Briggs & Stratton Reviews 19

I BOUGHT THIS LAST YEAR, USED IT 6 TIMES SINCE AND I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND CONSIDER THE SNOWBLOWER TO BE JUNK. DIRECTIONAL CHUTE FREEZES, DIRECTIONAL CRANK ONLY MOVES CHUTE HALF WAY, AUGER WON'T MOVE ON STARTUP, RETAINING SCREW FOR GAS CAP HAS COME OFF AND IS IN GAS TANK [HOPE IT DOESN'T GET INTO ENGINE],HOW TO FISH IT OUT?. ELECTRIC STARTER SWITCH JUST FELL OFF, FOIL LIKE METAL SNAPPED OFF. THROTTLE LEVER WILL NOT STAY IN ONE POSITION [MOVES AROUND CAUSING ENGINE TO SLOW DOWN] . WHAT ELSE TO LOOK FORWARD TO! I DO NOT RECOMMEND

Briggs &Stratton Aust sales and service non excitant,sent emails 4 days ago no reply. contacted Sarah NZ office reply 1.5hrs. and with a smile. Aust office need to take lessons from there NZ sisters.

John A. Hill

I am sharing my worst experience with the briggs and stratton India team who has mistreated our company by dumping the stock and due to their personal benefits and favours from other distributors they played the unethical business tactics to remove us after dumping the engine and spares stock.
As per their policy the company will not take any stock back after termination.
After 22 years we gave our experience to create the new oems which now the company wants to the business directly bypassing the distributors.
They have very poor aftersales support for parts and service now.
The BS India director has no knowledge of growing business and if anyone goes against his way of working, will be removed with out any reason given, same happened to us as we raised the issue of his malpractice and using his position wrongly.

I ordered a part from Briggs & Stratton Online Store, which was listed as in stock during checkout. After placing the order, I was notified of a significant delay (until October) due to backordering. I immediately requested cancellation, citing the company’s policy that allows cancellations for backordered items. Despite providing proof, customer service repeatedly refused to cancel, falsely claiming the item was "already processed for shipment" and insisting I wait for delivery and then pay return shipping plus a 20% restocking fee.

After multiple frustrating email exchanges, I finally succeeded in canceling the order via live chat. However, the initial refusal to honor their own policy and the threat of unnecessary fees reflect poorly on their customer service. This experience suggests a lack of transparency and customer focus, especially regarding inventory disclosures and cancellation flexibility. I advise others to proceed with caution when ordering from this company and to confirm stock status directly before purchasing.

I bought a Bear Cat chipper that has a Briggs and Stratton engine. Everything was fine for the first 3 years, and then the next year it wouldn't start. The dealership picked it up and said that the carb needed to be replaced because of ethenol in the gas. It cost me about $350. The next year I used regular gas, but then switched to ethenol free to flush the carb out before I stored it. I didn't use it the following year, but again this year it wouldn't start. Again, the dealership had to replace the carb for a repair cost of over $400. I'm now only using ethenol free gas, but it's $30 a gallon.
I also have a 40 year old Honda mower that was made in Japan. I use regular gas and sometimes it sits for a couple of years without being used. I never drain the old gas, but it starts on the first pull every time. If Honda can make an engine that always starts, then why is the Briggs and Stratton so aweful.

I purchased a Husqvarna electric pressure washer (Model PW2300, SN 02200623K05919) from Costco on March 30, 2024. The washer has only been used a handful of times, but recently developed a crack in the pump head/manifold, causing it to spray water and become unusable.

What has been far worse than the defect itself is the customer service nightmare that followed.

The phone numbers provided in the manual and on the product (1-855-566-9776 and 1-888-896-6881) do not connect you to a representative; they simply disconnect after several minutes.

After much searching, I finally reached a Husqvarna representative, who told me I needed to speak with the Forest & Garden department. That led me to another number.

The Forest & Garden contact then told me that Briggs & Stratton actually manufactures all Husqvarna pressure washers and that I needed to contact them.

Calling Briggs & Stratton only led to an automated loop telling me to contact a local dealer, with no option to reach a human being. Attempts to bypass the system resulted in disconnection.

In short: there is no effective customer service support for this product. A consumer who spends good money on a brand-name product should not have to jump through endless hoops, only to find no path for warranty support, repair, or replacement.

I bought this unit expecting reliability and support if an issue arose. Instead, I’ve encountered misdirection, dead-end phone systems, and zero accountability.

If Husqvarna and Briggs & Stratton value their customers, they need to:

Provide accurate, working customer service numbers.

Offer a clear warranty process without forcing customers into automated dead ends.

Take responsibility for defective products instead of passing consumers back and forth between companies.

At this point, I cannot recommend Husqvarna or Briggs & Stratton pressure washers or their other products to anyone.

I bought a pressure washer in May, it was always difficult to start and often backfired. In August it lost all pressure and the starter cord locked up.
Having spent over 4 hours in front of my computer and dialing every number I could find to try and make a warranty claim I finally came to the conclusion that I was wasting my time. They have done an extremely impressive job of making it so difficult to speak to anyone that I doubt they need to deal with any warranties.
Stay away from Briggs and Stratton whose engines are now made in China.

I have a 2007 40 in. murry lawntractor that had the orig 12.5 cast iron sleeve briggs it sold with when new,That engine 18.5 yrs from new blew on me while mowing in 105° feels like weather a cpl weeks ago.What to do..A New mower is arnd 3 to 6 thousand..Being a diy guy I purchased the EX1900 cast iron sleeve briggs and stratton 19 hp engine..The Crank shaft on the new 19 is the same size as the shaft on the old 12.5 briggs,the engine mounts on the new 19 hp are the exact same location and size as the old 12.5,Throttle cable,fuel line,wiring,old main pto pully,all installed with no modifications..THANKYOU!!!!
Saved me thousands of dollars!!! Doing it myself with the help of your engine that is offerd as a replacement..6.5 more hp is awesome.Tractor drives operates better thah before.The hp 19 has more power to get the grass cut when hi with a mulch plate on at first pass, what it wldnt do with the 12.5 hp when the grass is high..First start and breakin was easy.I Like the easy replace oil filter on this motor as the old motor did not have..New engine is easy to start Is relatively quiter that the 12.5 was ,purrs like a kitten when running.I Hope the tractor holds out another 10 yrs as replacement parts for it are getting scarce for the old murry. A zillion Thanks again for not changing the design alot, over the years so as to keep your product in demand for diy'ers like me, who keep the old and almost obsolete good equipment running like new again...

In the fall of 2020, I bought a new 2019 Simplicity Conquest 25-52. I opted for the 2019 model because they changed the suspension system to rear only in 2020 (probably a B&S cost cutting measure). The first time I used it, I saw big drag marks in the yard after my first trip around. I checked the rollers and the right side was locked up. I didn’t have time to call the dealer and wait so I pulled the end rollers off (literally pried them off with a crowbar) and lubed the shaft to get them turning. They continued to drag a little but I thought that would loosen up with wear.
Things went along ok for a couple of years (except for the right side drag marks, which didn’t seem worth borrowing a trailer and hauling it across town to the dealer). Then one day while mowing, there was a horrible sound of metal coming apart and the tractor sputtered and died. I bent down to look under and the PTO pulley had disintegrated, taking a chunk of the wiring harness with it. I hauled it to the dealer and the warranty covered this problem. However, the dealer discovered a bent tie rod but it was warranty denied so the dealer bent it back as best he could. I asked dealer to see about the dragging deck roller. he leveled the deck but the roller is clearly not level.
Another year passed and one day while getting up leaves, I backed up to dump them and the tractor would not restart. I was able to start it by jumping the solenoid but the next time, that would not work. I tried several things in discussion with the dealer but eventually borrowed a trailer and took it back to the dealer (warranty had run out). He initially thought it might be the push button start but when he tried it, he did not think that was the problem. He did find a bent piece on the brake pedal that triggered the safety switch and bent it back and it started. He tried again to fix the roller drag but it was still cockeyed when he leveled the deck. He said that Simplicity tractors do that (so much for the professional lawn they claim).
Back home it was working and I was once again collecting leaves. After dumping the last load, the no start issue recurred. I checked all the safety switches and they were fine. There was no way to take it to the dealer since it was well back in the woods. After consultation with the dealer, he thought the only thing left was the push button start (remember, it’s a known issue). He sold and shipped me the replacement key start, I replaced it, and it started right up!
Now, I’m waiting to see what happens next. I do know now that this one was produced when B&S was nearing bankruptcy. Maybe that had an impact. I’ve had 5 lawn/garden tractors over the years - 3 Simplicity, a John Deere, and a Craftsman. I’ve only spent a small fraction on the other 4 of what I’ve spent on this one.
On the positive side, I love the suspension system, the power steering is very handy, and I’ve had no problem with the engine (once it starts). B&D, why did you ruin a great company?!

Replaced a B & S engine on an Husqvarna 4WD mower.

Didn't get any warranty docs. Chased it and was sent a photo of a single-page and obviously incomplete photocopy.

Querying this I was told:

"The warranty document I sent you was exactly as stated by Briggs & Stratton, as it comes from them not something that we have written up, if the gent is not happy with the wording I am afraid there is nothing we can do about that unless he wants to place a call to Briggs in the USA, it is what it is 😊"

So I've no idea what the warranty is or how to go about claiming.

I don't think you could find a much worse example of 'couldn't-care-less' customer service if you spent weeks looking.

Ordered a part and never recieved. Can't sign on to website and can't change password.

Missing parts on a new generator. Small parts but important parts.
They do not answer phone calls. You are in a loop that never gets you to anyone. They send you to a local authorized service center. They can't reach them. They said they often can't get reimbursed for their work and if they do it takes months. Shop wants you to pay upfront until they are eventually paid and then will refund your money. No service at all.

Bought plugs from Amazon and were sent by Briggs & Stratton in Canada and they sent their old garbage plug that was supposed to be replaced with a new part number. Useless. Can't use the form on their contact page as it won't work. Amazon won't accept return.

Purchased Scag leaf vac with briggs and stratton engine . head gasket let go after 1 hour of usage ,repaired by dealer . engine completely failed after another 3 hours of use . dealer sent info to briggs and denied claim . Dealer tells me briggs and stratton is in deal to sell company and has denied last 10 claims . I own landscaping company and also purchase billy goat products which briggs owns . I will no longer be buying either product . total garbage and dont support warranty .

The New Overhead valve Engine.
Do not even think about bying any product fitted with this engine it is a pile of unreliable rubbish.
You first problem will be a blocked plastic carburetor as the jet is so small it blocks easily.
Then you are mowing and hit a tree root in your lawn, the spectacular rapid destruction will be unbelievable. I am not making this up. The first thing is it will shear the flywheel key so it wont start again. This has been made soft so they can sell you another, the cheap plastic timing gears may have jumped a tooth.
If you are really unlucky you will have to set the valve gap again.
Look up any real review for this unit its not good.
I kid you not do not under any circumstances buy any product fitted with this motor. This not the Briggs and Stratton company you did now this is a bunch of money making charlatans. It will be a brand that fails into insignificance trying to compete in the Chinese market.
If you have an old one prior 2021 keep it.
Chuck the rest out buy some thing else its a shame when good brands go bad
Yuo have been warned.

Responsible for Victa brand. They make it extremely hard to make a warranty claim. Brand new mower had a problem with the handle the first time it was used. Lots of paperwork in the box but no instructions on how to actually make a claim. Called them and they sent me to the retailer. Retailer couldn't get in touch with them for a week but then said Briggs & Stratton wouldn't help unless I go to an authorised service centre. I can't send a photo of the problem, I have to deconstruct the mower to fit in my car and drive to a service centre just to show them. Suggestion: publish an email address for warranty support, allow me to send photos, only tell me to take my mower somewhere if a diagnosis cannot be made remotely and make it clear to your agents when the retailer is responsible vs. a service centre. I'm ready to simply return the mower for a full refund instead of wasting my time on what should be an extremely simple fix (just send a replacement handle!!)

$8000.00 machine that is now getting it's third right hydro in less than five years. Ferris rep tell the repair people no warranty. Prices are increasing and product is junk. We have owned more than 15 plus Ferris mowers, we know what is normal and 3 hydro's is NOT. Hours are typical for a commercial mower it should run with out any issue for several years, since we do not mow for 5 months out of the year. Time to see if SCAG or EXMark will stand behind their product. Annoyed I now have to spend $2500.00 to replace what they should stand behind.

There is no human interface, and no way to get to a human from the telephone, another 'Ivory Tower' megacorporation which ONCE USED TO be very personable and friendly. NOW its just another soulless, uselessl uncooperative, money grubbing ponzi sceheme like all the rest. Such a shame. [sigh]

No wonder new companies like Predator and Tillitson are growing so fast!