NHTSA Complaint #11694608 — 2025 FORD F-150

On October 8, 2025, my wife and I purchased a 2025 Ford F-150 Lariat, 3.5L Full Hybrid, with Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving feature. As first-time users, I reviewed the owner's manual and Ford’s videos to understand BlueCruise. After several uses, I noted unpredictable behavior and now report a serious safety issue warranting federal investigation. On October 15, 2025, while driving north on I-95 near Boston with BlueCruise engaged in hands-free mode on an approved route, I pressed the Memory 1 recall button to adjust my seat. A chime sounded, and the instrument panel stated that Memory Recall is not active while the vehicle is moving. Unexpectedly, pressing the button deactivated BlueCruise, causing immediate deceleration and returning steering control to me. During a shallow left turn, the vehicle proceeded straight, almost deviating from the lane. I quickly regained control, preventing a lane departure. The owner’s manual and Ford’s resources do not mention that Memory Recall can deactivate BlueCruise. This undocumented behavior is highly concerning. On October 20, I contacted Ford (Reference Number [XXX] ), but their response was inadequate, offering only a generic process without technical team access or follow-up commitment. BlueCruise’s lane-centering struggles with unclear or conflicting lane markings. On I-95 sections under resurfacing, temporary markings are placed 1-2 feet from fainter original lines. BlueCruise inconsistently tracks either set, causing unpredictable lateral movements, including sudden lane-edge excursions or rapid shifts over bridges where markings misalign. When another vehicle overtakes closely, crossing into our lane, BlueCruise momentarily loses lane-keeping ability due to obstructed markings, resulting in rapid steering movements. While such overtaking reflects poor driving by others, an automated system must handle these common scenarios reliably. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)