Home / Technology / NHTSA Recalls Nearly 4,000 Waymo Vehicles Over Safety Flaw
NHTSA Recalls Nearly 4,000 Waymo Vehicles Over Safety Flaw
19 Jun
Summary
- Nearly 4,000 Waymo robotaxis are part of a new safety recall.
- Vehicles incorrectly entered construction zones, posing a hazard.
- Software improvements will enhance Waymo's performance around construction.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall affecting nearly 4,000 Waymo vehicles, encompassing their entire fifth-generation robotaxi fleet. This recall stems from concerns that the autonomous vehicles have been driving into construction zones.
Incidents in Phoenix, Arizona, and San Francisco during April and May respectively, indicated that Waymo cars were entering closed construction zones. This behavior was attributed to the vehicles incorrectly prioritizing other highway hazards over recognizing and avoiding these zones.
Waymo's fifth-generation Autonomous Driving System, present in all its Jaguar vehicles currently in service, is impacted by this recall. The company plans to address the issue through software enhancements. These improvements aim to better detect construction zones and prevent vehicles from entering them, thereby improving safety.
