Ford Hands-Free Driving Tech Under Investigation by US Safety Regulators

Ford BlueCruise System Under Enhanced Scrutiny

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has escalated its investigation into Ford’s BlueCruise advanced driver assistance system. This upgrade is a necessary precursor to potentially issuing a recall.

Investigation Triggered by Fatal Crashes

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation initiated the probe last April. This followed confirmation that the BlueCruise system was engaged in two fatal accidents involving Ford Mustang Mach E vehicles.

In both incidents, the vehicles collided with vehicles that were stationary.

Engineering Analysis Now Underway

This week, NHTSA announced the investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis. This signifies a more in-depth examination of BlueCruise and its potential shortcomings.

The analysis will encompass vehicle assessments, a review of technical data, and further scrutiny of crash and non-crash reports.

Vehicles Affected

Approximately 129,222 Ford Mustang Mach E vehicles are currently equipped with the BlueCruise system, according to the regulator.

Ford has stated they are cooperating fully with NHTSA’s investigation.

Identified Limitations

The initial investigation revealed limitations in BlueCruise’s ability to detect stationary vehicles under specific circumstances.

Specifically, the system may incorrectly identify objects at a distance when the vehicle is traveling at speeds of 62 mph or higher.

Visibility Concerns

NHTSA also noted that system performance can be compromised in conditions of poor visibility, such as inadequate lighting.

BlueCruise System Overview

Ford first introduced BlueCruise in 2021, initially on the F-150 pickup truck and select Mustang Mach-E models.

The hands-free functionality integrates cameras, radar sensors, and software to deliver adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and speed-sign recognition.

Comparison to Competitors

BlueCruise competes with General Motors’ Super Cruise system, both of which offer hands-free operation.

Both systems utilize in-cabin cameras to monitor driver attentiveness and ensure their eyes remain on the road.

Context with Tesla Autopilot

These systems are often contrasted with Tesla’s Autopilot, which still necessitates drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel.

Even the upgraded Tesla Full Self-Driving software is considered less restrictive than Ford BlueCruise, which is currently limited to pre-mapped highways.

Ongoing Tesla Investigation

In October of last year, NHTSA also launched an investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” software.

This investigation was prompted by four reported crashes occurring in low-visibility conditions, one of which resulted in a pedestrian fatality. That investigation remains active.

This report has been updated to include a statement from Ford.