The Right-to-Repair Battle — $99M Settlement, Active FTC Lawsuit, and How to Talk About It Honestly

The right-to-repair fight is the single most likely "tough question" in any 2026 John Deere interview. The FTC and the Illinois and Minnesota Attorneys General sued Deere in January 2025 for anticompetitive repair practices. In April 2026, Deere agreed to a $99M class-action settlement requiring it to make software and diagnostic tools available to farmers and independent repair providers. The FTC case is still in discovery. This module gives candidates the facts, the company's official position, and a framework for discussing the issue honestly without trashing the employer.