NHTSA investigating Ford Blue Cruise hands-free driving system after 3 deaths

Ford Blue Cruise investigation overview: 

• Who: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Ford Blue Cruise hands-free driving systems found in an estimated 130,050 model year 2021-2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. 
• Why: The agency says it is opening the investigation in the wake of two fatal accidents involving the Blue Cruise hands-free driving systems that led to three deaths. 
• Where: Ford sells Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with hands-free driving systems to consumers nationwide. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Ford Blue Cruise hands-free driving systems equipped in model year 2021-2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles following three deaths.

In an Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) resume, the agency says it is opening an investigation into the hands-free driving system following two reports of crashes resulting in the deaths. In each incident, a Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicle collided with stationary vehicles located within the travel lanes of controlled access vehicles. 

“Both collisions occurred during nighttime lighting conditions, and each incident resulted in at least one fatality,” the NHTSA says in the resume.

Ford equipped the hands-free driving systems, known formally as Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0, in an estimated 130,050 of the model year 2021-2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles, according to the ODI resume. 

Initial investigation confirms systems engaged immediately prior to fatal crashes

An initial ODI investigation confirmed the Blue Cruise hands-free driving system was engaged in each of the subject’s vehicles immediately prior to the collision that resulted in each death, according to the ODI resume. 

The NHTSA says its investigation will “evaluate the system’s performance of the dynamic driving task and driver monitoring” and the hands-free driving system is used “with the expectation that the driver will be “actively supervising the system’s performance.” 

Ford introduced the Blue Cruise hands-free driving system in model year 2021; it is available in several Ford and Lincoln vehicles, CNN Business reports. 

Ford initiated a recall for 456,565 of its model year 2021-2024 Ford Bronco Sport and model year 2022-2023 Ford Maverick vehicles last month over concerns the vehicles could lose drive power as a result of a defective body and powertrain control module. 

Have you driven a vehicle equipped with Ford’s Blue Cruise hands-free driving system? Let us know in the comments.

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