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Waymo recalls thousands of its driverless cars after some failed to avoid flooded roads. PUBLISHED: May 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM EDT UPDATED: May 14, 2026 at 6:01 PM EDT By Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times Waymo is recalling 3,791 autonomous taxis after a software defect caused some vehicles to drive into flooded roadways, according to a recall report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. The voluntary recall filed April 30 affects Waymo vehicles operating on the company's fifth and sixth generation Automated Driving System. The software "may allow the vehicle to slow and then drive into standing water on higher speed roadways," a NHTSA report said. "Entering a flooded roadway can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury," NHTSA said. The recall followed severe weather in San Antonio, during which a Waymo entered a flooded and impassable road, the company said. In response, Waymo has increased weather-related constraints on its vehicles and says it is working on additional software safeguards. "We have identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways, and have made the decision to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA related to this scenario," a Waymo spokesperson said. "Waymo provides over half a million trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments across the U.S., and safety is our primary priority." Waymo operates in 10 major cities and has issued prior safety-related recalls. Last year, the company recalled more than 1,200 autonomous vehicles after minor crashes involving obstacles in the road. The Alphabet-owned company has also come under fire for safety incidents, including striking a child outside a school in Santa Monica earlier this year and fatally running over a neighborhood cat in San Francisco. According to data collected by Waymo over 170 million fully autonomous miles driven, Waymo is 13 times safer than human drivers in crashes involving pedestrians. The Mountain View-based company is currently ahead in the race to scale robotaxis across the country, with thousands of vehicles transporting paying customers in cities including Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix. Competitors Zoox and Tesla are trying to catch up with their own self-driving technology, but have yet to match Waymo's scale and reach. According to NHSTA, all affected Waymo vehicles received an interim software update to mitigate the issue, but a full remedy for the recall is still under development. (C) 2026 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. RevContent feed.

Waymo recall raises questions about robotaxis in flooded roads. Updated On: May 14, 2026 Waymo is facing new scrutiny after issuing a voluntary recall tied to how its robotaxis respond to flooded roads. The recall covers 3,791 vehicles equipped with Waymo's fifth- and sixth-generation Automated Driving Systems, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The issue centers on higher-speed roads where the vehicle may detect a flooded lane, slow down, but continue driving instead of stopping. NHTSA said entering flooded roadways can cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash or injury. The recall follows an April 20 incident involving an unoccupied Waymo vehicle on a 40 mph road. According to Waymo's filing, the vehicle detected potentially unsafe floodwater but still moved forward at reduced speed. Local reporting from San Antonio said a Waymo vehicle was swept into floodwater near Salado Creek, with no passengers inside and no injuries reported. Flooded roads create a unique challenge for autonomous systems. Sensors may detect water, but interpreting its depth and danger level is more complex, especially at higher speeds. In this case, Waymo's system recognized the hazard but did not take the most conservative action. Instead of stopping completely, it slowed down and proceeded. That gap between detection and response is what triggered the recall. Floodwater can hide road edges, reduce traction, and quickly change driving conditions. Even a small miscalculation can lead to loss of control, which is why safety agencies treat these scenarios seriously. Affected vehicles & systems. The affected "models" are not traditional consumer vehicles. The recall applies to Waymo's fifth- and sixth-generation Automated Driving Systems used across their driverless fleet. Waymo confirmed that they own all affected vehicles. This means there are no privately owned cars involved and no need for consumers to bring vehicles in for repairs. Measures taken by Waymo. Waymo has already rolled out an interim fix. The company updated vehicle behavior to apply stricter limits when flood risks are detected. They also adjusted mapping data to better account for flood-prone areas and limited operations in regions where flash flooding is more likely. All affected vehicles received this interim software update by April 20, 2026. Waymo is still working on a final solution that will further refine how their vehicles respond to flooded conditions. In addition, passenger service in San Antonio has been paused temporarily while the company reviews safety measures. What passengers need to know. This recall does not require any action from passengers since Waymo owns and operates the vehicles. The impact shows up in how the service runs. In some areas, especially during heavy rain, passengers may see temporary service pauses, route adjustments, or limited availability. Trips may also take longer as the system applies stricter safety rules. The situation also highlights a key challenge for autonomous driving. Flooded roads can change quickly and are harder to interpret than standard obstacles. Detecting water is only one part of the process. The system must also respond in the safest way. Waymo's interim fix addresses the immediate issue, but its long-term effectiveness will depend on how well the system handles similar conditions going forward. By Ria West Journalist & Content Writer Ria West is a content writer with a background in Linguistics. She developed her love for storytelling during her university years, where language became more than just a subject - it became a craft. Her curiosity extends beyond words. She has a strong interest in cars and enjoys learning about the latest automotive trends and innovations. Writing allows her to blend creativity with curiosity, turning ideas into clear and engaging content. When she's not writing, you'll find her exploring new topics, reading, or taking long drives.