Waymo recalls thousands of self-driving cars after | Tech News

Waymo is recalling roughly 3,800 robotaxis throughout the U.S. following a software program glitch that would allow the self-driving automobiles to navigate into flooded roadways.

A letter posted on Tuesday, May 11, on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) web site introduced a voluntary recall of Waymo automobiles geared up with the company’s fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems, also called ADS.

The recall was triggered by a hazardous incident on April 20 in San Antonio, Texas, the place an autonomous Waymo vehicle drove into a flooded street and was carried into a creek during extreme climate circumstances, based on CNBC. Fortunately, the vehicle was unoccupied on the time.

The NHTSA confirmed that roughly 3,791 automobiles are affected by the recall, citing that “the software may allow the vehicle to slow and then drive into standing water on higher speed roadways.”

The company warned that when a vehicle enters a flooded street, it dangers shedding control, “increasing the risk of a crash or injury.” The NHTSA acknowledged that a answer is presently below development, and all affected automobiles ought to have obtained an interim software program replace on April 20.

Waymo says it is engaged on ‘further software program safeguards’

Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s dad or mum company Alphabet, and the world’s first autonomous ride-hailing service, prominently highlights its security benefits over the average human driver on its web site. In a assertion launched Tuesday and reported by CNBC, Waymo introduced it has “identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways,” main the company to submit 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 U.S., and safety is our primary priority,” the company acknowledged.

The company defined it is developing “additional software safeguards” and has applied “mitigations” that can prohibit the place its robotaxis operate during extreme climate, serving to them steer clear of “areas where flash flooding might occur” when heavy rain hits.

Waymo knowledgeable the outlet it is “readying operations to resume public rides” in San Antonio.

This recall announcement coincides with Waymo’s Wednesday declaration that it is broadening its service “in Miami, with Austin, Atlanta, Houston and the SF Bay Area,” based on an X post. The growth will quickly embody more than 1,400 sq. miles spanning 11 cities.

“We’re helping more people get around safely and seamlessly,” the company acknowledged.

Waymo has encountered street challenges

The company has drawn public scrutiny following a number of safety-related incidents nationwide.

While dedicated to enhancing street security, considerations persist about autonomous automobiles, and the current episode involving a vehicle being washed into a creek has intensified skepticism. In December 2025, Waymo was compelled to quickly droop service in San Francisco for a day following a large energy outage that left the robotaxis stranded within the water, unable to navigate and inflicting vital disruption.

Additional incidents have been documented the place Waymo automobiles have stalled in site visitors or encountered difficulties with real-world driving eventualities. The Street reported one case the place a Waymo vehicle drove previous college buses in Austin, Texas, which had their stop indicators and crossing bars deployed. Another incident captured in videos circulating online confirmed a Waymo robotaxi driving by means of an lively police scenario.