Waymo is recalling more than 1,200 of its self-driving vehicles to address a software issue linked to collisions with roadway barriers, such as gates and chains, the company said on Wednesday. The move follows an ongoing investigation by U.S. auto safety regulators into the performance of its automated driving system.
The recall affects 1,212 vehicles equipped with Waymo’s fifth-generation automated driving software. According to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Alphabet-owned firm identified 16 incidents involving contact with fixed roadside objects between 2022 and late 2024. No injuries were reported.
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NHTSA opened a probe in May 2024 after receiving reports of unsafe driving behavior by Waymo’s autonomous fleet. The agency noted that several incidents “involved collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid.” The investigation remains active.
Waymo said it resolved the issue through a software update rolled out across its entire fleet by the end of December 2024. The company noted that it operates more than 1,500 autonomous vehicles across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, providing over 250,000 fully autonomous paid trips weekly. It plans to expand service to Atlanta, Miami and Washington, D.C.
“Waymo provides more than 250,000 paid trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the U.S.,” the company said. “Our record of reducing injuries over tens of millions of fully autonomous miles driven shows our technology is making roads safer.”
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This marks the third software-related recall by Waymo within a year. Previous recalls involved similar issues, including one in June 2024 when a vehicle struck a utility pole in Phoenix, and another in February after minor collisions related to misjudged movements of towed vehicles. The broader autonomous vehicle industry, including companies like General Motors’ Cruise and Amazon’s Zoox, continues to face heightened regulatory scrutiny following high-profile incidents.