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Deere & Co, the Moline, Illinois-based manufacturer known for its John Deere brand, has agreed to pay $99 million to settle a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit accused the company of monopolizing repair services by withholding necessary repair software and tools. Announced on Monday (April 6), the settlement still requires court approval.
The lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleged that Deere & Co conspired with authorized dealers to force farmers to use their services for repairs, limiting independent repair options. As part of the settlement, Deere will provide farmers with digital tools needed for maintenance and repair of large agricultural equipment for the next 10 years.
The settlement fund will cover eligible plaintiffs who paid for repairs through Deere's authorized dealers since January 2018. Deere stated that the settlement addresses the issues raised in the lawsuit without admitting any wrongdoing.
Despite this settlement, Deere is still facing a separate lawsuit from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning similar "right to repair" issues. In June 2025, a federal judge denied Deere's attempt to dismiss the FTC's claims, meaning the company must continue to face legal proceedings.
The ongoing legal challenges highlight the broader scrutiny over "right to repair" practices in the U.S., with advocates arguing that manufacturers should not restrict access to repair tools and software. The digitization of agricultural equipment has made self-repair difficult, forcing farmers to rely on manufacturers for costly repairs.