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Deere’s $99 million fund is part of a private repair-services class action; it is not the price of the Federal Trade Commission’s separate repair-access order. The class settlement may provide cash to eligible customers who submit claims, while the FTC and five states’ proposed order would require Deere to make specified repair resources available to farmers and independent repair providers for 10 years if approved by a judge.
Two separate cases, with different remedies
The $99 million settlement fund comes from a class action over repair services purchased for covered Deere agricultural equipment. Its terms also include an injunction concerning digital tools used for maintenance, diagnosis, and repair. Deere denies wrongdoing, according to the court-authorized settlement notice.
The other development is an antitrust case brought by the FTC and five states. On July 8, 2026, the FTC announced a proposed order requiring Deere to provide repair resources to farmers and independent repair providers. That proposed order is not the source of the $99 million fund, and the two proceedings should not be treated as a single settlement.
What repair access the FTC-state proposed order would provide
The FTC says Deere would have to make repair resources equivalent to those it provides authorized Deere dealers available to farmers and independent repair providers for 10 years. The order is proposed, not a final judgment: the FTC’s case page lists the case as pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The FTC says stipulated orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the district judge. Check the FTC case page for current procedural status.
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Tools and information named in the announcement
- Read, clear, and reset electronic fault codes.
- Reprogram electronic components, including pairing newly installed parts.
- Restart a machine after an emissions-related shutdown.
- View and search technical manuals, troubleshooting solutions, product improvement programs, DTAC solutions, and other repair guidance.
The proposal also covers future similar or reasonably necessary resources after Deere makes them available to more than 50% of its authorized U.S. dealer network. It includes requirements for dealer promotion and support, bars discrimination or retaliation against people who use the resources instead of dealer service, and provides for reporting and oversight. The Michigan attorney general’s announcement also describes the proposed order.
FTC Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera said on July 8, 2026: “Today’s settlement enables farmers to do what they’ve done for generations—fix their own tractors and other farm equipment—without having to pay an authorized John Deere dealer to do it for them.” The statement describes the FTC’s proposed resolution; it does not change the separate class action’s terms.
Who may qualify for the $99 million class settlement
The court-authorized notice describes potentially eligible U.S. customers who purchased repair services from Deere or a Deere-authorized dealer for covered equipment between January 10, 2018 and May 18, 2026. The listed equipment includes:
- Large and medium tractors in the 6000, 7000, 8000, and 9000 series.
- Combines, cotton pickers and strippers, and sugarcane harvesters.
- Specified tillage, seeding, and application equipment, as well as sprayers.
This is a summary, not a determination that a particular customer or machine qualifies. Check the current settlement website for the complete equipment definition, eligibility rules, and claim instructions.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat the $99 million figure does—and does not—mean
The settlement notice says Deere agreed to pay $99 million, plus interest accruing since January 15, 2026, into a settlement fund. That is the gross fund, not a promised payment to each class member. The net cash available is subject to deductions, including attorneys’ fees of up to $45 million, costs and expenses of up to $6 million, named-plaintiff service awards, notice and administration costs, and taxes. The proposed fee and expense caps are subject to court consideration.
The notice also reports that plaintiffs’ expert estimated total settlement value at $392.9 million to $747 million by combining cash with estimated injunctive relief. That is an expert’s estimate of overall value—not the cash fund and not an amount promised to class members. The notice does not establish an individual payment estimate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Claim, opt-out, and objection dates
As stated in the settlement administrator’s August 28, 2026 announcement, the claim deadline is December 31, 2026. The deadline to opt out or object is December 4, 2026. The final approval hearing is scheduled for January 19, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. CST; the notice cautions that the date and time may change. Recheck the court-authorized settlement website before acting.
The class notice describes different options with different consequences. Use the official instructions to decide which applies to you:
- Submit a claim: Follow the website’s eligibility and filing instructions by the stated deadline if you want to seek a payment.
- Opt out: Follow the notice’s process by the opt-out deadline if you do not want to remain in the settlement class.
- Object: Follow the notice’s requirements and deadline if you want to tell the court why you oppose the proposed settlement.
- Do nothing: Do not assume that inaction produces a payment; consult the notice for what happens if you take no action.
What to check before filing
- Identify the equipment model and confirm it falls within the complete covered-equipment definition on the official settlement site.
- Check that the repair service was purchased from Deere or a Deere-authorized dealer in the stated period, January 10, 2018 through May 18, 2026.
- Read the current claim instructions and deadlines on the court-authorized settlement website; do not rely on a payment estimate based only on the gross fund.
- Use the same official notice to review the consequences and procedures for claiming, opting out, objecting, or taking no action.
What is still pending
The FTC case page identifies the antitrust case as pending, and the agency’s announcement describes the repair-access terms as a proposed order that requires judicial approval to take legal effect. Separately, the class settlement has a scheduled final approval hearing, with the notice warning that its date and time may change. The cash fund, repair-access proposal, and court decisions therefore have distinct status and should be tracked through their respective official case and settlement pages.
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