Waymo recalls thousands of robotaxis after one was washed away by flood
Autonomous vehicle software can handle a six-lane interchange during rush hour, but it is still powerless against nature. Waymo is recalling nearly 3,800 of its robotaxis in the US because the cars don’t know what to do when the road ahead is flooded. A fix is still being developed. The recall itself is a reminder of how much development separates a working autonomous fleet from a finished one.
Incident in San Antonio
Waymo, which is owned by Google parent company Alphabet, confirmed that on April 20, an empty robotaxi from its fleet drove onto a flooded road in San Antonio, Texas, and was immediately washed into a creek. Waymo reports that the car detected floodwater but continued moving, albeit at reduced speed.
The recall covers 3,971 vehicles manufactured from March 2022 to April 2026. The empty robotaxi in San Antonio drove into floodwater and was washed away. Sensors detected the water, but the system continued moving at reduced speed.
In the recall notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Waymo confirms that vehicles operating on fifth and sixth generation automated driving systems are affected. This action covers 3,971 Waymo-equipped vehicles manufactured from March 17, 2022 to April 20, 2026.
Temporary fix
Waymo notes that after the April 20 incident, it implemented additional operational restrictions in locations where there is an increased risk of encountering flooded roads at high speed. However, this is considered only a “temporary measure”, and a permanent fix is still being developed.
The robotaxi service operated by Waymo in San Antonio, Texas, will remain suspended until the software fix is ready.
Expansion problems in the UK
This incident comes at an inopportune time for the company. In January, Waymo announced plans to launch in London, and last month, vehicle testing began in the bustling city. Things were already going poorly after one robotaxi was spotted driving through a police cordon while local authorities were investigating a double murder. At the time, the car was being driven by a human operator, whom Waymo later suspended.
This situation shows that even the most advanced autonomous driving technologies face unexpected challenges that require refinement. Despite successes in urban conditions, natural phenomena such as floods remain a serious obstacle. The incident in San Antonio and the problems in London highlight that the path to fully safe and reliable autonomous transport still requires significant effort, especially in adapting to non-standard road situations and interacting with human factors, such as the work of emergency services.