Thousands of Waymos recalled after robotaxi swept into a creek

May 13, 2026

Waymo is voluntarily recalling approximately 3,800 autonomous vehicles in the United States due to a software flaw that could cause the cars to drive into flooded roadways. The recall was triggered after an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi drove into a flooded street in San Antonio, Texas in April and was swept into a creek. The company has temporarily halted its San Antonio operations and implemented interim software updates that restrict where vehicles can operate during severe weather conditions.

Who is affected

Waymo (Google's parent company Alphabet's self-driving car division)
Owners/operators of nearly 3,800 Waymo robotaxis using fifth and sixth-generation automated driving systems
Passengers using Waymo's robotaxi service in US cities including San Antonio, San Francisco, Austin, and Miami
Residents and drivers in San Antonio where service remains suspended

What action is being taken

Waymo is conducting a voluntary recall of the affected vehicles
The company is working on additional software safeguards
Temporary software updates limiting where affected vehicles can drive during extreme weather have already been applied
Waymo's San Antonio service remains temporarily suspended following the incident

Why it matters

This incident highlights critical safety limitations in autonomous vehicle technology as it scales to mass deployment, with systems unable to properly identify hazardous conditions like flooding. The recall affects a significant portion of Waymo's fleet that provides over 500,000 trips weekly across multiple major US cities, demonstrating that as autonomous vehicle adoption increases, more unforeseen safety issues are likely to emerge. The situation underscores the need for policymakers and regulators to identify operational constraints proactively rather than discovering them after incidents occur, which is essential as companies like Waymo pursue international expansion into cities like London.

What's next

Waymo will resume public rides in San Antonio after the necessary software fix has been rolled out
The company plans to operate a robotaxi service in London by September

Read full article from source: BBC