Federal investigators say driver distraction, system limitations and overreliance on technology were key factors in two fatal crashes involving Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system, raising fresh concerns about the safety of advanced driver-assistance features.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) outlined its findings in a press release issued March 31st. Investigators determined that the crashes, which occurred in 2024 in San Antonio, Texas, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, involved 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles operating with BlueCruise engaged. The two incidents resulted in three deaths.
Investigators found that in both crashes, neither the drivers nor the system attempted to brake or steer before impact, even as the vehicles struck stopped traffic at highway speeds. Alcohol impairment was also cited in both crashes.
The NTSB concluded that drivers failed to maintain attention to the road while using the hands-free system, relying too heavily on the technology to handle driving tasks. Investigators also cited shortcomings in the system itself, including its inability to consistently detect stationary vehicles and its allowance for higher speeds than conditions warranted.
In one crash, the system did not recognize a stopped vehicle ahead. In the other, the vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions in a work zone, investigators said.
Read the board's executive summary here.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the findings underscore a broader issue across the auto industry, where partially automated systems can create a false sense of security.
“We cannot take a hands-off approach to hands-free driving technology,” Homendy said, emphasizing that these systems still require full driver engagement.
The NTSB stressed the issue is not unique to Ford, warning that similar concerns apply to other automakers offering partially automated driving features. The agency also raised concerns that current driver-monitoring systems, including Ford’s, may not be sufficient to ensure motorists remain attentive. Investigators said drivers can become distracted or disengaged while the system is active, increasing the risk of serious crashes.
The agency is urging stronger federal standards, improved driver monitoring, and clearer communication to consumers about the limitations of the technology.
In an emailed statement to CarPro, Ford said: "Ford remains committed to safety and appreciates the NTSB’s thorough investigation, which found no quality defects or equipment failures in BlueCruise. Our thoughts are with the families affected by both of these roadway incidents. While alcohol impairment was a key factor in these incidents, we will take the NTSB’s recommendations under serious consideration as we continue to evolve our driver-assist technologies and encourage responsible road behavior."
Ford also noted that while the NTSB made future-state suggestions for product design, it found no defect with the functionality of its current BlueCruise system which it describes as comparable to that of many other automakers retailing partial autonomy products today.
Ford recently shared a blog post outlining how it prioritizes safety in its Level 2 product design via collaborative design, intuitive driver notifications, and dedicated driver monitoring system.
Federal regulators have been examining BlueCruise since 2025. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has multiple ongoing investigations into the system’s performance and safety. BlueCruise, introduced in 2021, allows hands-free driving on certain pre-mapped highways but is classified as a Level 2 system, meaning drivers must remain alert and ready to take control at all times. It is currently in its 5th-generation of software, and available on 97% of U.S. and Canadian controlled-access highways.
The crashes investigated by the NTSB also highlight limitations common across many driver-assistance systems. Federal safety officials have previously warned that such systems can struggle to detect stationary objects at highway speeds, particularly in low-light conditions.
Bottom line: the technology may be getting more capable, but it still isn’t a substitute for an attentive driver behind the wheel.
Photo: Ford.