Fatal Crashes Put Ford’s BlueCruise Under Federal Investigation

Ford’s self-driving technology, BlueCruise, faces unexpected defects leading to accidents

In the 1960s, research on self-driving began centered around Mercedes-Benz. Initially, the test driving range had no obstacles and did not cross the center line or lane. However, many companies have shown fantastic performance as computer engineering and automotive technology fields have significantly advanced.

Starting with Level 3 self-driving, the system will have more decision-making authority over the vehicle than the driver. However, consumer trust is still low; most companies provide a Level 2 system. Ford also introduced BlueCruise, a self-driving technology, but negative perceptions about its quality grew as news of defects and accidents spread.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the U.S. safety regulator, has investigated Ford’s semi-autonomous hands-free driver assistance system, BlueCruise, in connection with two recent crashes. The NHTSA’s Defect Investigation Office is conducting the investigation, and the NHTSA is evaluating whether to proceed with further investigation or recall of this system.

The reported accidents have one thing in common: a Mustang Mach-E crossover ran into a stopped vehicle at night, causing a collision. In both incidents, one death occurred. An initial investigation conducted by the Defects Investigation Office in March 2024 found that both vehicles had BlueCruise running just before the collision.

Unlike typical level 2 driver assistance systems, BlueCruise allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel for long periods as long as they keep their eyes on the road. This feature is designed to relieve the stress of long-distance travel. It can only be used on certain highways and not in general urban areas.

The Defect Investigation Bureau is conducting preliminary tests on BlueCruise’s ability to respond to road conditions and the functionality of the driver monitoring portion of the system. The feature is available on several Ford and Lincoln models, but the investigation will focus only on the 2021-24 Mach-E, with more than 130,000 expected to be affected.

Both Ford and Tesla Under Investigation

BlueCruise is Ford’s representative driver assistance technology. Still, reviewers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S. recently evaluated it as disappointing compared to 14 similar ADAS products from other automobile manufacturers. The technology received a poor rating, and ten different systems, including Tesla’s Autopilot.

At the time, an official from the IIHS emphasized the risk, saying, “Some drivers may think partial automation makes long-distance driving easier, but there is little evidence that it makes driving safer.” Last week, NHTSA announced that it was launching an investigation into Tesla’s recall of 2 million vehicles to improve the safety of its Autopilot feature.