Kim Gale  |  November 14, 2020

Category: Appliances

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Business man fans himself due to broken AC

Consumers have been quite vocal about problems they’ve had with Trane HVAC systems. Despite the company’s catchphrase, “It’s Hard to Stop a Trane,” many customers say it’s even more difficult to keep one working. Defective parts or poor workmanship can contribute to a high failure rate of most any appliance.

Trane HVAC Reviews

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has lodged more than 200 complaints regarding Trane brand units.

One consumer writes that just seven months after installation, the Train A/C unit needed a new coil. Trane allegedly told the consumer that they had no proper replacement coils in stock and did not know when they would be restocked. Trane also purportedly told the consumer they would have to pay more than $600 to fix the unit, but the consumer doesn’t feel they should pay anything due to how new the unit is.

Another consumer wrote that they experienced failed evaporator coils six times in 10 years of owning two different Trane A/C units. Despite trying copper, aluminum and Trane-coated coils, the longest the coils tend to last is about 2.5 years. The consumer said Trane most recently recommended the consumer pay the full expense of taking the coils to a third party company and having a coating added to the new coils. The consumer wrote, “This is crazy! Why can’t you just make them last longer and not have to send them somewhere else to get coated?”

More reviews at the Consumer Affairs website point to cheap parts and unsatisfactory customer assistance.

One consumer wrote, “Expensive junk – deceptive customer service,” regarding a Trane split system she and her husband had installed as part of a renovation project at their home. She said the unit always “functioned erratically” and the contractor said that’s either how the unit works for that the couple wasn’t using the system correctly. In December 2018, the condenser quit after condensation completely iced over the unit.

She thought they had a three-year warranty, but found out that the product had never been registered for the warranty, and the one-year basic warranty had expired. Upon contacting Trane, the most that allegedly was offered to the couple was 15% off a new unit, which she and her husband agreed was not satisfactory.

Trane Heater and Air Conditioner Issues

One Las Vegas HVAC company actually addresses on its website why it will not promote Trane products.

Fast Affordable Air has found fault with Trane compressors that fail too quickly, a relatively new issue the Vegas HVAC servicer blames on outsourcing that has most likely resulted in poorly manufactured compressors.

The Trane heater still uses a clamshell design that consists of a variety of different metal densities, which can lead to cracking when the metallic areas heat and cool at different rates. The clamshell configuration also leads to a noisier unit, especially compared to different models that use a tubular designed heat exchanger, says Fast Affordable Air.

Trane’s alleged decisions to reduce their own warranties and to require servicers to pay for replacement parts up front have resulted in many local service companies to either greatly limit their own labor warranty on Trane units or to simply stop selling or servicing Trane heater and air conditioner units altogether.

Kevin L., an HVAC servicer, responded to the website article, saying in part, “I’ve been in the business for 44 years and have worked for Trane among others. I too can no longer recommend Trane.”

Have Any Trane Lawsuits Been Filed?

Man works on AC unitEarlier this year, Trane agreed to a class action lawsuit settlement after a number of Trane and American Standard air conditioning units failed. The affected machines were coated with an unauthorized rust inhibitor, which plaintiffs alleged caused the thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) to become gummy and stick.

To remedy the issue, Trane allegedly had service personnel add an acidic solution to the TXV instead of replacing the valve, a stop-gap measure that plaintiffs alleged could have shortened the life of the compressor.

Trane admitted no wrongdoing, but agreed to the settlement, which included reimbursement of previous repair expenses and an extended warranty for qualifying compressors. As part of the settlement, current and former owners also received the cost of labor for an authorized additive to be injected into the units that still may experience the sticky TXV.

What Can I Do If I Have Purchased a Trane?

If you live in California and have purchased a Trane HVAC system in the past several months, you could benefit from speaking with an experienced attorney. Trane currently is a company under investigation for possible consumer rights violations committed in the state of California.

Join the California Home Appliances Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you are a California resident and you purchased a major home appliance within the last year, you may be eligible to claim compensation.

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95 thoughts onTrane HVAC Reviews: Product Defects Reported

  1. vernon b ruley says:

    had new trane heat and air system installed in 2019. always seemed to be issues with system. 3/28/24 , mechanic found no refrigrant in system. found leaks at inside heat exchanger coils. need to replace at 1800.00 cost. coils are under warranty but costs are labor and refrigerant. hope new heat exchanger is an uodated version where problems have been resolved. new coils only have 1 year warranty. what can i do????

  2. Mike Michalski says:

    We just were informed that our 11 year old Trane furnace had cracks in the heat exchanger. We were advised to replace the furnace rather than install new heat exchanger. We have had yearly maintenance and are surprised at the short life span of the unit. Are there any actions against Trane which might allow us to recover damages?

  3. DJ says:

    Trane unit leaking buckets since first week of installation. Initial installer blamed it on pet hair and they cannot stop leak; 2nd HVAC cannot diagnose but says it is a crappy Trane design and buy a Ream (just throw away your 5K Trane); third HVAC co cannot stop leak and says initial installer installed it non level. Trane customer service completely in-human and non helpful. DO NOT buy a Trane!! we had a Goodman for 15 years with same pets and never a leak

  4. karen jones says:

    Purchased a New Construction November 2019. About a year later I noticed there was ice building up on my system. I remember hearing that you have to allow it to thaw, and the building stated this might happen. It’s now 2023 and the situation still is happening. I made a HVAC appointment to find out my board needs replacing that is connected to the coils to defrost system. The repair for the board will be 1050.00. The HVAC company brought the issue to report this because I will be needing Coils soon.

  5. Kimberly G. says:

    Had a Trane unit installed in 2018, problems the first week of installation until now 2023. With repair costs being close to $5,000 for a $7,000 dollar unit, which Trane offered $800. for, which I refused. Again another bill for $2300. to fix which I don’t have, that and no heat in Dec. 2023.

  6. Jim Jones says:

    Purchased Trane system Dec 2019. To date Defrost Sensor replaced for $140.91, Heat Pump Compressor
    replaced for $1406.79 and Heat Exchanger Coil replaced for $2269.01. Total cost under ‘warranty’ of
    $3816.71 or 56% of original $6780 installed cost.

  7. Melissa Fitzgerald says:

    Had an Trane unit installed less than 2 years ago. Fan motor for condenser is bad and needs to be replaced! I’m in MO and have only run this unit less than 40 weeks total for the summers and it shouldn’t do this! $495 to fix +$89 service fee. I feel Trane should pay for all of this.

  8. Judy Dal Poggetto says:

    Air handler motor blew twice in 4 years. $1000 to repair. Consumer relations a joke

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