Ford has added a longtime safety veteran from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as the automaker aims to get a better handle on its recall problems.
The details: David Hines, who most recently served as director of NHTSA's Office of Crash Avoidance Standards, is stepping into a new chief auto safety officer role at Ford, according to The Detroit News.
In the role, Hines will be responsible for Ford's global product safety compliance, governance, and strategy.
The former NHTSA director, based in Washington, D.C., will report to Ford's chief policy officer and general counsel, Steve Croley.
What they’re saying: “David’s 30 years of experience in automotive engineering and safety will be an asset to the company as we continue to put quality first,” Croley said in a statement, per The Detroit News.
Why it matters: Ford's efforts to improve recall management with leadership that brings federal regulatory insight could directly impact dealers, which serve as the front line for completing repairs and communicating safety issues to customers, making faster, more effective recall resolution critical to service operations and customer trust.
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Between the lines: Hines' hiring comes at a critical juncture for Ford as the automaker works to address a record number of recalls and navigate federal oversight tied to its recall practices, even as the company reports significant quality improvements.
In 2025, Ford recalled more vehicles than any other automaker, issuing 152 recall notices, and is on track to set a record for recalls in 2026.
The automaker remains under independent federal monitor oversight for its recall processes, data analytics, and compliance after agreeing to a $165 million consent order in 2024, according to The Detroit News.
The order followed NHTSA's finding that Ford failed to promptly recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras.
Bottom line: Bringing a former NHTSA safety veteran into a newly created leadership role signals Ford is putting more resources behind fixing its recall and compliance challenges, an effort that could ultimately reduce the burden on dealers and strengthen customer confidence in the brand.
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