John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The FTC and states alleged that Deere reserved fully functional repair software for authorized dealers, raising costs and delaying repairs. Deere disputed that account. In July 2026, the parties announced an agreement expanding access to repair tools.
Read the full background
The January 2025 lawsuit concerned access to full-function diagnostic and repair capabilities, not whether farmers could perform any repairs themselves. Deere pointed to existing tools and planned improvements. The July 8, 2026 settlement announcement describes ten years of dealer-equivalent access on fair and reasonable terms. The agreement does not establish the original allegations through a trial finding, and announced obligations are distinct from demonstrated compliance.
Timeline
2 timeline entries on this page. Dates: January 15, 2025 to July 8, 2026
January 2025
FTC and states sue Deere over repair-tool access
FTC and state plaintiffs sued Deere over restricted access to repair software. Deere disputed the allegations. Commissioners Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak dissented from filing the complaint, citing its timing, the evidence and ongoing settlement talks, while supporting right-to-repair legislation.
[01]Federal Trade Commission
The FTC alleges that Deere withheld fully functional repair software from farmers and independent shops, increasing dependence on authorized dealers. Deere disputes the allegations.
FTC and states sue Deere over repair restrictions · Federal Trade CommissionComplaint announcement and description of Service ADVISOR access[02]John Deere
Deere rejects the complaint's factual and legal premises and describes self-repair resources it says it already provides or is developing.
Deere responds to the FTC's January 2025 complaint · John DeereOpening response to the complaint; existing and proposed repair tools[03]Ferguson and Holyoak dissent from filing the Deere complaint
The commissioners support repair rights but oppose filing at this stage on procedural, evidentiary and settlement-negotiation grounds.
Ferguson and Holyoak dissent from filing the Deere complaintJoint dissent, pages 2-3
July 2026
FTC and Deere announce a repair-access agreement
The announced terms provide for ten years of dealer-equivalent repair resources on fair and reasonable terms. Deere described the agreement as reinforcing its repair commitment. The announcement is distinct from proof of compliance.
[04]Federal Trade Commission
The announced settlement provides for ten years of dealer-equivalent repair resources on fair and reasonable terms. The FTC states that a stipulated order takes effect as law when approved and signed by the district judge.
FTC announces July 2026 repair-access settlement with Deere · Federal Trade CommissionAnnounced terms, commission vote and judicial-approval note[05]John Deere
Deere describes the agreement as reinforcing its existing commitment to repair options and expanding access. This is the company's account of the agreement, not an admission of the original allegations.
Deere describes its July 2026 repair-access agreement · John DeereCompany announcement and Denver Caldwell's comments[06]Paul Weiss analysis of the FTC-Deere settlement
The analysis separates the government settlement from the parallel private action and explains the repair-aftermarket theory. The denial of Deere's pleading motion was not a trial finding of liability.
Paul Weiss analysis of the FTC-Deere settlementGovernment allegations, pleading-stage decision and settlement terms
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Federal Trade Commission
Deere's restrictions on fully functional repair resources unlawfully increased repair costs and dependence on authorized dealers.
Sources (1)
- FTC and states sue Deere over repair restrictions · Federal Trade CommissionComplaint announcement and description of Service ADVISOR access
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
2 matching responses. Newest first.
Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission, announcing a lawsuit with Illinois and MinnesotaDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The complaint distinguishes dealer-only full-function tools from more limited customer tools.
"Action: Filed an antitrust lawsuit challenging Deere's restrictions on fully functional repair tools."
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
The FTC alleges that Deere's restrictions increase repair costs and delays and unlawfully protect its authorized-dealer network.
After the statement
The original allegations were disputed by Deere; the parties later announced a settlement.
FTC and states sue Deere over repair restrictions · Federal Trade CommissionComplaint announcement and description of Service ADVISOR accessDeere responds to the FTC's January 2025 complaint · John DeereOpening response to the complaint; existing and proposed repair toolsFTC announces July 2026 repair-access settlement with Deere · Federal Trade CommissionAnnounced terms, commission vote and judicial-approval noteWhy this label?
The reference is Deere's repair-tool restrictions. The FTC challenges those restrictions as unlawful and harmful.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
John DeereDeere & Company, official response to the FTC complaintDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The FTC and states had sued over access to fully functional repair software.
"The complaint is based on flagrant misrepresentations of the facts and fatally flawed legal theories"
DeniedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Deere calls the FTC complaint factually and legally flawed and says it punishes innovation.
After the statement
Deere described existing tools and future capabilities. Those claims do not themselves establish dealer-equivalent access.
Deere responds to the FTC's January 2025 complaint · John DeereOpening response to the complaint; existing and proposed repair toolsWhy this label?
The reference is the alleged unlawful repair restrictions. Deere explicitly rejects the complaint's factual premises and legal theory.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(15)
Official statement
FTC and states sue Deere over repair restrictions
Relevant passage: Complaint announcement and description of Service ADVISOR access
About this source
The FTC alleges that Deere withheld fully functional repair software from farmers and independent shops, increasing dependence on authorized dealers. Deere disputes the allegations.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Rob Larew welcomes Deere settlement and seeks a nationwide repair law
Relevant passage: Attributed statement
About this source
Larew welcomes the FTC-state settlement and argues that manufacturer-specific relief should be followed by a permanent national repair law.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Mark Meador discusses Deere and farmers' repair rights
Relevant passage: Farmers' Right to Repair, section IV, pages 4-6
About this source
Meador discusses equipment-repair restrictions, aftermarket competition and the July government settlement. His speech distinguishes the ability to choose equipment from the ability to switch after purchase.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Dana Nessel joins Deere repair-monopoly lawsuit
Relevant passage: Attributed statement
About this source
Nessel criticizes Deere's software restrictions and joins the FTC and other states in seeking an antitrust remedy.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Josh Kaul welcomes expanded Deere repair options
Relevant passage: July 8 release, page 1
About this source
The Wisconsin DOJ release attributes to Kaul support for repair choice and the government settlement.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Kris Mayes welcomes Deere repair-access settlement
Relevant passage: Attributed statement
About this source
Mayes criticizes restricted repair-tool access and supports the agreement's owner access and nonretaliation provisions.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Ferguson and Meador support the Deere repair-access settlement
Relevant passage: Joint statement, concluding discussion
About this source
Ferguson supports the settlement and retains his earlier criticism of filing the suit. Meador joins the statement. It addresses tool parity, future resources and enforcement.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Keith Ellison welcomes Deere right-to-repair settlement
Relevant passage: Attributed statement
About this source
Ellison welcomes expanded repair access and connects the agreement to farmers' costs and independent repair businesses. The release distinguishes the government agreement from private damages litigation.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Kwame Raoul announces Deere repair-restriction lawsuit
Relevant passage: Raoul's attributed statement
About this source
Raoul supports the complaint and access to fully functional repair resources as a competition remedy.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Ferguson and Holyoak dissent from filing the Deere complaint
Relevant passage: Joint dissent, pages 2-3
About this source
The commissioners support repair rights but oppose filing at this stage on procedural, evidentiary and settlement-negotiation grounds.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Lina Khan statement supporting the Deere lawsuit
Relevant passage: Signed statement, pages 1-4
About this source
Khan supports the antitrust complaint and argues that repair restrictions create costs, delay and loss of choice. These are enforcement allegations rather than trial findings.
- Published
- Accessed
Analysis
Paul Weiss analysis of the FTC-Deere settlement
Relevant passage: Government allegations, pleading-stage decision and settlement terms
About this source
The analysis separates the government settlement from the parallel private action and explains the repair-aftermarket theory. The denial of Deere's pleading motion was not a trial finding of liability.
- Author
- Paul, Weiss
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Deere describes its July 2026 repair-access agreement
Relevant passage: Company announcement and Denver Caldwell's comments
About this source
Deere describes the agreement as reinforcing its existing commitment to repair options and expanding access. This is the company's account of the agreement, not an admission of the original allegations.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
FTC announces July 2026 repair-access settlement with Deere
Relevant passage: Announced terms, commission vote and judicial-approval note
About this source
The announced settlement provides for ten years of dealer-equivalent repair resources on fair and reasonable terms. The FTC states that a stipulated order takes effect as law when approved and signed by the district judge.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Deere responds to the FTC's January 2025 complaint
Relevant passage: Opening response to the complaint; existing and proposed repair tools
About this source
Deere rejects the complaint's factual and legal premises and describes self-repair resources it says it already provides or is developing.
- Published
- Accessed
Share or embed this case
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the case page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/john-deere-repair-software-restrictions-ftc-settlement
The Dispute Index. "John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations". First published: 2026-10-17. Last updated: 2026-10-17. https://disputeindex.com/cases/john-deere-repair-software-restrictions-ftc-settlement