Right to Repair Laws Face Resistance as Manufacturers Continue to Block Consumer Repairs
A new study by US PIRG reveals that despite Right to Repair laws in California and Minnesota, many manufacturers are still obstructing consumer repairs, with 40% of 25 evaluated products receiving failing grades. The report highlights Apple’s mixed performance, with the iPad scoring a B+ and the M3 MacBook Pro a B, while some products like the Framework Laptop 13 and Steam Deck excel.
Apple, one of the major companies evaluated, surprised researchers with a B+ for its latest iPad and a B for the M3 MacBook Pro. These scores are attributed to Apple’s recent release of repair manuals for the iPad in May. However, other products struggled, including the Framework Laptop 13 and Valve’s Steam Deck, which topped the rankings with A+ scores, indicating superior transparency and repair-friendly design. On the flip side, dishwashers from Beko, Bosch, Frigidaire, GE, and LG performed poorly, along with gaming consoles from MSI, Atari, and Sony. Researchers could not access repair manuals for 4,800% of products and found no available spare parts for 4,400% of the items assessed. The findings highlight a significant gap between the intended benefits of Right to Repair laws and the current practices of many manufacturers.
Industry experts suggest that the resistance to Right to Repair laws often stems from manufacturers’ efforts to maintain control over repair markets and protect their profit margins. Consumer advocates argue that these laws are essential to reduce electronic waste, lower repair costs, and promote competition by allowing independent repair shops to thrive. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the current trend of resistance will shift in the face of growing consumer demand for transparency and accessibility in product repair.