The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has sent Ford Motor Co a formal request for extensive information about its BlueCruise hands-free driver-assistance system, marking a significant step in an ongoing investigation into two fatal crashes.
The letter, dated June 18, comes from the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and includes 25 detailed questions. These range from the identification of all Ford vehicles equipped with BlueCruise to documentation related to software changes, crash data, internal assessments, and technical details about the system’s ability to detect hazards, particularly stationary vehicles.
The probe was initiated in April 2024 after two fatal nighttime crashes in which Ford vehicles using BlueCruise collided with stationary vehicles. Both incidents raised concerns about the system’s object recognition capabilities—an issue that has also drawn scrutiny for rival systems like Tesla’s Autopilot. NHTSA noted in January 2025, when it escalated the inquiry to an “engineering analysis,” that preliminary findings suggested BlueCruise may struggle to identify obstacles in low-visibility conditions.
Ford’s BlueCruise is a Level 2 driver-assist technology available on select models including the Explorer, Expedition, F-150, and Mustang Mach-E. It allows hands-free operation on mapped highways using a combination of cameras, radar, and in-cabin driver monitoring. The system is offered as an annual subscription or a one-time purchase.
The engineering analysis phase is a required precursor to any potential recall order. As part of the inquiry, NHTSA is examining the logic and algorithms BlueCruise uses to classify and respond to road hazards. Ford has until August 6 to respond to the agency’s inquiries or face possible civil penalties.