Yes, farmers can sue over blocked access to diagnostic software, the electronic tools that read fault codes and guide tractor repairs. Those claims led to a $99 million class settlement and new repair-access requirements.
The core dispute was dealer-only service. Farmers said Deere kept key diagnostics for its dealers and forced costly trips to the dealer. If you paid a Deere dealer for large-equipment repairs, the settlement may affect you.
Table of Contents
- What did the lawsuits claim?
- Who can claim from the $99 million fund?
- What repair access must Deere provide now?
- What other rights support independent repair?
- What are the limits and next steps?
What did the lawsuits claim?
Farmers filed consolidated antitrust claims in the Northern District of Illinois. They alleged Deere withheld diagnostic software and forced dealer-only repairs. As Reuters reported, Judge Iain Johnston denied Deere's dismissal motion in November 2023 in the ruling allowing farmers' repair suits to proceed.
The practical complaint was downtime and cost. A fault code can prevent a tractor from running until it is cleared. The farmer then waits for a dealer technician and pays travel and labor. An independent shop with the same code and tool could often do the work faster.
Who can claim from the $99 million fund?
The class settlement in In re Deere Repair Services Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 3030, covers a defined group. As Texas A&M AgriLife Extension reports, it provides a $99 million fund for customers who paid Deere dealers for large-equipment repairs from Jan.
10, 2018 to May 18, 2026 in the summary of the Deere repair settlement terms. Check your records against that window: Payments are pro-rata shares, not full refunds. Deere did not admit wrongdoing. Your share will depend on valid claims and total repair spending documented.
- Look for dealer invoices for labor on large Deere equipment
- Keep receipts that show dates and amounts paid for dealer repair service
- Watch for the settlement administrator's claim form, deadline, and filing instructions
What repair access must Deere provide now?
The class settlement also requires forward-looking access. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Deere must supply farmers and independent shops with repair tools and digital diagnostic information for at least 10 years. That includes codes, data, and software needed to diagnose and complete repairs.
Regulators secured a parallel requirement. The Federal Trade Commission says it and the attorneys general of Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin sued Deere in January 2025 over the same restrictions and settled July 8, 2026 for 10 years of supervised parity access in the FTC announcement of the Deere repair settlement. Parity means owners and independent providers get the same software and tools available to dealers for covered repairs.
What other rights support independent repair?
Colorado created the first state agricultural right-to-repair law. The Colorado General Assembly states that HB23-1011 requires manufacturers starting Jan. 1, 2024 to provide owners and independent providers parts, embedded software, firmware, tools, manuals and diagnostics in the text of Colorado HB23-1011. It applies to farm equipment sold in that state.
A private agreement and federal copyright policy also help. According to the Iowa State Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, a Jan. 8, 2023 memorandum between the American Farm Bureau Federation and Deere promised farmers and independent facilities electronic access to manuals, Customer Service Advisor diagnostics, codes and data on fair and reasonable paid terms. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, its October 2024 Section 1201 recommendation continued exemptions allowing circumvention of vehicle software locks for diagnosis, maintenance and repair of motorized land, marine and mechanized agricultural vehicles.
What are the limits and next steps?
Access is broader, but not unlimited. According to the Iowa State Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Deere did not admit wrongdoing, may charge fees, and may withhold trade secrets. Fees must still follow the applicable settlement or law, so ask for the price before you buy access.
Deere also need not enable power changes or emissions and safety overrides. Those functions remain restricted even when diagnostics are available. Keep dealer labor receipts in one folder now so you can document a pro-rata claim when filing opens.