Waymo Recalls 3,900 Robotaxis Over Software Glitch Near Highway Construction Zones

Waymo has announced a recall affecting approximately 3,900 self-driving vehicles after discovering a software flaw that could allow its robotaxis to enter closed highway construction zones and continue driving through active work areas.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue was linked to more than 10 incidents reported since April in California and Arizona. In those cases, the vehicles failed to properly recognize exit-ramp closure signs and inadvertently entered sections of highways undergoing construction.

Waymo said it had temporarily restricted highway operations while engineers worked on a fix. The company has since updated the software to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

The latest action marks the second robotaxi recall for Waymo in the past month. Earlier, the company recalled around 3,800 autonomous vehicles because of concerns that the software could direct cars through flooded roadways.

As autonomous driving technology continues to evolve, software updates and recalls are becoming an increasingly important part of maintaining safety in large self-driving fleets.