Deere Settles FTC Lawsuit Over Restrictive Equipment Repair Policies

The agreement resolves allegations that the Moline-based company stifled market competition by restricting specialized repair tools exclusively to its authorized dealer network. Federal regulators previously argued that these artificial barriers forced equipment owners into expensive, company-controlled service channels, effectively inflating maintenance costs while padding corporate margins.

Under the new terms, Deere commits to providing farmers, ranchers, and third-party technicians the necessary diagnostic software to perform their own repairs. The company stated this move aligns with a broader push to offer customers more flexible maintenance options, pledging continued investment in the technology required to keep their machinery running without mandatory dealer intervention.