FTC Proposes Mandatory Appliance Repair Instructions
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule requiring all major appliances displaying Energy Guide labels to ship with repair instructions. The unanimous decision aims to lower barriers for DIY repairs and small repair businesses by making documentation standard with every appliance purchase. Right to Repair bills have now been introduced in all 50 US states, marking a milestone for the repair movement.
- The proposed FTC rule builds on the authority granted by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, which makes it illegal for manufacturers to void warranties if a consumer uses a third-party for repairs. The new proposal would proactively require manufacturers to provide repair information at the point of sale for products with EnergyGuide labels. - A 2021 FTC report to Congress, titled "Nixing the Fix," found "scant evidence" to support manufacturers' justifications for restricting repairs, such as concerns over intellectual property or safety. The report highlighted that repair restrictions can disproportionately affect communities of color and lower-income Americans. - Advocacy groups like U.S. PIRG and iFixit have been instrumental in pushing for this federal rule, submitting a formal petition to the FTC to prohibit manufacturers from limiting the repair of their products. Consumer Reports has also been a key supporter of federal "Fair Repair Act" legislation. - Manufacturers, represented by trade groups like the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, have opposed these measures, arguing that providing open access to repair information could compromise consumer safety, data security, and intellectual property. - The FTC's proposed rule is part of a broader "Right to Repair" movement that has seen significant success at the state level. California's Right to Repair Act (SB 244), which takes effect on July 1, 2024, requires manufacturers to make parts, tools, and documentation available for seven years for products over $100 and three years for those between $50 and $99.99. - New York's Digital Fair Repair Act, which became effective in late 2023, also mandates that manufacturers make parts, tools, and documentation available to consumers and independent repair shops for electronic equipment. - Estimates on consumer savings from right-to-repair laws vary. Supporters suggest households could save an average of $330 to $400 annually by repairing instead of replacing electronics. However, some economic analyses project more modest savings of around $55 per household per year. - The proposed rule would expand the list of products requiring EnergyGuide labels, and therefore repair instructions, to include items like clothes dryers, air purifiers, residential ice makers, and cooking tops.
