porsche accused of restricting full repair access to dealersIt feels like right-to-repair lawsuits come up every few years or so. The massive John Deere case finally came to a close last month, with the agricultural equipment company losing the suit and settling with a $99 million payout.Now, Porsche is being accused of a similar situation, with vehicles sold by Porsche after January 1, 2021, allegedly being limited in what repairs can be performed by non-dealers.porsche accused of restricting full repair access to dealersThe origin of the lawsuit is via CarComplaints.com, which alleges that Fleet Salvage Systems, Inc. brought their Cayenne to an independent repair shop for basic work. Tire Kingdom was able to change the oil, but it wasn't able to reset the car's oil life indicator. As it turns out, only the service centers at Porsche dealers can do so.AdvertisementAdvertisementEd. note: sounds like this particular independent repair shop didn't have the correct software to reset the oil light; it is readily available through aftermarket OBD2 tools from manufacturers like AUTEL.This brings up the whole right-to-repair situation again. As has been evidenced by countless court cases over the years-notably those involving John Deere, and Apple, among others-the consumer must be allowed the full ability to service a vehicle on their own, or by whomever they choose. Requiring buyers to go back to the dealer for service is, in fact, an illegal monopoly situation, as it forces people to pay dealership prices.As for the case of Fleet Salvage Systems, Inc. and their dispute with Porsche, the parties are (at the time of this writing) going to be appearing in court to settle the dispute. Fleet Salvage Systems, Inc. wants its damages paid for, and we're sure Porsche just wants to see this whole ordeal disappear.porsche accused of restricting full repair access to dealersDon't be surprised to see the story slip into the abyss as it's covered up in an effort to maintain brand integrity; OEMs have huge budgets to spend to help keep their reputation intact should something like this arise.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe good news is that there's already a bill in the works to prevent situations like these. It's called the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, and it would prohibit a scenario like this from happening in the first place, thereby protecting consumers against manufacturers and OEMs that have significant leverage over "the little guy."Naturally, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is opposed to this bill, and it has stalled slightly in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. We hope to see it pass in the coming months.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.