The NHTSA Sends Ford a Detailed List of Questions About BlueCruise System
The top federal vehicle safety regulator has recently sent Ford an exhaustive list of questions regarding its hands-free driver-assistance system, known as BlueCruise. This development comes more than a year after two fatal crashes involving the software prompted an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) issued a letter to Ford on June 18, containing a total of 25 questions. These questions range from basic inquiries about the vehicles equipped with BlueCruise to more detailed requests for internal documents related to the crashes, software development, and any modifications made to the system.
This information request marks the first communication from the NHTSA to Ford since the investigation was elevated to an “engineering analysis” level in January. This progression is a necessary step before the NHTSA can request a recall from Ford.
A spokesperson from Ford has stated that the company is cooperating with the NHTSA to aid in the investigation process.
The investigation into BlueCruise was initiated by the ODI in April 2024 following two fatal crashes involving drivers using the system. In both incidents, the drivers collided with stationary vehicles while using BlueCruise, resulting in the first known fatalities associated with the software.
BlueCruise is designed to be used only on pre-mapped highways and utilizes cameras, radar sensors, and software to control steering, speed, and braking. The system includes an in-cabin camera with an eye-tracking feature to ensure driver attention remains on the road. BlueCruise is available for purchase at $495 annually or $2,495 as a one-time payment and is compatible with select Ford models.
The crashes in early 2024 raised concerns about the system’s ability to detect stationary objects, a recurring issue in other driver-assistance software like Tesla’s.
In January, the NHTSA highlighted limitations in BlueCruise’s detection of stationary vehicles under certain conditions, particularly in low visibility situations. Both fatal crashes occurred at night, prompting the NHTSA to request additional information from Ford regarding the software’s logic and algorithms for hazard detection.
Ford has until August 6 to provide responses to the 25 questions posed by the NHTSA or potentially face civil penalties.
