John Deere
Farm equipment · Last assessed 6/9/2026
Score breakdown
Why this grade
In January 2025 the FTC and states sued Deere & Company for monopolizing repair, alleging it withholds repair/calibration software so certain repairs can only be completed at a dealership. The 2023 AFBF MOU has no enforcement and lets Deere exit on 30 days' notice; the released tool withholds functions needed to independently complete many repairs. PIRG estimates lack of repair options costs U.S. farmers ~$4.2B/year.
Methodology & version
Five dimensions — parts availability, schematic access, repairability, OEM pricing, and software freedom — are scored 0–100 and weighted equally; the letter grade is the average (A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60). This assessment is current as of 6/9/2026 and cites its sources below. It covers the Farm equipment category and is not a claim about every device the maker ships.