PHOENIX, ARIZONA — Waymo filed a voluntary software recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 3,871 robotaxis. "We identified an area of improvement regarding performance around freeway construction zones. We voluntarily restricted freeway operations last month while making improvements, proactively notified state and federal regulators, and decided to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA," Waymo said.

The recall applies to vehicles that operate on Waymo's fifth-generation automated driving system. Waymo identified 13 instances of its autonomous vehicles entering closed highway construction zones between April and May. Six of these incidents occurred in Phoenix, Arizona, in April, and seven incidents took place in the San Francisco, California, area in May.

Waymo restricted all freeway operations on May 19. The company's Field Safety Committee initially restricted freeway operations in Phoenix while Waymo investigated the issue. Waymo's safety board formally approved the recall on June 8. The NHTSA stated that driving at highway speed in a construction zone increases collision potential. The NHTSA also estimates that 100 percent of the recalled vehicles contain the software defect. Waymo continues to operate ride-hailing services on surface streets.

An issue of this type was observed when a Waymo vehicle entered an active construction zone in May while transporting passenger Elliot Slade from San Mateo, California, to San Francisco. During this incident, the vehicle exited the freeway and entered a residential neighborhood.

The NHTSA said, "Under certain circumstances, the autonomous vehicle may enter and drive at speed in freeway construction zones due to inappropriately prioritizing the avoidance of other freeway hazards and/or failing to recognize the construction zone." Slade described the circumstances, stating, "There were construction signs. There were lights going on. Police in the distance and it sped up."

A software update designed to resolve the construction zone detection issue is currently under development. Waymo began offering highway rides to passengers in November 2025. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, previously issued recalls, including one in May 2025 for 1,212 vehicles following collisions with stationary roadway barriers.