Waymo Recalls 3,871 Robotaxis Over Construction Zone Recognition Failure
Waymo recalled nearly 3,900 robotaxis in the US after its fifth-generation autonomous driving system failed to recognize freeway construction zones and drove into them at high speed in at least 13 incidents across California and Arizona starting in April 2026. The company voluntarily restricted freeway operations and filed the recall with NHTSA after identifying the software flaw.
What happened
Waymo's fifth-generation autonomous driving system failed to recognize freeway construction zones and drove into them at high speed in at least 13 incidents beginning in early April 2026, with six episodes in Phoenix and seven in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The NHTSA recall report stated: 'Under certain circumstances, the AV may enter and drive at speed in freeway construction zones due to inappropriately prioritizing the avoidance of other freeway hazards and/or failing to recognize the construction zone.' The system was installed in Waymo's Jaguar robotaxi fleet, manufactured between May 17, 2022 and May 19, 2026.
Reported impact
Waymo voluntarily recalled 3,871 robotaxis and restricted freeway operations to address the issue while improvements were developed.
One passenger reported the vehicle accelerated between construction work signals and police presence.
Index analysis
The failure mode involved the autonomous system's inability to detect construction zone signage and lane closures, causing it to prioritize other hazard avoidance over recognizing construction work areas.
Governance controls
Waymo voluntarily restricted freeway operations, notified state and federal regulators, and filed a voluntary software recall with NHTSA.
As of June 13, 2026, the software solution remained in development.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.