NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
50 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Sep 30, 2025
Electrical SystemPower Train
I have taken my car to the dealership is three different occasions and reported problems with the screens (they go black, even when driving), rear-view image missing, proximity sensor malfunctioning (beeps even when there are no objects or cars around) and the driving assistance system (constantly disengages and reports it, with…
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I have taken my car to the dealership is three different occasions and reported problems with the screens (they go black, even when driving), rear-view image missing, proximity sensor malfunctioning (beeps even when there are no objects or cars around) and the driving assistance system (constantly disengages and reports it, without intervention). Additionally, I've read that the recalls talks about a possible lock-out issue that could put my children well-being at risk and I'm aware of issues with the doors of the vehicle. Despite the multiple reports and trips to the repair department these problems are still present and this last time my car has been retained at the dealership for over a week without any update or ETA for fixing the problem and I'm being told my only option would be get a new car and start my financing all over
NHTSA ODI #11690661
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2025
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V404000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable am…
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The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V404000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA ODI #11680696
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2025
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
Recall Action Soon Issue Since 06-20-2025 Powertrain control module and secondary on-board diagnostic control module c software upddate For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall Action Soon Issue Since 04-25-2025 Drivers side seat buckle replacement For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall A…
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Recall Action Soon Issue Since 06-20-2025 Powertrain control module and secondary on-board diagnostic control module c software upddate For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall Action Soon Issue Since 04-25-2025 Drivers side seat buckle replacement For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall Action Soon Issue Since 11-08-2024 2021-2023 model year mach-e vehicles paint sealant issues - door hems inspection - repair For More Information Telematics Generated Issue
NHTSA ODI #11674869
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2025
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
Recall Action Soon Issue Since 06-20-2025 Powertrain control module and secondary on-board diagnostic control module c software upddate For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall Action Soon Issue Since 04-25-2025 Drivers side seat buckle replacement For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall A…
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Recall Action Soon Issue Since 06-20-2025 Powertrain control module and secondary on-board diagnostic control module c software upddate For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall Action Soon Issue Since 04-25-2025 Drivers side seat buckle replacement For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall Action Soon Issue Since 11-08-2024 2021-2023 model year mach-e vehicles paint sealant issues - door hems inspection - repair For More Information Telematics Generated Issue
NHTSA ODI #11674867
Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2025
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach E. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V404000 (Electrical system, Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available.…
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The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach E. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V404000 (Electrical system, Latches/Locks/Linkages); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA ODI #11674073
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2025
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other
Ford Motor Company Dear Ford Customer Service Team, I am writing as a highly disappointed owner of a Ford (specify model, e.g., Mustang Mach‑E), having observed a dramatic unexplained jump of over 10,000 miles on my vehicle’s odometer in just three months. I firmly reject the insinuation that I drove that distance—I maintain a…
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Ford Motor Company Dear Ford Customer Service Team, I am writing as a highly disappointed owner of a Ford (specify model, e.g., Mustang Mach‑E), having observed a dramatic unexplained jump of over 10,000 miles on my vehicle’s odometer in just three months. I firmly reject the insinuation that I drove that distance—I maintain an accurate charging and usage log proving otherwise—and I demand a refund of my warranty payment plus a prompt and transparent investigation. Key Facts & Concerns 1. Sudden mileage spike (~10,000 miles in 3 months) • I did not charge or drive anywhere near that distance. My charging logs and event logs—comprehensively detailed—show a maximum of [X] miles total for that period. • The odometer reading is simply inconsistent with verifiable usage data. 2. Likelihood of system error or tampering • Similar issues have been documented in EVs: • Tesla vehicles are currently under multiple lawsuits alleging artificially inflated odometer mileage, sometimes by as much as 15–117%—accusations that have triggered a proposed class-action in California and garnered widespread reports and press coverage    . • Ford EV owners have also flagged odometer anomalies—both underreporting and overreporting, including a Ford Lightning report revealing odometer mismatch in a vehicle health report (). 3. Legal precedent and consumer protection • Odometer manipulation—even unintentional—is taken seriously under federal law (Federal Odometer Act), with strict penalties for tampering  . • Odometer discrepancies significantly affect warranty eligibility and residual vehicle value. What I Want Ford to Do 1. Full refund of the prorated warranty cost, as it has been voided unfairly by incorrect mileage totals. 2. Comprehensive odometer and software audit of my vehicle. I request a certified statement of findings. 3. Corrected mileage records and warranty reinstatement based on actual usage. 4. Clear, documented communication detailing how this issue
NHTSA ODI #11673820
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2025
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
At [XXX] on Tuesday [XXX] while driving our 2023 Ford Mustang Mach E GT eastbound in the left lane on [XXX] near the [XXX] intersection the car suddenly stopped. There was a second or two of multiple warning notices then the car instrument panel went blank. The car “bricked” as is known in Electric Vehicle jargon. There was n…
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At [XXX] on Tuesday [XXX] while driving our 2023 Ford Mustang Mach E GT eastbound in the left lane on [XXX] near the [XXX] intersection the car suddenly stopped. There was a second or two of multiple warning notices then the car instrument panel went blank. The car “bricked” as is known in Electric Vehicle jargon. There was no power to anything, and the stop was sudden and steering was extremely difficult. Washington State Patrol and Washington Department of Transportation responded to provide safety assistance while eastbound traffic on [XXX] backed up for several miles. The car is now at Frontier Ford in Anacortes Washington and they have confirmed its status as completely dead. In fact it took almost an hour to get the car off the tow truck. The dealership tried several battery jumper options to the 12v battery but when they worked it seemed to only work for a few seconds before the car “bricked” again. There is probably a WSP police and WSDOT report about responding to this incident. In the seconds before the complete electrical shutdown there was a cascade of warning notices then everything went blank and the car abruptly stopped in traffic. It took over an hour to get a tow truck and then the cars “bricked” status made the towing job very difficult and eventually the car was literally dragged onto the flatbed with a winch. This incident happened during rush hour in heavy traffic and both occupants safely was put at high risk of a high speed collision from traffic approaching from the rear of the car. We have made two reports to Ford Customer Service. Case # [XXX] And case # [XXX] The suddenness and inability to maneuver and get out of traffic is a real safety problem that can lead to a severe accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11672199
20,000 miles · Jun 11, 2025
Back Over PreventionElectrical System
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact stated that while reversing, the "Cross Traffic Alert" system failed to operate as intended, creating a hazard for the driver. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at various undisclosed speeds, the "Blind Spot I…
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The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact stated that while reversing, the "Cross Traffic Alert" system failed to operate as intended, creating a hazard for the driver. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at various undisclosed speeds, the "Blind Spot Information" system failed to function as intended, preventing the driver from safely operating the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet been determined. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
NHTSA ODI #11666398
15,000 miles · May 15, 2025
Electrical SystemForward Collision Avoidance
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the safety features independently deactivated. In addition, the message “Forward Collision Avoidance Brake Assist Unavailable” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed radar and fr…
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The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the safety features independently deactivated. In addition, the message “Forward Collision Avoidance Brake Assist Unavailable” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed radar and front camera system. The contact was informed that the radar and front camera systems needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
NHTSA ODI #11661207
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2025
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
I HAVE FORD MACH E 2023 E SELECT MODEL, I HAVE TAKEN MANY TIMES TO DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE MAKING EXCUSES AND SAYING ITS SOFTWARE ISSUE BUT ITS NOT ADN THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THAT, IT HAS SCREEN PROBLEM THE SCREEN FREEZES FULL WAY,HALF WAY SOMETIME ALL BLACK OUT, CONNECTS DISCONNECTS ITSELF, ITS ANNOYING AND ITS SAFETY ISSUE YOU GE…
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I HAVE FORD MACH E 2023 E SELECT MODEL, I HAVE TAKEN MANY TIMES TO DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE MAKING EXCUSES AND SAYING ITS SOFTWARE ISSUE BUT ITS NOT ADN THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THAT, IT HAS SCREEN PROBLEM THE SCREEN FREEZES FULL WAY,HALF WAY SOMETIME ALL BLACK OUT, CONNECTS DISCONNECTS ITSELF, ITS ANNOYING AND ITS SAFETY ISSUE YOU GET DISTRACTED BY IT, IF YOU HAVE NAVIGATION ON OR ON THE PHONE ALL OF SUDDEN CONNECTS DISCONNECTS FREEZES THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE OUT YOUR CELLPHONE AND KEEP TOUCHING AND PANICKING AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ITS DANGERIOUS FOR THE DRIVING AND FOR THE PUBLIC LETS SAY IF YOU WANNA GO SOMEWHERE AND NAVIGATION IS ON ADN ALL OF SUDDEN PROBLEM OCCURS MANUFACTURE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT ALSO SAME PROBLEM OCCURS IN MY 2024 FORD EXPEDITION AND THEY NOT FIXING IT, AND AS PER LAW YOU ARE NOT ALLOW TO DRIVE AND USE YOUR CELL, I CONTACTED MANUFACTURE TOOK TO DEALER NO HELP NO FIXING BLAMING ON SOFTWARE UPDATE AND THEY HAVE SAME ISSUE IN MOST OF THERE CAR EVEN ONE DAY THEY GAVE ME LOANER AND SAME PROBLEM THERE TOO. THIS SHOULD BE PUT AS HIGH PRIORITY AND BE FIXED THIS.
NHTSA ODI #11640773
Official recalls
6Sep 9, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Mustang Mache E vehicles that received a new Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) during a prior repair. The battery energy control module software may cause an incorrect state of charge to display in the vehicle, or lead to an increased risk of a high voltage battery fire after repeated DC Fast Charging cycles.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inaccurate state-of-charge reading can lead to an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of crash. Additionally, a high voltage battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the BECM software, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed October 26, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S68. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 9, 2026.
Jul 28, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles. The rear side quarter window glass trim may be improperly secured, which can allow it to detach.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Detached trim pieces can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the quarter window glass assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 14, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S56. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 7, 2026.
Jun 30, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Mustang Mach E vehicles. The rear differential pinion shaft may fracture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Differential pinion shaft fracture may result in a loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair or replace the rear differential assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in late December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S50.
Jun 13, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles. In the event of a low battery charge, the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door, possibly trapping someone who is unable to use the inside door release handles, such as a child in the back seat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and the Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module C (SOBDMC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to 2021-2025 Mustang Mach-E owners September 12, 2025. Additionally, Owner notification letters were mailed to 2024-2025 Mustang Mach-E owners July 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S65.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:body Control Module:software
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles. In the event of a low battery charge, the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door, possibly trapping someone who is unable to use the inside door release handles, such as a child in the back seat.
Consequence: The inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and the Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module C (SOBDMC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to 2021-2025 Mustang Mach-E owners September 12, 2025. Additionally, Owner notification letters were mailed to 2024-2025 Mustang Mach-E owners July 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S65.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles. In the event of a low battery charge, the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door, possibly trapping someone who is unable to use the inside door release handles, such as a child in the back seat.
Consequence: The inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and the Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module C (SOBDMC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to 2021-2025 Mustang Mach-E owners September 12, 2025. Additionally, Owner notification letters were mailed to 2024-2025 Mustang Mach-E owners July 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S65.
May 9, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.
Aug 9, 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Maverick, Ford Bronco Sport, and Mustang Mach-E vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper motor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 6, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S51.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA25001 · Collisions Involving Ford Bluecruise
Opened Jan 17, 2025 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:adas
On April 25, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24012) to assess BlueCruise, a partial driving automation system available on certain vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford). NHTSA opened the investigation after the agency received notice of two fatal collisions involving BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Based on the incidents, NHTSA scoped the investigation to 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with BlueCruise. In June 2024, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Ford requiring that it provide certain information pertaining to crashes, non-crash reports, and technical specifications that relate to BlueCruise, as well as other Ford partial driving automation systems that offer lane and speed maintenance. In its response to ODI’s IR, Ford stated that there are 2,539,962 Ford and Lincoln vehicles (including subject and peer vehicles) equipped with a partial driving automation system within the scope of the request. The majority of these vehicles are equipped with a system that Ford calls Lane Centering Assist (LCA), which is a hands-on partial driving automation system that combines longitudinal control authority governed by Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and lateral control authority governed by a steerable path. LCA is offered on a wide range of Ford and Lincoln models beginning in model year 2019. Vehicles that are equipped with BlueCruise, the focus of this investigation, have LCA capability and additionally offer hands-free partial driving automation when certain conditions are met. Hands-free BlueCruise operation is only offered on certain roadways and system availability is geofenced using vehicle GPS. BlueCruise-equipped vehicles employ a camera-based driver monitoring system to determine driver attentiveness to the roadway. BlueCruise was introduced in model year 2021 and is currently available in a select range of Ford and Lincoln vehicles. For BlueCruise- and LCA-equipped vehicles, both ACC and Pre-Collision Assist (PCA) features use a combination of camera and radar sensing technologies to detect and classify objects. ACC is specifically designed to detect vehicles (including cars, trucks, and motorcycles) and bicycles in front of the subject vehicle which are either stationary or moving in the same direction as the subject vehicle. Through this investigation, limitations in the detection of stationary vehicles in certain conditions have been identified. Specifically, due to the potential for false detection of stationary objects at long distances, Ford designed ACC to inhibit any response to reported stationary objects when the subject vehicle’s approach speed is at or above 62 mph. Additionally, system performance may be limited when there is poor visibility due to insufficient illumination. In addition to reviewing Ford’s response to ODI’s IR, the agency conducted a review of crash and non-crash reports identified collectively through Ford’s IR response, incident reporting through Standing General Order 2021-01 (SGO), and NHTSA vehicle owner questionnaires. In total, 32 crashes and 2,004 non-crash reports on subject and peer Ford vehicles were identified across manufacturer and ODI data sources. A detailed analysis of each crash was conducted including the review of any available police reports, photographs, data recovered from in-vehicle event data recorders, connected vehicle data, and/or other information. In both fatal collisions referenced in the PE24012 opening resume, the subject Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicle was traveling over 70 mph on a controlled-access highway during nighttime lighting conditions with hands-free BlueCruise engaged when it collided with a stationary vehicle. Analysis of data imaged from the vehicles’ event data recorders demonstrates that in each incident, the driver did not apply the brakes or take evasive steering action, and no deceleration was initiated by either the BlueCruise system or PCA prior to impact. Through the agency’s crash analysis, four additional frontal collisions were identified where the subject Ford impacted a stopped or slow-moving lead vehicle or another stationary object located in the travel lane. Two of these four incidents involved BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles (included in the failure report summary along with the fatal collisions discussed above), while the other two involved other Ford models equipped with the LCA system. Additionally, a trend was identified through analysis of the non-crash reports relating to allegations that ACC (the longitudinal component of both BlueCruise and LCA) failed to detect and/or respond to a stopped or slow-moving lead vehicle. In these reports, consumers often describe that the absence of deceleration initiated by ACC was unexpected and required harsh manual braking or intervention from the PCA to avoid a frontal collision with the lead vehicle. Based on NHTSA’s analysis, system limitations relating to the detection of stationary vehicles while traveling at highway speeds and in nighttime lighting conditions appear to be factors in collisions under investigation and several apparently similar near-miss, non-crash reports. This Engineering Analysis (EA) is being opened to further investigate these system limitations and to evaluate drivers’ ability to respond to scenarios that exceed system limitations. During the EA, the agency expects to, among other things, perform vehicle evaluations, review additional technical information, and perform additional analysis of related crashes and non-crash reports. The crashes included in the failure report summary can be found at NHTSA.gov under the following SGO report identification numbers: 502-7268, 502-7426, 502-6852, 502-8738.
PE24012 · Collisions Involving Ford Bluecruise
Opened Apr 25, 2024 · Closed Jan 17, 2025
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:adas
On April 25, 2024, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24012) to assess BlueCruise, a partial driving automation system available on certain vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company (Ford). NHTSA opened the investigation after the agency received notice of two fatal collisions involving BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Based on the incidents, NHTSA scoped the investigation to 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with BlueCruise. In June 2024, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Ford requiring that it provide certain information pertaining to crashes, non-crash reports, and technical specifications that relate to BlueCruise, as well as other Ford partial driving automation systems that offer lane and speed maintenance. In its response to ODI’s IR, Ford stated that there are 2,539,962 Ford and Lincoln vehicles (including subject and peer vehicles) equipped with a partial driving automation system within the scope of the request. The majority of these vehicles are equipped with a system that Ford calls Lane Centering Assist (LCA), which is a hands-on partial driving automation system that combines longitudinal control authority governed by Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and lateral control authority governed by a steerable path. LCA is offered on a wide range of Ford and Lincoln models beginning in model year 2019. Vehicles that are equipped with BlueCruise, the focus of this investigation, have LCA capability and additionally offer hands-free partial driving automation when certain conditions are met. Hands-free BlueCruise operation is only offered on certain roadways and system availability is geofenced using vehicle GPS. BlueCruise-equipped vehicles employ a camera-based driver monitoring system to determine driver attentiveness to the roadway. BlueCruise was introduced in model year 2021 and is currently available in a select range of Ford and Lincoln vehicles. For BlueCruise- and LCA-equipped vehicles, both ACC and Pre-Collision Assist (PCA) features use a combination of camera and radar sensing technologies to detect and classify objects. ACC is specifically designed to detect vehicles (including cars, trucks, and motorcycles) and bicycles in front of the subject vehicle which are either stationary or moving in the same direction as the subject vehicle. Through this investigation, limitations in the detection of stationary vehicles in certain conditions have been identified. Specifically, due to the potential for false detection of stationary objects at long distances, Ford designed ACC to inhibit any response to reported stationary objects when the subject vehicle’s approach speed is at or above 62 mph. Additionally, system performance may be limited when there is poor visibility due to insufficient illumination. In addition to reviewing Ford’s response to ODI’s IR, the agency conducted a review of crash and non-crash reports identified collectively through Ford’s IR response, incident reporting through Standing General Order 2021-01 (SGO), and NHTSA vehicle owner questionnaires. In total, 32 crashes and 2,004 non-crash reports on subject and peer Ford vehicles were identified across manufacturer and ODI data sources. A detailed analysis of each crash was conducted including the review of any available police reports, photographs, data recovered from in-vehicle event data recorders, connected vehicle data, and/or other information. In both fatal collisions referenced in the PE24012 opening resume, the subject Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicle was traveling over 70 mph on a controlled-access highway during nighttime lighting conditions with hands-free BlueCruise engaged when it collided with a stationary vehicle. Analysis of data imaged from the vehicles’ event data recorders demonstrates that in each incident, the driver did not apply the brakes or take evasive steering action, and no deceleration was initiated by either the BlueCruise system or PCA prior to impact. Through the agency’s crash analysis, four additional frontal collisions were identified where the subject Ford impacted a stopped or slow-moving lead vehicle or another stationary object located in the travel lane. Two of these four incidents involved BlueCruise-equipped Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles (included in the failure report summary along with the fatal collisions discussed above), while the other two involved other Ford models equipped with the LCA system. Additionally, a trend was identified through analysis of the non-crash reports relating to allegations that ACC (the longitudinal component of both BlueCruise and LCA) failed to detect and/or respond to a stopped or slow-moving lead vehicle. In these reports, consumers often describe that the absence of deceleration initiated by ACC was unexpected and required harsh manual braking or intervention from the PCA to avoid a frontal collision with the lead vehicle. Based on NHTSA’s analysis, system limitations relating to the detection of stationary vehicles while traveling at highway speeds and in nighttime lighting conditions appear to be factors in collisions under investigation and several apparently similar near-miss, non-crash reports. This Preliminary Evaluation is being upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA25001) to further investigate these system limitations and to evaluate drivers’ ability to respond to scenarios that exceed system limitations. During the EA, the agency expects to, among other things, perform vehicle evaluations, review additional technical information, and perform additional analysis of related crashes and non-crash reports. The crashes included in the failure report summary can be found at NHTSA.gov under the following SGO report identification numbers: 502-7268, 502-7426, 502-6852, 502-8738.
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