Waymo to recall nearly 3,800 robotaxis over software issue

Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, is recalling 3,791 robotaxis in the US after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that a software issue could cause some vehicles to enter flooded roads.

The recall covers certain fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems.

NHTSA said Waymo has tightened weather limits and updated maps as an interim step while it develops a full fix.

Waymo also faces an NHTSA probe after one of its vehicles hit a child near a Santa Monica elementary school in January.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a separate January case in Texas involving Waymo vehicles passing a stopped school bus with its lights on.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

This recall follows a Waymo vehicle entering floodwaters in San Antonio

The recall came after a public failure as well as a software issue found by US auto safety regulators.
In April 2026, an unoccupied Waymo vehicle in San Antonio drove onto a flooded road during heavy rain and was swept into a waterway. Waymo then paused local robotaxi service for a time 1.
Another federal review ended differently. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closed a 14-month investigation into 22 other Waymo incidents after finding no systemic safety violations. It cited the company’s recalls, data analysis, and communication when it closed the probe 2.

Software recalls are becoming routine in software-defined vehicles

For autonomous vehicles, a recall usually means an over-the-air software update rather than a trip back to a dealer 3.
That fits how these systems improve in practice. Companies keep encountering unusual road conditions, including flooding, then push software fixes 1.
That also raises questions about transparency. Regulators praised Waymo’s communication, yet the company is suing the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the state’s vehicle regulator, to block release of other crash data. Waymo argues the material is a trade secret 4.