John Deere to pay $99M in right-to-repair settlement
5 hours ago
- #agricultural-equipment
- #class-action-settlement
- #right-to-repair
- John Deere reached a landmark settlement, paying $99 million into a fund for farms and individuals who paid for repairs from January 2018.
- Plaintiffs will recover between 26% and 53% of overcharge damages, significantly higher than the typical 5% to 15%.
- Deere agreed to provide digital tools for maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of equipment for 10 years, addressing past issues where farmers hacked software.
- The settlement requires a judge's approval, but Deere still faces another lawsuit from the FTC over repair process restrictions.
- Used equipment prices skyrocketed due to service difficulties, with older tractors doubling in cost but valued for simpler repairs and minimized downtime.
- The right-to-repair fight has broad implications, potentially setting a precedent for automotive and home appliance sectors amid manufacturer control concerns.