Waymo has initiated a voluntary recall for approximately 3,800 of its autonomous vehicles across the United States. The measure addresses software vulnerabilities that could potentially lead these robotaxis to enter flooded roadways. This recall specifically targets Waymo vehicles equipped with the company’s fifth and sixth-generation automated driving systems, as detailed in a letter posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website.

The decision follows documented incidents, including footage from Austin, Texas, and other locations, showing Waymo vehicles navigating into flooded streets or becoming stalled during heavy rainfall. Notably, an autonomous Waymo vehicle in San Antonio, Texas, was swept into a creek after entering a flooded road on April 20, though no passengers were onboard. This incident prompted an investigation by the NHTSA and contributed to the subsequent voluntary recall filing. Waymo has acknowledged the issue, stating it identified an area for improvement regarding “untraversable flooded lanes” specific to higher-speed roadways.

In response, Waymo has already implemented initial fixes and is actively developing “additional software safeguards.” The company has also put “mitigations” in place, restricting robotaxi operations in certain areas during extreme weather to avoid flash flood zones during intense rain. Waymo, which provides over half a million trips weekly across challenging environments in 11 U.S. markets—including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Miami—emphasizes safety as its top priority. The robotaxi service in San Antonio remains temporarily suspended, though the company is preparing to resume public rides there.

This recall comes as Waymo, an Alphabet-owned entity, rapidly expands its fleet and enters new markets, facing scrutiny over its vehicle performance. Previous criticisms have included instances of Waymo vehicles failing to yield to school buses in Austin and causing traffic disruptions during widespread power outages in San Francisco last December.