Waymo Recalls 3,791 Robotaxis Due to Software Flaw
May 12, 2026 – 3:37 pm
Waymo is recalling 3,791 robotaxes in the United States after federal regulators identified a software flaw that could send the vehicles into flooded roads at higher speeds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recall covers vehicles running both the fifth- and sixth-generation Waymo Driver, Alphabet’s automated driving system. The NHTSA stated that Waymo has tightened its weather-related operational limits and refreshed its maps as interim measures while engineers work on a permanent software fix. A full remedy is still under development.
The recall originates from an incident on April 20 in San Antonio, where an unoccupied Waymo encountered a flooded section of road and proceeded into the water at reduced speed instead of rerouting. No injuries were reported. Ten days later, on April 30, Waymo initiated the voluntary recall.
A Waymo spokesperson explained that they had identified "an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways" and filed the recall accordingly. The company is additionally implementing safeguards, refining its extreme weather operations during heavy rain, and limiting access to areas prone to flash flooding.
While the recall involves a relatively small number of vehicles, the NHTSA filing offers rare insight into Waymo’s operations by enumerating every affected vehicle. This reveals that Waymo has deployed over 3,791 robotaxes in the US across cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, San Antonio, and Atlanta.
This rapid expansion places Waymo as the largest commercial autonomous ride-hailing operation globally. Consequently, each failure now carries significant reputational and regulatory weight. The flood recall follows a software recall in December for another issue related to vehicle behavior near school buses.
Waymo also faces a preliminary NHTSA investigation over an incident in January where one of its driverless vehicles struck a child near Grant Elementary School in Santa Monica during morning drop-off hours, causing minor injuries. The NHTSA is examining the system’s response to the proximity of the school, the presence of a crossing guard, and double-parked vehicles.
Similarly, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating reports of Waymo vehicles passing stopped school buses in Austin and Atlanta.