Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after Texas flood incident exposes software vulnerability
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received notice of a voluntary recall affecting fifth and sixth-generation autonomous systems, raising questions about operational limits in extreme weather.
Waymo has initiated a voluntary recall of nearly 3,800 robotaxis across the United States following a software vulnerability that permitted vehicles to enter flooded roadways. The action, detailed in a letter posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website on Tuesday, affects vehicles utilising the company’s fifth and sixth-generation automated driving systems.
The recall was prompted by an incident on 20 April in San Antonio, Texas, where an empty Waymo vehicle entered a flooded road and was subsequently swept into a creek. In response, the company applied temporary software updates to the affected fleet, restricting driving capabilities during extreme weather conditions. Waymo has also suspended public rides in San Antonio until further software safeguards are implemented.
Jack Stilgoe, professor of science and technology policy at University College London, noted that the incident highlights the inherent limitations of autonomous systems. He observed that operational constraints are often only visible when failures occur, suggesting that as more self-driving cars are deployed, similar issues are likely to emerge. Stilgoe emphasised that policymakers prefer to identify these risks in advance rather than discovering them retrospectively.
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, currently facilitates more than 500,000 trips per week across multiple US cities, including San Francisco, Austin, and Miami. The company stated it is developing additional software safeguards to address the vulnerability and aims to resume public rides in San Antonio once the fix is rolled out. The firm also maintains a target to launch a robotaxi service in London by September.
This event adds to recent concerns regarding the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicle networks. In December 2025, a power outage in San Francisco halted Waymo taxis, while an April incident in Wuhan, China, saw at least a hundred Apollo Go robotaxis stop mid-traffic due to a system outage. The BBC contacted Waymo for comment regarding the recall and the broader implications for operational safety.
