Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) has reached a definitive agreement to resolve a consolidated multidistrict "right to repair" lawsuit, agreeing to pay $99 million into a class settlement fund for eligible farmers and ranchers.
The settlement, announced April 6, 2026, concludes a high-profile legal battle centered in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The litigation, which combined dozens of separate complaints filed since 2022, alleged that the agricultural giant restricted access to the software and diagnostic tools necessary for independent repairs, forcing equipment owners to rely exclusively on Deere’s authorized dealer network.
Under the terms of the agreement, the case will be dismissed with no finding of wrongdoing by the company.
Deere has consistently denied allegations of anti-competitive behavior, maintaining that its restrictions were necessary for safety, environmental compliance, and the protection of intellectual property.
The $99 million fund is earmarked for class members who paid for repair services from authorized Deere dealers dating back to January 2018.
Beyond the monetary payout, the settlement formalizes Deere’s commitment to providing customers and independent repair providers with the "digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair" of large agricultural equipment—including tractors and combines—for a period of at least 10 years.
The deal remains subject to final approval by a federal judge.
If cleared, it would represent one of the most significant outcomes in the broader national "right to repair" movement, which has seen increased scrutiny from both private litigants and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
While this settlement resolves the private class action, Deere continues to face separate scrutiny from the FTC regarding its repair policies.