Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after able to ‘drive into standing water’
A Waymo car exits a charging lot on Jan. 15, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
Waymo is recalling about 3,800 robotaxis within the US to repair software program points that might enable them to “drive onto a flooded roadway,” in accordance to a letter on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s web site.
The voluntary recall is for Waymo automobiles that use the corporate’s fifth and sixth era automated driving methods (or ADS), the US auto security regulator stated within the letter posted Tuesday.
Waymo autonomous automobiles in Austin, Texas had been lately seen on digital camera driving onto a flooded road and stalling, requiring different drivers to navigate round them. Similar incidents have occurred in different areas, the most recent safety-related points for the Alphabet-owned AV unit that is quickly bolstering its fleet of automobiles and getting into new US markets.
Waymo has drawn criticism for its automobiles failing to yield to college buses in Austin, and for the efficiency of its automobiles throughout widespread power outages in San Francisco in December, when robotaxis halted in visitors, inflicting gridlock.
The firm stated in an announcement on Tuesday that it is “identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways,” and opted to file a “voluntary software recall” with the NHTSA.
“Waymo provides over half a million trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments across the US, and safety is our primary priority,” the corporate stated.
Waymo added that it is engaged on “additional software safeguards” and has put “mitigations” in place, limiting the place its robotaxis function throughout excessive climate, in order that they keep away from “areas where flash flooding might occur” in durations of intense rain.
The firm at present operates a industrial robotaxi service in 11 US markets, with broad public entry in cities together with San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin and Miami. In just a few markets, the service is out there to choose riders.
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