Waymo recalls thousands of robotaxis over potential 'loss of vehicle control'

(KRON) – Waymo has issued a recall for thousands of its robotaxis over a risk involving the vehicles entering flooded roadways.

The autonomous taxi company has recalled 3,791 robotaxis after identifying a risk that the vehicles may not stop in flood conditions on higher-speed roadways, according to a report from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“Entering an untraversable flooded roadway can result in loss of vehicle control,” the NHTSA report states.

According to the report, the recall follows an April 20 incident in which an unoccupied Waymo drove into a flooded roadway with a 40-mph speed limit. The vehicle, according to the safety agency, detected potentially “untraversable flood water” and proceeded at reduced speed.

NHTSA said the incident prompted Waymo to review similar scenarios involving high speeds and “impassable flooded roads.”

A Waymo spokesperson described the recall as voluntary, telling Nexstar’s KRON, “We have identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways, and have made the decision to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA related to this scenario.”

The transportation agency said Waymo has temporarily narrowed its operating scope to increase weather-related restrictions. The company, which is owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, has also reportedly updated its maps as it works to find a permanent solution to the issue.

“We are 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,” Waymo said.