John Deere has reached a settlement requiring it to allow owners and independent repair shops to fix their own agricultural equipment, according to an agreement filed Wednesday with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general.
The settlement addresses complaints that the Illinois-based manufacturer had restricted access to the software and tools needed for repairs, often forcing customers to use authorized dealers. The FTC and attorneys general from Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin brought an antitrust lawsuit in January 2025, alleging that Deere illegally limited the ability of farmers and independent shops to service equipment like tractors.
Under the terms of the order, which is pending approval by Judge Iain D. Johnston, Deere must make diagnostic and repair tools available to equipment owners and independent repair facilities, not just its authorized dealer network. The company also agreed not to retaliate against owners or shops who perform their own repairs. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stated that farmers and independent mechanics had been "at the mercy of Deere’s monopoly over repair tools."
This settlement follows a separate class-action lawsuit in April, which resulted in a $99 million settlement to compensate consumers. The FTC's agreement, however, focuses on ensuring access to repair services.
Deere will pay $1 million collectively to the five states to cover antitrust enforcement costs and will be subject to compliance oversight for the next decade. The FTC had argued that Deere provided a full service software tool to authorized dealers but withheld the complete version from independent entities. Deere had previously denied the lawsuit's claims, stating that its distribution of service tools was not anticompetitive and that it does not directly provide repair services.
In a statement Wednesday, Deere maintained its commitment to independent repair, with Denver Caldwell, vice president of aftermarket and customer support, saying the agreement reinforces the company's innovation in offering more flexible repair options. "This is good news for our customers and for the future of how Deere equipment is supported," Caldwell said.
The right-to-repair movement has gained momentum in recent years, with consumers increasingly pushing back against restrictions that limit repairs to company-authorized technicians, particularly for technological products.