Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet Inc., has submitted a recall for nearly 3,900 robotaxis in the United States after identifying a software issue that could allow its vehicles to enter closed freeway construction zones and continue driving.
The recall, documented with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, comes after more than a dozen reported incidents since early April in California and Arizona. In those events, Waymo vehicles did not detect ramp closure signage and proceeded past the signs into planned freeway construction areas and active lanes where work was underway.
In response to the incidents, Waymo imposed a temporary restriction on freeway driving to develop and validate improved systems for detecting and reacting to freeway closures. The company has since deployed an updated vehicle software package intended to stop autonomous cars from entering construction zones flagged as closed.
This action marks Waymo’s second recall in a short span. Last month the company recalled about 3,800 robotaxis after discovering that some of its vehicles were entering flooded roads that carried higher speed limits.
Operational and market context
From an operational perspective, the recall highlights a specific software recognition and decision-making failure tied to roadway signage and pre-planned construction zones. The filings indicate the issue affected vehicles operating in real-world environments in at least two states and prompted a temporary constraint on freeway operations until corrective software could be validated and installed.
Regulatory filing
The recall was formally registered with federal safety authorities, aligning the reported incidents and the company’s corrective measures with official oversight processes. The company reported the incidents as having occurred since early April, noting the nature of the failures as missed recognition of ramp closure signs followed by entry into construction zones or active work lanes.
Summary of corrective action
- Freeway driving was temporarily curtailed while Waymo developed enhanced awareness and response functions for freeway closures.
- Waymo has updated the vehicle software to prevent autonomous vehicles from entering closed construction zones.
- This recall follows a separate recall last month concerning vehicles entering flooded roads.