Waymo Issues Recall After Robotaxi Drove Into Flooded Roadway

Waymo has issued a new software recall affecting nearly 3,800 vehicles equipped with its self-driving system over concerns the software could allow robotaxis to drive into flooded roadways.

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall impacts Waymo’s 5th and 6th Generation Automated Driving Systems and relates to how the software handles standing water on higher-speed roads.

NHTSA says the software “may allow the vehicle to slow and then drive into standing water on higher speed roadways,” potentially leading to a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

The issue came to light following an incident on April 20, 2026, when an unoccupied Waymo vehicle encountered what the company described as an “untraversable flooded section” of roadway on a street with a 40 mph speed limit. According to the filing, the robotaxi detected the floodwater and slowed down, but still proceeded into the affected area instead of stopping completely.

That event prompted Waymo to quickly implement temporary restrictions the same day. The company updated its mapping data and introduced additional weather-related operational controls designed to prevent vehicles from entering environments where flooded higher-speed roads may exist.

A few days later, on April 24, Waymo’s Safety Board formally reviewed the situation and decided a recall was necessary.

While Waymo says all affected vehicles already received the interim update by April 20, the company acknowledged a permanent fix is still under development. Until then, the robotaxi operator has narrowed the approved operational conditions for its autonomous fleet during certain weather events.

You can read the full NHTSA recall notice below.