Waymo Taxis Filmed Driving Into Water in Austin Texas

Waymo has initiated a voluntary recall of approximately 3,800 robotaxis in the United States to address software issues that could cause vehicles to drive onto a flooded roadway.

The recall affects Waymo vehicles utilizing the company’s fifth and sixth generation automated driving systems (ADS), according to a letter posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

The software flaw was highlighted by incidents captured on camera in Austin, Texas, and other locations. The footage showed autonomous vehicles driving into flooded streets or stalling in traffic during periods of heavy rain, requiring other human drivers to navigate around the immobilized vehicles.

In a statement released Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Waymo acknowledged the issue, stating that the company had

identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways

Waymo

Waymo stated that it has already implemented some fixes and is currently working on additional software safeguards to prevent similar occurrences.

The company defended its safety record in the same statement, noting the scale of its current operations:

Waymo provides over half a million trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments across the U.S., and safety is our primary priority

Waymo

Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. And is managed by co-CEOs Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov. As of March 2026, the company operates public commercial robotaxi services across 10 U.S. Metropolitan areas. Its fleet consists of over 3,700 robotaxis that have logged 200 million fully autonomous miles.

According to company data, Waymo has served more than 20 million rides, reporting a 93% satisfaction rate from its riders.

The recall follows a series of other safety-related challenges for the autonomous vehicle unit. In Austin, Texas, Waymo has faced criticism over vehicles failing to yield to school buses. In December, robotaxis in San Francisco caused traffic gridlock when the vehicles halted during widespread power outages.

Despite these technical hurdles, Waymo has seen significant financial growth. By 2024, the company had raised $11 billion through multiple outside funding rounds. In February 2026, Waymo raised an additional $16 billion, which valued the company at $126 billion.