Waymo recalls 3,871 robotaxis after vehicles repeatedly miss construction zone signs

Waymo is recalling 3,871 robotaxis after its vehicles repeatedly failed to recognize freeway construction zones, driving past closure signs or between cones marking closed lanes. The recall, announced June 8, 2026, affects vehicles equipped with Waymo's fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS).

Six incidents occurred in Phoenix, Arizona, in April 2026, where vehicles drove past ramp-closure signs into pre-planned construction zones. Seven more happened in the San Francisco Bay Area in May, where robotaxis drove between cones designating a lane closure. Waymo's Field Safety Committee responded by restricting freeway driving for the affected fleet pending a software fix.

Root cause: conflicting priorities

According to Waymo's Safety Recall Report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the ADS inappropriately prioritized avoiding other freeway hazards over recognizing construction zone markings. In some cases, the system failed to detect temporary signs and cones altogether.

• 3,871 vehicles recalled, all equipped with fifth-generation ADS.
• 2,833 vehicles in San Francisco, 1,038 in Phoenix (estimated).
• Freeway driving restricted until over-the-air software update is deployed.
• Vehicles not capable of driverless freeway operation are not affected.
• No injuries reported from construction zone incidents.

Broader safety context

This recall follows a May 2026 disclosure that flooding could confuse Waymo vehicles on high-speed roads, prompting another software fix. In January 2026, a Waymo vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in San Francisco; the child sustained minor injuries. Waymo has issued several recalls, including a 2023 truck collision and a 2024 pole strike.

Despite these incidents, Waymo reports its vehicles have logged over 170 million autonomous miles and are involved in 92 percent fewer crashes causing serious or fatal injuries than human drivers in equivalent conditions. The company is working on a software update expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks, after which freeway operations will resume.