Waymo Recalls 3,791 Autonomous Vehicles Over Flooded Road Navigation Defect
Key Takeaways
- ▸Waymo voluntarily recalled 3,791 vehicles with a software defect that could cause them to drive into flooded roadways at higher speeds
- ▸The defect was discovered following a weather-related incident in San Antonio; interim software updates have already been deployed
- ▸This is Waymo's second major recall in recent years, raising ongoing questions about autonomous vehicle safety and reliability
Summary
Waymo has voluntarily recalled 3,791 autonomous vehicles equipped with its fifth and sixth generation Automated Driving Systems due to a software defect that may allow vehicles to drive into flooded roadways on higher-speed roads. The defect was identified following a severe weather incident in San Antonio where a Waymo vehicle entered a flooded and impassable road, creating a risk of loss of vehicle control and potential crashes or injuries.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall filing dated April 30, 2026, Waymo has already deployed an interim software update to mitigate the issue, with a full remedy still under development. The company states it has increased weather-related constraints on its vehicles and is working on additional software safeguards to prevent such scenarios in the future.
This recall marks the second major safety action by Waymo in recent years—following a 2025 recall of over 1,200 vehicles after minor crashes involving road obstacles. Despite these incidents, Waymo maintains operational leadership in the autonomous vehicle market, providing over half a million trips weekly across 10 major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix. The company cites data showing its autonomous vehicles are 13 times safer than human drivers in crashes involving pedestrians.
- Waymo continues to lead the robotaxi market with 500,000+ weekly trips across 10 major cities and claims 13x better safety than human drivers
