Published
February 11, 2025
Updated
August 1, 2026
Payments from the Smitty's/CAM2 303 manufacturer settlement were issued in July 2025. The benefit was calculated from approved purchase and equipment-damage values—not a universal $100 no-proof payment—and the claim window is closed.
Current Status
The manufacturer settlement is approved and substantially distributed. Final judgment was entered March 27, 2025, and the administrator sent the main distribution to 5,241 claimants on July 29, 2025. The March 2026 status report documented remaining stale and reissued checks plus a residual fund awaiting final accounting. No new claims can be filed after the March 1, 2025 deadline.StatusMain Distribution Sent
Claim DeadlineMarch 1, 2025 — Passed
Settlement Fund$31.9 Million
Paid Claimants5,241
What Did Consumers Allege?
The lawsuits alleged that Smitty's Supply and CAM2 International sold hydraulic fluids labeled with the “303” name even though the John Deere 303 specification had been obsolete for decades. Plaintiffs alleged the products were made from unsuitable ingredients, failed to provide the protection expected of tractor hydraulic fluid, and could damage pumps, transmissions, seals, and other equipment. The manufacturers disputed the claims and entered the settlement without admitting wrongdoing or liability.Covered Products and Purchases
The covered products were Super S Super Trac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, Super S 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, CAM2 ProMax 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil, and CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil. The nationwide class generally covered purchases from December 1, 2013 forward, subject to the settlement's exclusions and special treatment of some Missouri purchases. Products bought only for resale were excluded.Manufacturer Settlement Versus Retailer Settlement
This $31.9 million agreement resolved claims against the two manufacturer defendants. It followed separate settlements involving retailers that sold 303-labeled fluid. A claimant who had submitted purchase information in the retailer process could ask the administrator to reuse that information, but still had to submit Part A of the manufacturer claim form. Participation in one settlement did not automatically create a claim in the other.What Information Did a Claim Require?
Part A asked for the covered fluid purchases. The allocation gave values to valid units: $6 for a two-gallon jug, $12 for a five-gallon bucket, and $90 for a 55-gallon drum. Part B addressed alleged repairs, replacement parts, and specific equipment damage and required appropriate supporting records. The administrator reviewed claims, issued denial or partial-denial notices, and allowed a limited contest process before the distribution calculation.How Was Each Payment Calculated?
The old headline's “$100 without proof” shorthand did not reflect the final plan. More than 6,600 non-fraudulent claim forms entered review, 5,241 were ultimately valid, and 2,502 included approved repair or total-loss amounts. Approved purchase values and approved damage values totaled about $40.46 million. The available net fund supported an initial payment equal to about 40% of each approved total claim value, with money reserved for corrections and late administration issues.Payment Timeline
The court granted final approval in March 2025 and approved the proposed distribution in July 2025. The administrator distributed more than $16.18 million to 5,241 claimants on July 29, 2025. A January 2026 report said 5,108 original checks had been cashed; by March 2026 that number had risen to 5,161. Some original checks had expired, some were reissued, and a modest fund balance remained for administration and final disposition.Can Someone File Now?
No. The claim deadline was March 1, 2025. The court reports describe payment follow-up for people already in the approved process, not a reopened claim period. Existing claimants can review the final approval, distribution, and interim accounting filings on the official settlement documents page.Official Information
Review the latest information on the official Smitty's/CAM2 manufacturer documents website.
Litigation
Smitty's/CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid MDL
Case Number
4:20-md-02936-SRB
Court
U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
Settlement
$31.9 million manufacturer agreement
Final Approval
March 27, 2025
Claim Deadline
March 1, 2025
Payments Sent
July 29, 2025
Official Website
official Smitty's/CAM2 manufacturer documents
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