Trending Now - Waymo Recalls Nearly 3,800 Robotaxis Over Flood Risk Issues

WHO:

Inc - Waymo is the company involved in the recall of its robotaxis.

WHAT:

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo's autonomous fleet has about 3,800 vehicles.

San Antonio Express-News - The April 20 incident was the second flooding-related issue for Waymo in San Antonio within a two-week period.

San Antonio Express-News - The Waymo vehicle that was swept away was found downstream from several low water crossings and bridges, including the Interstate 35 frontage at Seguin Road, which is known to flood.

San Antonio Express-News - The service shutdown in San Antonio has now lasted three weeks, surpassing previous interruptions for power outages and flash floods in other cities.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo stated it had resumed autonomous operations in San Antonio after its longest-ever shutdown but is still not serving riders.

San Antonio Express-News - The company began limited service in February in San Antonio, with dozens of its Waymo Driver system-equipped Jaguar I-Pace vehicles covering a 60-square-mile service area.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo's robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, remains temporarily suspended following an incident where a Waymo AV entered a flooded road and was swept away into a creek.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo's recall affects 3,791 vehicles equipped with the company's fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo stated it is "readying operations to resume public rides" in San Antonio.

San Antonio Express-News - The April 20 incident was the second flooding-related issue for Waymo in San Antonio within a two-week period, following an incident on April 4 where another unoccupied Waymo had to be pulled from high water at McCullough Avenue and Contour Drive.

San Antonio Express-News - The service shutdown in San Antonio has now lasted three weeks, surpassing previous interruptions for power outages and flash floods in other cities.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo's recall affects approximately 3,800 robotaxis in the U.S. to address software issues that may allow them to drive onto flooded roadways.

CNBC - Waymo's robotaxi service currently operates in 11 U.S. markets, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Miami.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo's autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas were recently seen on camera driving onto a flooded street and stalling, requiring other drivers to navigate around them.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo has temporarily narrowed its operating scope to increase weather-related restrictions and updated its service-area maps while it works on a permanent remedy.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo said it had resumed autonomous operations in San Antonio after its longest-ever shutdown but is still not serving riders.

San Antonio Express-News - The April 20 incident occurred when a robotaxi was overtaken by Salado Creek floodwaters, and crews recovered the vehicle four days later along the Greenway Trail system near Pletz County Park.

CNBC - Waymo's voluntary recall affects 3,791 vehicles equipped with the company's fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems.

San Antonio Express-News - The Waymo vehicle that was swept away was found four days later along the Greenway Trail system near Pletz County Park.

San Antonio Express-News - The service shutdown in San Antonio has now lasted three weeks, surpassing previous interruptions for power outages and flash floods in other cities.

CNBC - Waymo is recalling about 3,800 robotaxis in the U.S. to fix software issues that could allow them to "drive onto a flooded roadway."

CNBC - Waymo has drawn criticism for its vehicles failing to yield to school buses in Austin and for performance issues during power outages in San Francisco in December.

CNBC - Waymo provides over half a million trips every week in challenging driving environments across the U.S.

CNBC - Waymo's robotaxi service in San Antonio, Texas, remains temporarily suspended following an incident where a Waymo AV entered a flooded road and was swept away into a creek.

Inc - Waymo issued a voluntary recall of 3,791 robotaxis.

TechCrunch - The recall addresses a flooding problem and includes a software update to make the robotaxis more cautious around flooded areas.

TechCrunch - A "final remedy" for the flooding issue is in the works.

WHERE:

Inc - The recall pertains to Waymo's fifth and sixth generation robotaxis, which operate in various locations where flooding may occur.

WHEN:

TechCrunch - The article does not specify a date for the implementation of the software update or the final remedy.

WHY:

San Antonio Express-News - The voluntary software recall stems from an incident during severe weather when a Waymo vehicle “encountered an untraversible flooded section of a roadway.”

TechCrunch - The recall was initiated due to the risk of the robotaxis driving into flood zones.

HOW:

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo stated it is "working to implement additional software safeguards and have put mitigations in place, including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain, limiting access to areas where flash flooding might occur."

CNBC - Waymo stated it is "working on additional software safeguards" to enhance the safety of its robotaxis during extreme weather conditions.

San Antonio Express-News - Waymo stated it is "readying operations to resume public rides" in San Antonio.

CNBC - Waymo has put "mitigations" in place, limiting where its robotaxis operate during extreme weather to avoid "areas where flash flooding might occur" in periods of intense rain.

TechCrunch - The recall involves a software update designed to enhance the robotaxis' caution in flooded areas.

(UPDATED May 13, 2026 17:40 UTC)

Waymo's autonomous fleet, which consists of about 3,800 vehicles, has faced significant challenges in San Antonio, where its robotaxi service remains temporarily suspended after a vehicle was swept away in a flooding incident. This marks the second flooding-related issue for Waymo in the city within a two-week period, leading to a service shutdown that has now lasted three weeks, surpassing previous interruptions caused by power outages and flash floods in other areas. In response to these incidents, Waymo is implementing additional software safeguards and refining its extreme weather operations to prevent future occurrences.

(UPDATED May 13, 2026 13:41 UTC)

Waymo has announced a voluntary recall affecting 3,791 vehicles equipped with its fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems, following a recent incident where one of its vehicles became trapped in a flooded area during severe weather. The company is preparing to resume public rides in San Antonio after a service shutdown that has now lasted three weeks, marking a longer interruption than previous outages caused by power failures and flash floods in other cities. This recall comes on the heels of a second flooding-related issue in San Antonio, where another unoccupied Waymo vehicle had to be rescued from high water just two weeks prior.

(UPDATED May 13, 2026 06:08 UTC)

Waymo has announced a recall affecting around 3,800 of its robotaxis in the U.S. due to software issues that could potentially lead them onto flooded roadways. The robotaxi service currently operates in 11 markets across the country, including major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami. To address these concerns, Waymo is working on additional software safeguards to improve the safety of its vehicles during extreme weather conditions.

(UPDATED May 13, 2026 04:16 UTC)

Waymo's autonomous vehicles were recently caught on camera stalling on a flooded street in Austin, Texas, prompting other drivers to navigate around them. In response, Waymo has temporarily narrowed its operating scope and updated its service-area maps while working on a permanent solution, though it has resumed operations in San Antonio after its longest shutdown. The company announced it is preparing to resume public rides in San Antonio, following an incident on April 20 when a robotaxi was overtaken by floodwaters and recovered four days later.

(UPDATED May 13, 2026 01:34 UTC)

Waymo has announced a voluntary recall affecting 3,791 vehicles that are equipped with the company's fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems. This comes after a Waymo vehicle was found four days later along the Greenway Trail system, following a flooding incident on April 20, which marked the second flooding-related issue for the company in San Antonio within two weeks. Additionally, the service shutdown in San Antonio has now lasted three weeks, exceeding previous interruptions caused by power outages and flash floods in other cities.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 23:22 UTC)

Waymo is recalling about 3,800 robotaxis in the U.S. due to software issues that could potentially allow them to drive onto flooded roadways. The company has faced criticism for its vehicles not yielding to school buses in Austin and for performance problems during power outages in San Francisco last December, while its robotaxi service in San Antonio remains temporarily suspended after an incident involving a flooded road. To address safety concerns, Waymo has implemented mitigations that restrict its robotaxis from operating in areas prone to flash flooding during intense rain.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 21:25 UTC)

Waymo has announced a voluntary recall of 3,791 of its fifth and sixth generation robotaxis due to concerns about the vehicles potentially driving into flood zones. This recall includes a software update aimed at making the robotaxis more cautious around flooded areas, and a final remedy for the flooding issue is currently in development. While the company has not specified a date for when the software update or the final remedy will be implemented, the recall addresses a significant safety concern for the vehicles operating in locations prone to flooding.