Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis after they drive into highway construction zones

Waymo issued a voluntary recall for nearly 4,000 robotaxis on June 18 after its self-driving vehicles drove into highway sections closed for construction. The Alphabet-owned company identified 13 incidents in which its robotaxis entered active construction zones, six in Phoenix in April and seven in San Francisco in May. Waymo suspended all highway operations on May 19 and is developing a software fix.

The robotaxis failed to recognize ramp closure signs and drove past them into pre-planned freeway construction zones, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In the San Francisco Bay Area on May 18, the software prioritized avoiding other freeway hazards over detecting the construction zone. Waymo's Field Safety Committee approved the recall on June 8.

Sixth recall and open investigations

This is the sixth software recall Waymo has filed for its robotaxis. Previous recalls addressed driving into flooded roads, illegal behavior around school buses, low-speed collisions with chains and gates, and problems with towed trucks. The company's driving software is under investigation by both NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board after a robotaxi struck a child near a school in January.

• Waymo has driven more than 170 million autonomous miles and claims a 13-times reduction in serious-injury crashes compared to human drivers.
• The company said it voluntarily restricted freeway operations last month and proactively notified state and federal regulators.
• Waymo is in the middle of a massive expansion, planning to launch in more than 20 cities this year, including London and Tokyo.
• Passengers reported near-misses on social media; one rider told CBS News he feared for his life as a Waymo sped through cones with police nearby.

Edge cases challenge rapid rollout

Waymo began offering highway rides in November 2025, but the aggressive expansion into new cities has highlighted a series of edge cases its software struggles to handle. Highway construction zones now join flooded roads and school buses as recurring failure modes. The company is not pulling vehicles off surface streets, though it has periodically paused service during severe weather that could lead to flooding.

Waymo said the fix is currently under development. The company has not set a timeline for resuming highway operations. Regulators continue to scrutinize the safety of autonomous taxi fleets as testing accelerates in the U.S. and abroad.