Waymo Issues Recall to Fix Flooding Problem in Autonomous Vehicles

Waymo has issued a software update to its fleet of nearly 4,000 vehicles to help them avoid flooded roads as part of a recall announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Tuesday. However, the company hasn't fully solved the problem of how its vehicles behave in these conditions.

In documents released by NHTSA, the federal safety regulator says Waymo is still "developing the final remedy for this recall." The issue appears to be that Waymo's robotaxis were slowing, but not stopping, when encountering flooded roads that they could not traverse, according to NHTSA.

The recall affects both Waymo's fifth- and sixth-generation autonomous vehicle systems. It applies to 3,791 vehicles, giving us a more up-to-date understanding of just how many vehicles Waymo has on the roads in around a dozen U.S. cities.

Previous Recalls

This isn't the first time Waymo has issued a recall for its self-driving cars. The company's first recall came in February 2024 after it discovered two robotaxis in Phoenix had separately crashed into the same towed vehicle. Since then, Waymo has issued recalls to fix low-speed crashes with parking gates and telephone poles, as well as to address illegal driving in the vicinity of school buses.

Flooding Incident in Texas

Waymo decided to issue the recall in late April after its robotaxis struggled to navigate flooding in central Texas. In one incident, an empty robotaxi was swept away in San Antonio. The company has also paused operations in the city.

Software Update

The initial update sent to its fleet places "restrictions at times and in locations where there is an elevated risk of encountering a flooded, higher-speed roadway," according to NHTSA. Waymo has also said it is working to implement additional software safeguards and has put mitigations in place, including refining its extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain, limiting access to areas where flash flooding might occur.

Background

Sean O'Kane is a reporter who has spent a decade covering the rapidly-evolving business and technology of the transportation industry. He previously worked at The Verge, where he covered consumer technology, hosted many short- and long-form videos, performed product and editorial photography, and once nearly passed out in a Red Bull Air Race plane.