Waymo Recalls 3,791 Robotaxis Over Flood Navigation Software Flaw
Waymo has issued a voluntary recall for 3,791 autonomous vehicles in the US due to a software defect allowing robotaxis to enter flooded roads. The action follows an April incident in San Antonio where an unoccupied vehicle drove into floodwaters. Affecting fifth- and sixth-generation systems, the recall addresses safety risks in extreme weather. While no injuries occurred, Waymo has implemented operational constraints and is developing an over-the-air update. This event highlights ongoing regulatory scrutiny and technical challenges in the autonomous driving industry as the company expands its fleet.
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Waymo Suspends Service in Six Cities and Halts Highway Rides After Flooding and Software Issues
Waymo has experienced a challenging month, temporarily suspending rider service in six U.S. cities—Atlanta, Nashville, Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio—due to heavy rain and flooding. The company also paused all highway rides to improve performance around construction zones. The disruptions began after a software recall in early May, when a Waymo robotaxi drove through a flooded roadway in San Antonio, prompting a report to the NHTSA. A similar incident occurred in Atlanta, where an unoccupied vehicle drove into a flooded road and stopped. Waymo is working on software remedies and expects to resume services soon. The setbacks come amid aggressive expansion into six new cities this year, though growth in its largest market, California, has slowed. An industry analyst noted surprise at the issues but supported the decision to pause service for safety improvements.
All Content from Business InsiderWaymo pauses robotaxis in five US cities after cars drive into flooded roads
Waymo has paused its self-driving car service in five US cities—four in Texas and Atlanta—after a software issue caused some vehicles to enter flooded roads and become stuck. The company issued a voluntary recall of nearly 3,800 robotaxis following an incident on April 20 in San Antonio, Texas, where an empty Waymo vehicle was swept into a creek. A similar incident occurred in Atlanta, prompting the expanded pause 'out of an abundance of caution.' Waymo also suspended services on US freeways in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami while it works to improve performance in construction zones. The software problem, highlighted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, could allow vehicles to slow and drive into standing water on higher-speed roadways. Waymo, owned by Alphabet, provides over 500,000 trips per week and plans to launch in London later this year. The company stated safety is its highest priority and expects to resume services soon.
BBC NewsWaymo Recalls 3,800 Robotaxis Over Flood Navigation Safety Risks
Waymo has issued a voluntary recall for approximately 3,800 of its fifth and sixth-generation robotaxis following an incident where an autonomous vehicle drove into floodwaters in San Antonio, Texas. The company notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that a software flaw could cause vehicles to enter standing water on high-speed roadways, potentially leading to loss of control and injury. As an interim remedy, Waymo deployed a software update on April 20 that enhances weather-related constraints and updates vehicle maps. The incident in San Antonio involved an unoccupied vehicle detecting floodwater but proceeding at reduced speed before becoming stuck, prompting a temporary suspension of services in that city. Waymo emphasized that safety is its primary priority and stated it is developing additional software safeguards while limiting operations in areas prone to flash flooding. This recall occurs as Waymo continues to expand its driverless services across major US cities and prepares for its first international launch in London, highlighting ongoing challenges in ensuring autonomous vehicle reliability in diverse and extreme weather conditions.
www.theregister.com - ArticlesWaymo Recalls 3,791 Robotaxis Over Software Flaw Linked to Flooded Roads
Waymo has issued a voluntary recall for 3,791 robotaxis in the United States following a software flaw that allowed vehicles to enter flooded roads at higher speeds instead of rerouting. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall, which affects fifth- and sixth-generation Waymo Driver systems. The issue stemmed from an incident on April 20 in San Antonio, where an unoccupied vehicle drove into standing water. No injuries were reported. As an interim measure, Waymo has tightened weather-related operational limits and updated maps while engineers develop a permanent fix. This recall inadvertently revealed Waymo’s total US fleet size, indicating nearly 90% growth since September 2025, making it the world’s largest commercial autonomous ride-hailing operation. This marks Waymo’s second software recall in six months, following a December issue involving stopped school buses. The company also faces ongoing NHTSA investigations regarding a January incident involving a child in Santa Monica and reports of vehicles passing school buses. The event highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny on autonomous vehicle safety as fleets expand.
The Next WebWaymo Recalls 3,791 Robotaxis via OTA Update After Flood Incident
Waymo has filed a voluntary recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) affecting 3,791 robotaxis following an incident in San Antonio where an unoccupied vehicle drove into flooded waters. The event occurred in April 2026, resulting in the car being swept into Salado Creek, though no injuries were reported. The recall addresses a software deficiency in detecting untraversable flooded sections on higher-speed roadways. Unlike traditional automotive recalls, this remedy involves an over-the-air (OTA) software update deployed to the entire fleet, eliminating the need for service center visits. Waymo had previously paused operations in San Antonio to review safety protocols and implement interim constraints, such as tightened operational boundaries during extreme weather. The recall covers fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems across all operating cities, including Phoenix, San Francisco, and Atlanta. This filing inadvertently revealed Waymo's fleet size has nearly doubled to nearly 3,800 vehicles since late 2025, aligning with its recent $16 billion funding round and expansion goals targeting one million weekly rides by year-end.
ElectrekWaymo Recalls Robotaxis to Address Flooding Navigation Issues
Waymo has issued a voluntary software recall for nearly 4,000 of its autonomous vehicles following reports that its robotaxis failed to stop when encountering flooded roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall, which affects both fifth- and sixth-generation vehicles. The issue was highlighted after an empty Waymo vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in San Antonio, Texas, prompting the company to pause operations in the city. While Waymo has deployed an initial software update to restrict access to high-risk flooded areas on higher-speed roadways, regulators note that a final remedy is still under development. This marks the latest in a series of recalls for Waymo, following previous incidents involving collisions with towed vehicles, parking gates, and telephone poles, as well as improper behavior around school buses. The company stated it is implementing additional safeguards and refining extreme weather operations to mitigate risks during intense rain and potential flash flooding events.
TechCrunchWaymo Recalls Robotaxis Over Software Flaw Allowing Driving on Flooded Roads
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has issued a recall for 3,791 robotaxis equipped with its fifth- and sixth-generation automated-driving systems. This action addresses a critical software defect that permitted vehicles to enter flooded roadways, posing significant safety risks. The recall was triggered by an incident on April 20, where an unoccupied Waymo vehicle proceeded into an untraversable flooded section of a road at reduced speed instead of avoiding it. Although no injuries were reported, the event underscores the ongoing challenges driverless cars face in interpreting unpredictable weather and hazardous road conditions without human intervention. While working on a permanent software fix, Waymo has implemented additional operational constraints on the affected fleet. Documents regarding the recall were filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This development occurs amidst heightened regulatory scrutiny, as the NHTSA maintains a separate investigation into Waymo following a January incident in Santa Monica, California, where a self-driving vehicle struck a child. The recall highlights the complex technological hurdles remaining in the competitive autonomous vehicle industry.
Insurance JournalWaymo Recalls Robotaxis Over Flooded Road Driving Risks
Waymo has issued a recall for its autonomous driving software after an unoccupied robotaxi attempted to drive through an untraversable flooded section of a roadway. The recall affects 3,791 vehicles operating on Waymo’s fifth and sixth-generation systems. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the vehicle detected the flood but proceeded at a reduced speed rather than stopping, highlighting a significant safety gap in handling extreme weather conditions. Although no injuries occurred, the incident underscores the challenges driverless cars face with altered road conditions. In response, Waymo is developing a permanent remedy and has temporarily updated vehicle maps and increased weather-related operational constraints. This marks the first recall for the sixth-generation system, which is designed for high-volume production and integration into new vehicle models like the Zeekr RT and Hyundai Ioniq 5. As Waymo plans to expand into East Coast cities such as Boston and New York, where adverse weather is more common, this event serves as a critical test for the robustness of its technology compared to its previous operations in warmer, drier climates like Phoenix and Austin.
The VergeWaymo Recalls 3,800 Robotaxis Over Flood-Steering Software Flaw
Waymo has initiated a significant recall of nearly 3,800 autonomous vehicles due to a critical software defect that potentially allows the cars to steer into flooded areas during extreme weather conditions. This corrective action follows a specific incident in April in San Antonio, where an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi inadvertently drove into a flooded lane, highlighting a serious safety vulnerability in its navigation system. The recall underscores the ongoing challenges faced by autonomous driving technology in handling complex and unpredictable environmental hazards. By addressing this software flaw, Waymo aims to prevent future incidents that could endanger public safety or damage its fleet. The event marks a notable setback for the company as it continues to expand its self-driving taxi services across various US cities. Regulatory scrutiny and public trust in autonomous vehicles remain pivotal factors influencing the industry's growth. This recall serves as a reminder of the rigorous testing and continuous improvement required to ensure the reliability of AI-driven transportation systems in diverse weather scenarios.
QuartzWaymo Recalls Nearly 3,800 Robotaxis Due to Software Issue
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has announced a significant recall affecting approximately 3,791 of its robotaxis. The recall specifically targets vehicles equipped with fifth- and sixth-generation driving systems due to an identified software issue. This development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the autonomous driving industry in ensuring the safety and reliability of self-driving technology. While the specific nature of the software glitch was not detailed in the brief summary, such recalls are critical regulatory steps to address potential safety risks before they result in accidents or public harm. As a leader in the robotaxi sector, Waymo's actions are closely watched by regulators, competitors, and the public. This event underscores the complex interplay between rapid technological innovation and stringent safety standards required for widespread deployment of autonomous vehicles on public roads. The company is expected to deploy over-the-air updates or service interventions to rectify the problem, aiming to minimize disruption to its commercial operations while maintaining consumer trust in its automated transportation services.
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