Are independent mechanics about to get locked out of wrenching on new vehicles? Should you be allowed and able to choose who fixes the car that you own? Should you be able to work on your own car? The quiet battle brewing over the right to repair could decide the answer to these questions all within the walls of congress without you ever getting a say. The fight has been brewing for over a decade, and now it’s back in spotlight. Ford CEO Jim Farley made a comment about the topic that should make every car owner uncomfortable. Farley’s comment that modern cars are too complex and his argument that it’s a safety issue for you to work on your own car is just one piece of the puzzle. The larger question, and the real danger, is what happens if automakers win this fight that you didn’t even realize existed. The feds are involved and President Trump is now urging the EPA to clarify what repairs are legal, but the current administration’s latest move only takes aim at emissions equipment. It also is a memo and by no means changing the current situation. This isn’t a new topic and has been on the docket for years with bipartisan coalitions introducing bills, U.S. Senators calling out automotive executives for opposing right to repair, and even the feds telling automakers to ignore right to repair laws in certain states. The issue can affect things as simple as changing brake pads on your car. And cars being more connected and complicated than ever isn’t helping things. On the latest episode of The Drivecast we discuss the right to repair, how we got here, why it’s back in the news, what’s happening, what it means for you, and what you can do about it.