John Deere Reaches $99 Million Settlement Expanding Farmers' Right to Repair

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:53:00 +0200

John Deere has agreed to pay $99 million to settle a long-running class action lawsuit over farmers' right to repair their own equipment. The case, which has drawn attention for years across the agricultural industry, alleges that John Deere's restrictive repair policies forced farmers to rely on authorized dealers for costly repairs, limiting their autonomy in maintaining crucial machinery. Although the company emphasized that the settlement does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing, the agreement establishes a fund to compensate farmers and individuals who paid for large equipment repairs through John Deere's authorized network since January 2018. According to court documents, plaintiffs will recover between 26% and 53% of the alleged overcharge damages—significantly higher than typical class-action recoveries that range from 5% to 15%. A critical part of the settlement is Deere’s pledge to provide the necessary digital tools for diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing tractors,