John Deere owners will get right to repair their own equipment under new settlement

Key Points:

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and attorneys general from five states reached a right-to-repair settlement with John Deere, requiring the company to allow farmers and independent repair shops to fix their own equipment.
• Deere has historically restricted access to necessary software and tools, forcing customers to use authorized dealers, which led to antitrust allegations and lawsuits starting in January 2025.
• Under the settlement, Deere must provide diagnostic and repair tools to equipment owners and independent shops, prohibit retaliation against those who choose independent repairs, and pay $1 million to the involved states for enforcement costs.
• The agreement is intended to break Deere's monopoly over repair services for farm equipment, benefiting farmers and mechanics by increasing repair options and reducing wait times and costs.
• Deere stated that it remains committed to supporting independent repair and views the settlement as reinforcing its efforts to offer more flexible repair solutions.