Farmers and independent repair shops will soon have greater access to the tools needed to fix John Deere machinery, following a right-to-repair settlement reached Wednesday between the Federal Trade Commission, attorneys general from five states, and the equipment manufacturer Deere & Co. The agreement resolves an antitrust lawsuit filed in January 2025 by officials from Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which alleged that the Illinois-based company illegally restricted equipment owners from performing their own repairs.
Under the terms of the order, which is currently awaiting approval from Judge Iain D. Johnston, Deere is required to make its diagnostic and repair software available to equipment owners and independent shops, rather than restricting these resources exclusively to its authorized dealer network. The settlement also prohibits Deere dealers from retaliating against customers or independent mechanics who choose to perform their own maintenance or repairs.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stated that for too long, farmers and independent mechanics were forced to rely solely on authorized dealers, incurring unnecessary costs and delays for repairs on tractors and other machinery. In addition to the operational changes, Deere must pay $1 million to the five states to cover antitrust enforcement costs and will remain under strict compliance monitoring for the next decade.
This development follows years of complaints regarding Deere’s practice of withholding essential software tools. Denver Caldwell, vice president of aftermarket and customer support at Deere, described the agreement as positive news for customers and the future of equipment support, noting that it reinforces the company’s commitment to flexible repair options. Deere had previously defended its practices, arguing that its distribution of service tools was not anticompetitive.
This marks the second major legal resolution for Deere regarding repair accessibility this year, following a $99 million class-action settlement reached with farmers in April. While the earlier class-action provided financial compensation to consumers, the FTC settlement focuses on ensuring long-term access to repair services for owners and independent shops. The right-to-repair movement has gained significant momentum across various industries, as consumers increasingly challenge manufacturer policies that limit repair options to authorized service centers.
A John Deer emblem is seen at the Husker Harvest Days farm show in Wood River, Neb., Sept. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
John Deere tractors sit in Norfolk Southern’s Conway Yard in Conway, Pa., Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
