The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reaches a settlement with John Deere that expands right-to-repair access for farmers and independent repair shops. The FTC had sued Deere last year, and the case also involved allegations from five states that Deere used practices that reduced competition in equipment repair, contributing to higher costs and repair delays for farmers.
Under the settlement, John Deere agrees to a 10-year, FTC-supervised arrangement requiring it to provide third parties and customers with repair resources comparable to those available to authorized John Deere dealers. The obligations described in reported settlement materials include access to equipment and software capabilities used for diagnostics and repairs. Sources note that access can include the ability to read and reset diagnostic codes and pair with other software systems.
John Deere says it already provides repair resources to customers, including service manuals and diagnostic tools, and it characterizes the settlement as consistent with its existing approach. The company also states the agreement reinforces its efforts toward more flexible repair options, with increased access and transparency. The settlement is set to be monitored by the FTC for the duration of the agreement.
