Current:Home > NewsFeds open preliminary investigation into Ford's hands-free driving tech BlueCruise -MarketLink
Feds open preliminary investigation into Ford's hands-free driving tech BlueCruise
Indexbit View
Date:2025-04-10 09:40:02
Federal safety regulators announced Monday they are investigating Ford’s hands-free driver assistance system, BlueCruise, on the heels of fatalities involving crashes with stationary vehicles in two states.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) said it confirmed BlueCruise was engaged right before impact during two wrecks - one in Texas (February) and one in Pennsylvania (April).
The deaths mark the first fatalities involving the system, according to the NHTSA and both crashes took place during "nighttime lighting conditions."
What Ford model and year is being investigated?
The vehicles affected include 2021-2024 Ford Mustang Mach E models.
According to NHTSA, BlueCruise is only available on certain roads (pre-mapped highways) and uses "a camera-based driver monitoring system to determine driver attentiveness to the roadway."
It was introduced in 2021 and is currently available in Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
"The investigation will evaluate the system's performance on the dynamic driving task and driver monitoring," the NHTSA wrote in an action plan.
'Critical safety gap':Gap between Tesla drivers, systems cited as NHTSA launches recall probe
Announcement comes days after NHTSA closes Tesla autopilot investigation
The investigation comes three days after NHTSA ODI reported it was investigating the adequacy of Tesla's December 2023 recall of more than 2 million vehicles to update its autopilot features after nearly two dozen crashes involving Tesla vehicles with updated software.
After the software updates were deployed, "ODI identified concerns due to post-remedy crash events and results from preliminary NHTSA tests of remedied vehicles," the agency said in the filing.
In documents filed on Friday, the agency said it had also closed a nearly three-year investigation analyzing 956 crashes involving Tesla vehicles through Aug. 30, 2023. Nearly half of the accidents (467) could have been avoidable, ODI said, but happened because "Tesla’s weak driver engagement system was not appropriate for Autopilot’s permissive operating capabilities."
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (4281)
Related
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Taylor Swift Fans Spot Easter Egg During Night Out With Cara Delevingne and More
- Poland honors soldier who was fatally stabbed by migrant at border with Belarus
- YouTuber Jake Paul launches men's personal care line at Walmart
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Coming Up for Air
- Kentucky man convicted of training with Islamic State group in Syria
- Expedition searching for world's most endangered marine mammal reports dwindling population
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Entrapment in play as appeals court looks at plot to kidnap Michigan governor
Ranking
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Hurricane Winds Can Destroy Solar Panels, But Developers Are Working to Fortify Them
- Bridgerton Stars React to Jaw-Dropping Lady Whistledown Twist and Big Reveal
- The Doctor Who Gift Guide That’s Whovian-Approved (and More Than Just TARDISes)
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Questlove digs into the roots of hip-hop and its impact on culture in new book
- 2 to vie in November to become Las Vegas mayor and succeed Goodman duo dating to 1999
- Biden campaign calls on GOP to drop lawsuits over mail ballots, citing Trump’s new fondness for it
Recommendation
Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
Vermont State Police say a trooper shot and killed man in a struggle over a sawed-off shotgun
Taylor Swift Fans Spot Easter Egg During Night Out With Cara Delevingne and More
Social Security COLA estimate dips, but seniors remain in a hole. Here's why.
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Federal court dismisses appeal of lawsuit contesting transgender woman in Wyoming sorority
Steve Bannon seeks to stay out of prison while he appeals contempt of Congress conviction
Beyond the logo: Driven by losses, Jerry West's NBA legacy will last forever