Waymo Recalls 3,900 Robotaxis After Cars Enter Closed Freeway Construction Zones

Waymo is recalling nearly 3,900 robotaxis in the United States to fix a software malfunction that caused vehicles to inadvertently enter closed freeway construction zones, posing a significant risk of collision. The voluntary recall, which is the second from the Alphabet-owned company in just over a month, affects its entire fleet of fifth-generation automated driving systems after 13 documented incidents in Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area where cars failed to recognize ramp closures or active work zones. In response, Waymo has temporarily restricted robotaxi operations on freeways while engineers develop a software solution to prevent the vehicles from prioritizing hazard avoidance over construction zone recognition, though the company continues to safely serve passengers on surface streets across all its operating cities.