Waymo Recalls Thousands of Robotaxis After Autonomous Vehicle Swept Away in San Antonio Flood
By Tom Gray
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Published: May 18, 2026
Waymo, a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, has initiated a voluntary recall of nearly 3,800 robotaxis across the United States following a concerning incident in San Antonio, Texas, where one of its driverless cars was swept into a creek by floodwaters. The event, which occurred on April 20, 2026, has prompted a critical re-evaluation of how self-driving systems navigate extreme weather conditions.
The incident unfolded when an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi encountered a flooded section of roadway with a 40 mph speed limit. Despite its advanced sensors detecting the untraversable water, the vehicle continued to proceed at a reduced speed instead of stopping or rerouting, ultimately succumbing to the powerful currents of Salado Creek. Fortunately, no passengers were on board, and no injuries were reported, though the vehicle was not recovered until four days later, found downstream near Pletz County Park.
This wasn't an isolated event for Waymo in San Antonio. Just weeks prior, on April 4, another unoccupied Waymo vehicle became stranded in high water at a different location within the city, McCullough Avenue and Contour Drive, highlighting a persistent challenge for autonomous technology in areas prone to flash flooding.
The voluntary recall, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on April 30, affects 3,791 vehicles equipped with Waymo's fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems. Waymo acknowledged a software flaw where the autonomous driving system (ADS) may slow down but not completely stop when detecting standing water on higher-speed roads. This oversight, the company noted, presented an "area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways."
In response to the safety concern, Waymo moved swiftly. The company implemented interim software updates across its entire fleet by April 20, the very day of the creek incident. These immediate mitigations include tighter weather-related operational constraints and updated service-area maps to limit access to zones where flash flooding is likely during heavy rainfall. Waymo has also temporarily suspended its robotaxi services in San Antonio as it works on a more permanent remedy.
This recall underscores the complex hurdles facing the autonomous vehicle industry, particularly in mastering unpredictable environmental factors like severe weather. While self-driving cars excel in many scenarios, incidents like these highlight the need for robust and flawless responses to nature's formidable challenges. Waymo, owned by Alphabet Inc., emphasized that safety remains its paramount priority and that the full software solution is currently under development. The recall itself is a software fix delivered "over-the-air," similar to a smartphone update, meaning vehicles do not need to be physically brought in for service.
The incident unfolded when an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi encountered a flooded section of roadway with a 40 mph speed limit. Despite its advanced sensors detecting the untraversable water, the vehicle continued to proceed at a reduced speed instead of stopping or rerouting, ultimately succumbing to the powerful currents of Salado Creek. Fortunately, no passengers were on board, and no injuries were reported, though the vehicle was not recovered until four days later, found downstream near Pletz County Park.
This wasn't an isolated event for Waymo in San Antonio. Just weeks prior, on April 4, another unoccupied Waymo vehicle became stranded in high water at a different location within the city, McCullough Avenue and Contour Drive, highlighting a persistent challenge for autonomous technology in areas prone to flash flooding.
The voluntary recall, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on April 30, affects 3,791 vehicles equipped with Waymo's fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems. Waymo acknowledged a software flaw where the autonomous driving system (ADS) may slow down but not completely stop when detecting standing water on higher-speed roads. This oversight, the company noted, presented an "area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways."
In response to the safety concern, Waymo moved swiftly. The company implemented interim software updates across its entire fleet by April 20, the very day of the creek incident. These immediate mitigations include tighter weather-related operational constraints and updated service-area maps to limit access to zones where flash flooding is likely during heavy rainfall. Waymo has also temporarily suspended its robotaxi services in San Antonio as it works on a more permanent remedy.
This recall underscores the complex hurdles facing the autonomous vehicle industry, particularly in mastering unpredictable environmental factors like severe weather. While self-driving cars excel in many scenarios, incidents like these highlight the need for robust and flawless responses to nature's formidable challenges. Waymo, owned by Alphabet Inc., emphasized that safety remains its paramount priority and that the full software solution is currently under development. The recall itself is a software fix delivered "over-the-air," similar to a smartphone update, meaning vehicles do not need to be physically brought in for service.