Waymo Recalls 3,800 Robotaxis After Flood Incident

Waymo is recalling 3,800 robotaxis from six major U.S. cities following an incident where one of its self-driving vehicles drove into floodwaters in San Antonio, Texas. The recall, confirmed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), stems from an event on April 20, 2026, when an empty Waymo vehicle entered a flooded road and was swept away into a creek.

The recall affects vehicles using Waymo's fifth and sixth-generation automated driving systems (ADS). According to the NHTSA report, the software 'may allow the vehicle to slow and then drive into standing water on higher speed roadways.' The company stated it is working to implement additional software safeguards. These measures include refining operations during extreme weather conditions and limiting access to areas prone to flash flooding. The affected cities are Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, San Antonio, and Atlanta.

A spokesperson for Waymo emphasized that safety is their primary priority. The incident has led to a temporary suspension of Waymo's robotaxi service in San Antonio, though the company plans to resume operations once the software fix is implemented. All affected vehicles have received an interim software update to mitigate the issue, but a full remedy for the recall is still under development.

The recall comes amid growing concerns over the safety of autonomous vehicles. Waymo has faced criticism for previous incidents, including vehicles failing to yield to school buses and performance issues during power outages in San Francisco. The company currently operates in 10 major cities and provides more than 500,000 trips per week.

According to the recall notice posted on NHTSA's website, the software issue could lead to 'a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.' The company is developing a solution to prevent self-driving cars from accessing waterlogged areas. It remains unclear whether this recall will impact Waymo's plans to launch its robotaxi service in London this autumn.

Waymo's expansion plans include operating the first-ever robotaxi service in London starting from September, with dozens of driverless cabs already mapping out routes ahead of the launch. However, experts have warned that high-profile safety failures risk undermining public trust in this new technology. Professors Jack Stilgoe and Siddartha Khastgir emphasize the need for more regulation, transparency, and responsible communications to ensure public trust and informed safety.