Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after navigation and flooding failures
Waymo recalled 3,800 robotaxis after a vehicle ignored road closure warnings and entered a flooded street in Texas in April 2026, and dozens of empty vehicles repeatedly blocked streets in an Atlanta neighborhood in May 2026 due to apparent navigation malfunctions.
What happened
On April 20, 2026, a Waymo robotaxi ignored warnings from authorities about road closures and entered a completely flooded street in San Antonio, Texas. The vehicle was swept away by water into a creek and could not be recovered.
In mid-May 2026, approximately 50 empty Waymo robotaxis repeatedly circled cul-de-sacs and blocked streets in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, with no passengers and apparently no clear destination, causing significant disruption to residents.
Reported impact
No injuries were reported from the flooded vehicle incident because the robotaxi was empty. However, residents in Atlanta reported safety concerns, stating that families, children, and small pets used the streets while the vehicles created traffic congestion.
Residents placed improvised road signs to try to keep the vehicles away from residential streets, but the autonomous vehicles did not respond to these warnings.
Index analysis
The incidents indicate software defects affecting vehicle navigation and environmental perception. Waymo's Generation 5 and Generation 6 self-driving systems failed to recognize hazardous conditions and routing constraints, resulting in unsafe navigation decisions.
Governance controls
Waymo temporarily suspended service in San Antonio following the flooded road incident and initiated a voluntary recall of 3,800 vehicles equipped with Generation 5 and Generation 6 autonomous driving systems, according to a letter published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Waymo stated that safety is its 'principal priority' and announced implementation of 'additional software safety measures,' including measures to restrict vehicle access to areas at risk of flash flooding. The company indicated that service in San Antonio would resume after software updates are deployed.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.