice.
good to hear they are gonna take care of it,that's customer service!
Fastbird
11-14-2008, 09:28 PM
Called Kenwood today as no stereo has shown up. They said replacement unit is on backorder. I asked how's that possible, and was told

"You're not getting a DDx-8017 because it's a 05 model. We're replacing it with a current year Model, the DDX812."

:face_shocked::metal:

But....it's backordered for a couple more weeks. So I'm thinking of calling them up and asking if it's possible for me to pay some extra and upgrade to a DNX-8210 (internal Nav instead of add on with the 812), and how much it would be.
TCGiRL220
11-14-2008, 09:59 PM
sweet! good to hear
Cyanydem28
11-14-2008, 10:01 PM
Pioneer all the way!
Camaro_94
11-14-2008, 10:08 PM
Called Kenwood today as no stereo has shown up. They said replacement unit is on backorder. I asked how's that possible, and was told

"You're not getting a DDx-8017 because it's a 05 model. We're replacing it with a current year Model, the DDX812."

:face_shocked::metal:

But....it's backordered for a couple more weeks. So I'm thinking of calling them up and asking if it's possible for me to pay some extra and upgrade to a DNX-8210 (internal Nav instead of add on with the 812), and how much it would be.

I dont see why they wouldnt do it if you pay the difference between the two. Great idea :D

- Mike