John Deere may have to pay out major $99 million settlement in landmark 'right-to-repair' case

Date:
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:05:00 +0000

Description:
John Deere will also have to make its software tools available to third parties for 10 years.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter John Deere agrees $99 million payout in class action lawsuit Lawsuit covers the right to repair for farmers on their own equipment It will also have to make its tools available to third parties for 10 years Agricultural giant John Deere could be facing a major bill following the apparent end of a long-running lawsuit around the right to repair its farming equipment.

The company has agreed to pay a 'historic settlement' of $99 million into a fund for farms and individuals who participated in a class action lawsuit against it. John Deere will also have to ensure its digital diagnostic, maintenance, and repair tools available to third parties for 10 years, after some farmers were reportedly forced to hack their own equipment in an attempt to solve issues. Article continues below You may like Adobe reaches $150m settlement on US lawsuit over alleged hidden subscription fees, cancellation charges How AI and robotics is reshaping the role of modern farming Nintendo is demanding a refund for tariffs, plus interest Right to repair As we continue to innovate industry leading equipment and technology solutions supported by our world-class dealer network, we are equally committed to providing customers and other service providers with access to repair resources, said Denver Caldwell, company vice president, Aftermarket & Customer Support.

Were pleased that this resolution allows us to move forward and remain
focused on what matters most serving our customers.

The payout, which still needs to be approved by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, will specifically be available for claimants involved who paid John Deeres authorized dealers for large equipment repairs from January 2018 onwards.

It will see them recover around 26% and 53% of overcharge damages, court documents state, much higher than typical payouts from such lawsuits. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Right-to-repair lawsuits have been increasingly common in recent years, largely among customers of technology products such as laptops and smartphones, with several US states including Oregon and California having also passed similar legislation .

This led to Apple announcing its support in a move which surprised many, making it much easier (and cheaper) to fix broken iPhones or MacBooks away from official Apple stores.

Even the US Army has thrown its weight behind the idea, with both Democrats and Republicans backing a May 2025 move to allow the Army to have the right
to repair its own equipment . What to read next MacBook Neo teardown video reveals a surprisingly repairable laptop Valve is facing a lawsuit over 'monopoly' claims on Steam and I'm scratching my head at this one Ford just recalled over 4.3 million vehicles due to a dangerous software glitch

The European Union has its Right to Repair Directive coming into force in
July 31, 2026, which will mean manufacturers have to legally include access
to spare parts, repair manuals, and remove technical or contractual hurdles
to independent repair. It will also look to cut down on so-called parts pairing, where software-side marrying of components can sabotages third-party exchanges, such as a printer rejecting a refilled ink cartridge.

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