Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act of 2010
Key claim: Carmakers would have to give vehicle owners and independent shops, on the same terms as dealers, the information and tools needed to diagnose and repair cars, with FTC, state, and private lawsuits if they refuse.
Abstract
(S3181 · 111th Congress) Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act of 2010 - Requires the manufacturer of a motor vehicle sold, leased, or otherwise introduced into commerce in the United States to provide to the owner of the motor vehicle and the service provider of the motor vehicle, using reasonable business means and on a non-discriminatory basis, all information and tools needed to diagnose, service, maintain, or repair the motor vehicle. Provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Permits civil actions by: (1) states on behalf of the state’s residents; and (2) consumers and service providers. Provides for the protection of trade secrets, except that no information may be withheld by a manufacturer on the ground that it is a trade secret if that information is provided (directly or indirectly) to authorized dealers or service providers. Latest action (2010-03-25): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Why this matters
Right-to-repair rules determine whether independent mechanics and vehicle owners can access the same diagnostic data, tools, and service information as franchised dealers, which affects repair costs, competition, and how quickly older or out-of-warranty vehicles can be serviced. The 2010 bill is an early federal attempt at nationwide vehicle repair-access standards, predating later state-level actions like Massachusetts’ 2012/2020 ballot laws and ongoing telematics-access debates.