Waymo Recalls Nearly 4,000 Self-Driving Taxis Over Risk of Entering Construction Zones

In June 2024, Waymo issued a recall affecting nearly 4,000 autonomous ride-hail vehicles. The recall stems from a flaw in the vehicles' perception system that could cause them to erroneously enter closed highway construction zones. The company has confirmed at least 13 such incidents—four in Phoenix and seven in San Francisco. According to documents from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Waymo suspended all Robotaxi operations on highways as of May 19, and the affected vehicles are currently restricted to operating only on regular city streets. This marks the sixth recall in recent times, and Waymo’s autonomous driving system is now under joint investigation by NHTSA and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).