Waymo recalls 3,900 robotaxis over construction zone software flaw

Waymo is recalling 3,871 robotaxis after a software flaw could cause vehicles to enter closed freeway construction zones. The issue may occur when the system fails to detect closure signs or overweights avoiding other hazards. The fix includes software updates and additional operational protocols, and Waymo says it voluntarily restricted freeway operations last month while improvements were made and regulators notified. Earliest triggering incidents occurred in Phoenix on April 11, with a cluster on April 19; another incident on May 18 in the San Francisco Bay Area saw vehicles bypass traffic cones. Waymo’s recall is the second in just over a month, following a May action addressing a flooding vulnerability.