The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has escalated its investigation into Ford's BlueCruise autonomous driving system, a crucial step towards a potential recall. The agency's Office of Defects Investigation launched a probe into BlueCruise last April after two fatal crashes involving Ford Mustang Mach E vehicles equipped with the system.

In both instances, the Mustang Mach E cars hit stationary vehicles, prompting NHTSA to upgrade the investigation to an engineering analysis. This means the agency will conduct a more in-depth examination of BlueCruise, including vehicle evaluations, reviewing additional technical information, and performing additional analysis of related crashes and non-crash reports.

According to NHTSA, an estimated 129,222 Ford Mustang Mach E vehicles are equipped with BlueCruise. Ford has not responded to a request for comment, but TechCrunch will update the article if the company provides a statement.

The agency's initial investigation found that BlueCruise has limitations in detecting stationary vehicles in certain conditions. Specifically, the system may falsely detect stationary objects at long distances when the Ford vehicle is traveling at or above 62 miles per hour. Additionally, system performance may be limited when there is poor visibility due to insufficient illumination.

Ford introduced BlueCruise in 2021 on the 2021 F-150 pickup truck and certain 2021 Mustang Mach-E models. The hands-free feature uses cameras, radar sensors, and software to provide a combination of adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and speed-sign recognition. BlueCruise and competitor GM's Super Cruise systems are both hands-free, although an in-cabin camera monitors drivers to ensure their eyes are on the road.

These systems are considered competitors to Tesla Autopilot, which still requires the driver's hands to remain on the wheel. Autopilot and the upgraded Tesla Full Self-Driving software are still considered less constrained than Ford BlueCruise, which only works on certain pre-mapped highways.

Notably, NHTSA also opened an investigation into Tesla's so-called "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)" software last October after four reported crashes in low-visibility situations — including one where a pedestrian was killed. That investigation is ongoing, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of autonomous driving systems in the industry.

The upgraded investigation into Ford's BlueCruise system underscores the need for rigorous testing and evaluation of autonomous driving technologies. As the industry continues to push the boundaries of driver assistance systems, regulators and manufacturers must work together to ensure that these systems are safe and reliable for consumers.

The outcome of NHTSA's investigation into BlueCruise could have significant implications for the development and deployment of autonomous driving technologies in the future. With the agency's attention focused on the limitations of these systems, manufacturers may need to re-examine their designs and testing protocols to ensure that their products meet the highest safety standards.