Waymo has recalled approximately 3,800 autonomous taxis in the U.S. to address software issues that caused vehicles to drive onto flooded roads. This was reported in a letter from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The American regulator stated that the voluntary recall affects vehicles equipped with fifth and sixth generation autonomous driving systems.
Previously, cameras in Austin, Texas, captured Waymo's autonomous vehicles driving onto a flooded street, where they stalled and blocked other drivers. One vehicle without passengers was swept away into a creek.
The company announced that they have found a way to enhance vehicle performance in flooded road conditions.
“Waymo conducts over half a million rides per week in some of the most challenging driving conditions across the U.S., and safety is our top priority,” said company representatives.
The company is working on “additional software safety measures” and has implemented “tools to mitigate risks” that restrict the operational area of robotaxis during extreme weather.
Flaws in Robotaxi Technology
Similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, highlighting ongoing safety issues with robotaxis.
Waymo has faced criticism for its vehicles failing to yield to school buses in Austin. The company's cars have also gotten stuck on the streets of San Francisco due to widespread power outages.
Users have repeatedly shared photos and videos of road incidents, showing groups of robotaxis with their hazard lights on blocking traffic and disrupting the flow.
Power out in SF and the @Waymo’s are causing a MASSIVE jam in North Beach 🤣 pic.twitter.com/fuvhprlyma
— Iago Maciel (@_iagomaciel) December 21, 2025
Waymo offers commercial services in 11 U.S. markets, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Miami.
In April, dozens of Apollo Go robotaxis from Baidu stopped in the middle of traffic in the Chinese city of Wuhan, leading to collisions and trapping passengers inside the vehicles.