Agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere reached a $99 million settlement agreement on Monday to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed by farmers over repair expenses and equipment access issues.
The legal dispute reflects growing national concerns about manufacturers’ repair policies, with government officials and lawsuit plaintiffs claiming certain companies stifle competition by restricting access to diagnostic software and repair equipment.
According to court documents filed Monday in Chicago federal court, the monetary settlement will benefit qualifying farmers who purchased repair services from Deere’s authorized dealerships for large farming machinery starting in January 2018.
Beyond the financial compensation, Deere committed to providing farmers with access to necessary digital diagnostic and repair tools for major agricultural equipment over the next 10 years. This includes tractors, combines, and sugarcane harvesters, according to the court filing.
The proposed agreement still requires judicial approval before taking effect.
“This settlement addresses the issues raised in the 2022 complaint and brings this case to an end with no finding of wrongdoing,” Deere stated in a company announcement.
The equipment manufacturer continues to face additional legal challenges, including a separate lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission. A federal judge ruled in 2025 that Deere must defend against FTC allegations that the company requires farmers to use only authorized dealers, inflating repair and parts costs.
The FTC has argued that Deere prevents farmers from obtaining “tools and information necessary to repair their equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner,” according to court documents filed in April. Deere has disputed these allegations.
