[Unhappy solo owner]

My username pretty much says it all.

I purchased a Solo less than 2 months ago and came home from work one day and happened to use my front door which I rarely use the front door as mainly its used for guests only to find a wet UPS envelope with notice of a Kimber Solo recall.

I contacted Kimber and they promised I would get an RMA number and a UPS shipping label emailed to me within 48 hrs.

That didn't happen.

Kimber would not give me a date that my gun would be returned to me.

So that means I send my 800.00 gun off and they get an open ended date to keep it. If I agreed to that they could by law keep it as long as they wanted.

Keep in mind now that I carried the solo around with its thumb safety defect that could have caused the gun to fire even with the safety engaged for several days while Kimber relied on UPS to deliver the notice and for it to sit on my front porch rather than picking up the phone ad calling me.

They put everyone at risk by not contacting me by phone.

I called my dealer with my complaint and they refused to help.......so I started a charge back process with my credit card company to get a refund.

If the charge back fails I plan to name my dealer and Kimber in a lawsuit and take them to district court to get a judgement against them.

Shame on them all.

Buyer beware of who your dealing with when you buy a Kimber.

The difference bewteen the good and the bad manufacturers are how problems are handled. This problem is not being handled to my satisfaction so a refund is in order.

 

[Nellybelle]

I also own a solo and a couple of other Kimbers. I am not aware of a recall but will be calling them tomorrow. What is the exact problem with the safety?
I too carry the SOLO loaded with safety on.

I doubt if you threat to sue both the dealer and Kimber will go far in resolving the issue. Hope things work out for you. I am also surprised this is you first post on this forum.

 

[Nellybelle]

I just checked the Kimber web site under support and then safety. There is a list of affected serial numbers. Mine is not on the list however, I would like to know the exact problem with the safety and the how it is corrected.

I really love this pistol. I bought it for my wife but I carry it more than she does. I carry it in an IWB DeSantis holster. No printing and great to carry while riding my motorcycle.

 

[MPO Southy]

Did you eventually get your RMA number and shipping label?If so,did you ship it back for the warranty work?Maybe they can't give you a return date due to the volume of Solos returned as a result of the recall.I doubt if Kimber is intentionally trying to screw you.Also what are you going to sue for?Did you have an A.D.due to the faulty safety issue?Sounds to me like you're just P.O.'d at them for the recall.Have patience,return the gun for the work,get it back when it's fixed.End of problem.

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

Did you eventually get your RMA number and shipping label?If so,did you ship it back for the warranty work?Maybe they can't give you a return date due to the volume of Solos returned as a result of the recall.I doubt if Kimber is intentionally trying to screw you.Also what are you going to sue for?Did you have an A.D.due to the faulty safety issue?Sounds to me like you're just P.O.'d at them for the recall.Have patience,return the gun for the work,get it back when it's fixed.End of problem.

My gun was purchased 05/12/13.

I searched the internet and found a post on another forum that was dated 05/11/13 that states kimber CALLED him on 05/10/13 and advised him of the recall.

Kimber is keeping this info close to their vest in my opinion at the risk of their customers safety.

Im getting a refund. I'm sueing for my money back. My dealer sold me a defective gun. I also just proved that kimber knew about the problem BEFORE I purchased my gun. The guys post proves that because its the same problem.

Why wouldn't they call me? I answer my phone 24/7 and I have voice mail. They let me carry a defective gun around while waiting on UPS the deliver an envelope that sat on my front porch for a couple days on top of that. Whats wrong with their phone? I guess the same thing thats wrong with their guns......they dont work?

Bottom line is my credit card company is handling the matter and based off what Visa said my dealer is goinf=g to be charged back because the manufacturer cant request their product back with no time frame of returning it. Thats an open ended date that could be forever......he told me DO NOT AGREE TO THAT.

So I doubt there will ever be a lawsuit because all I want is my money back at this point. I've lost confidence in my dealer and Kimber.

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

I just checked the Kimber web site under support and then safety. There is a list of affected serial numbers. Mine is not on the list however, I would like to know the exact problem with the safety and the how it is corrected.

I really love this pistol. I bought it for my wife but I carry it more than she does. I carry it in an IWB DeSantis holster. No printing and great to carry while riding my motorcycle.

Some of them...from what I counted looks like 1200 of them could discharge with the safety engaged.

I'd say thats a major problem. A gun that the safety may not work. Good God.

IMO they have known about this problem for a while but didn't want to open the can of worms.

The post on 'The outdoors forum" proved they knew of a problem. They should have at last stopped the sale of all the solos until they could be checked.

Here is a link to the post. Sorry for the fanboys but the truth is the truth.

Kimber solo recall | Firearms Discussion Forum | The Outdoors Trader

We are all lucky the link isn't to a guy whos gun accidentally dishcharged and killed somebody.

By the way I have a kimber crimson carry .45 that I love.....no problems. I'm not hating just to hate. I have a legitimate complaint here.

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

Did you eventually get your RMA number and shipping label?If so,did you ship it back for the warranty work?Maybe they can't give you a return date due to the volume of Solos returned as a result of the recall.I doubt if Kimber is intentionally trying to screw you.Also what are you going to sue for?Did you have an A.D.due to the faulty safety issue?Sounds to me like you're just P.O.'d at them for the recall.Have patience,return the gun for the work,get it back when it's fixed.End of problem.

I did eventually get the RMA. Four days late

I did eventually get the shipping label. After I threatened to sue them and the dealer in district court.

If they cant give me a return date then they should offer a refund. Its that simple.

Do I think Kimber is trying to intentionally screw me? That really doesn't matter because I'm being screwed,intentinally or not its a screwing.

Sure I'm P.O'd at them for a recall that took them a month to let me know about and that they knew about a problem before I even bought the gun.

I ran out of patience when I didn't get my RMA and my shipping label when they promised.

I'm not getting the pistol back because they made their problem my problem by selling a defetive gun when they at the very least had an idea it could be defective and let me carry it for a month while they decided what to do.

Next time there could be an accident while they "wait" around "deciding" how to handle a problem. They should have called me when they did decide there was an issue but they AT BEST let me carry a gun they had doubts about for 4 DAYS while UPS delivered the notice and it sat on my porch.

What if I had an accidental discharge 2 days ago while their letter was getting rained on sitting on my porch? They dont have working phones?

 

[MPO Southy]

Well,I hope you get this resolved to your satisfaction in a speedy manner.Good luck,and best wishes.Please keep us informed of your progress.

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

Well, there apparently is a Solo recall involving the slide/frame safety lever.

No need for anyone to panic. I'm sure Kimber will make good on the free fix.

BTW, for those who are unaware of this safety tip: Your trigger FINGER is the most important safety item on any gun, so just keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire the gun.

If fingers were the only thing that could pull a trigger that advice would be golden. But its not. The Solo is built to carry locked and cocked,the safety is important.

Sure they will make good on the fix and make good on keeping your money while doing so and your just SOL in the mean time.

It must be nice to be able to build a product,say oops we screwed up,send the gun back and we will repair it and in the mean time you can carry your holster around until we get around to sending your 800.00 gun back.

It would be nice if they offered up a deadline to get your weapon back to you repaired. Some say thats asking too much but with proper planning its very possible.......but then again with proper planning and execution there wouldn't be a recall.

 

[farruggio]

The Solo is built to carry locked and cocked,the safety is important.

I understand you are upset, and I understand why. However, suggesting that a non-functioning safety on a Solo puts a shooter with trigger discipline at unreasonable risk is not inherently logical. Contrary to your suggestion, Solos are not built to carry "cocked and locked", since (as a striker fired pistol) the term has no meaning. With or without a safety, the Solo is no less safe than the Glock 30 I carry every day (without a safety). In fact, since the Solo has a 7 lb. trigger (versus the Glock 5.5 lb. trigger), it is safer either way. I suspect the only reason Kimber felt it necessary to add a safety was to conform more closely to the look and feel to which Kimber owners are already accustomed in the 1911 platform. Frankly, they could've/should've left it off entirely.

I am happy you are getting your money back, and I understand your desire to vent your spleen at Kimber. I have no doubt I would be as angry as you are in the same circumstances. However, I don't believe you were ever in any more danger than any other owner of a striker fired pistol, and therefore don't think Kimber perpetrated quite the lapse in business ethics you allege.

I expect this response will not sit well with you, and that's okay. Just adding my perspective.

 

[dustyjacket]

The dealer did nothing wrong.
Why drag him into it?

 

[Barenjager]

..................

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

"Locked and cocked"....I think your complaining about the wrong Kimber handgun. The Kimber 1911 SAO can be carried locked and cocked.

The Solo is striker fired, DAO. The safety lever is a trigger/sear block in addition to having a firing pin block.

No doubt I know it's striker fired,I own the gun and I read very well. We do not know the nature of the defect so me assuming is no danger is a guess. It may very well fire if dropped for all we know and Kimber sure isn't volunteering the cause. Kimber could have explained there was no big danger but that's not the case,they informed me not to load,carry or fire the pistol. Without an explanation from kimber assumptions about the gun being "safe" to operate with being mindful of the trigger would be plain stupid and potentially deadly.

The dealer did nothing wrong.
Why drag him into it?

Because he profited from the sale. That's just part if being a dealer you share responsibility for the products you choose to sell. Business 101 my friend.

Wouldn't happen to be a lawyer, would 'ya?

Roe

I'm not a lawyer but I shoot with a few,not that it matters.

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

I understand you are upset, and I understand why. However, suggesting that a non-functioning safety on a Solo puts a shooter with trigger discipline at unreasonable risk is not inherently logical. Contrary to your suggestion, Solos are not built to carry "cocked and locked", since (as a striker fired pistol) the term has no meaning. With or without a safety, the Solo is no less safe than the Glock 30 I carry every day (without a safety). In fact, since the Solo has a 7 lb. trigger (versus the Glock 5.5 lb. trigger), it is safer either way. I suspect the only reason Kimber felt it necessary to add a safety was to conform more closely to the look and feel to which Kimber owners are already accustomed in the 1911 platform. Frankly, they could've/should've left it off entirely.

I am happy you are getting your money back, and I understand your desire to vent your spleen at Kimber. I have no doubt I would be as angry as you are in the same circumstances. However, I don't believe you were ever in any more danger than any other owner of a striker fired pistol, and therefore don't think Kimber perpetrated quite the lapse in business ethics you allege.

I expect this response will not sit well with you, and that's okay. Just adding my perspective.

The gun is defective! I didn't say that,Kimber did! They didn't tell my WHY, just told me not to load,carry or fire it. You don't know why they recalled it other than it can fire with the safety engaged.

I would love for you to share the exact nature of the defect. Kimber sure isn't telling and I asked.

I just wanted a date that my gun would be returned but that's asking too much. Lol

I referred to the kimber being locked and cocked as an expression not in the literal sense as a 1911. The kimber is ready to fire when the 1911 inspired safety is manipulated to the down position with a round in the pipe as the gun is meant to be carried. The trigger sucks by the way,it's too heavy and has to be fully released to the front to reset.

I can live with that but I don't really care for it.

I decided to give kimber the benefit of the doubt and they did promise to get my pistol back to me in "around two weeks". I can live with that.

We shall see if they keep their word,and I will give credit where credit is due if they hold to their word.

I'm not here to bash on Kimber but I'm no fanboy either. I'm a business man and I expect to be treated well and not like I'm dealing with a king and they will treat me as they please.

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

I want to give credit to Kimber today,I just received the tracking number from Kimber and my Solo is back on its way to me. I must say that was very quick and I do appreciate that.

Hopefully it's a once and done and all the issues are corrected and checked.

Thank you to the staff at Kimber for the quick turn around,actually a full week quicker than promised.

 

[MPO Southy]

Glad to hear that you're getting it back,and ahead of schedule to boot!Let's hope that it is "one and done".My Super Carry Custom HD is still shooting like a dream and have not had any issues with it.I guess I am just lucky.

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

You may read very well, but you know little about modern semi-auto handguns. Nearly all late model semi auto handguns, SAO/DAO/DA-SA, have a firing pin block which MUST BE RELEASED with trigger action. It's commonly referred to as a "Series 80" firing pin system...first designed by Colt in the 1911 model. ALL striker fired semi auto handguns have this safety device.

The Rock Island Armory GI spec 1911 retains the "Series 70" firing pin, without the FP block.

There are people on this forum with over 50 years of gun use experience. So why not ask a few questions about the Kimber Solo before spouting off invalid complaints.

BTW, I find the Solo trigger action to be lighter and smoother than the Kahr MK9 Elite.

I repeated what you have posted to kimber and the guy on the phone called you an idiot and the gun was recalled for safety reasons and was unsafe to carry.
I guess if you don't like what the manufacturer says about the gun they designed and built then recalled you could give them a call and teach them a thing or two about guns.

 

[Unhappy solo owner]

You keep dragging this on, so I have a suggestion: why not sell that defective Solo for the purchase of a Hi-Point C9.

Then you'll have more to complain about.

I'm done with this topic.

I guess you own a few Highpoints but they are not for me.

I received my solo back yesterday and it is suppose to be repaired.

The trigger pull is lighter also,much improvement in that respect from when I purchased it.

I'll be happy if it shoots at the range. Kimber also cleaned it,very good of them to do that.

I'm not trying to bash on kimber as I stated and they did return my gun very quickly. When I first talked to kimber they acted like it would be over 3 weeks and would not give a date and left it open ended as to the return. That's just not right. Hopefully they realized that and are approaching the situation differently now.

 

[farruggio]

If all goes well, here's hoping you have reason to change your user name soon.

 

[trlhrv]

Kimber or Kahr?

I just wanted to thank all of you for your comments. I was torn between and Solo or a PM9. Guess which one I'll buy now?