Feds question Ford in hands-free driving investigation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has intensified its investigation into Ford's hands-free driver-assistance system, BlueCruise, following two fatal crashes in early 2024 involving stationary vehicles. On June 18, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) sent Ford a detailed letter containing 25 questions about BlueCruise, including requests for a list of equipped vehicles, internal documents related to the crashes, software development details, and any changes made to the system. This marks the first formal information request since the investigation was escalated to an “engineering analysis” in January—a necessary step before a potential recall can be mandated. Ford is cooperating with the investigation and must respond by August 6 or face civil penalties. BlueCruise is a hands-free driving system available on select Ford models such as the Explorer, Expedition, F-150, and Mustang Mach-E, designed for use on pre-mapped highways. It uses cameras, radar, and an