Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after autonomous vehicle enters flooded road in San Antonio

[RECALL]

Apr 20, 2026 · Waymo · Waymo Driver (6th gen) · Sacramento, California, USA

Failure Mode

RECALL

Event Date

Apr 20, 2026

Primary Entity

Waymo

Robotic Platform

Waymo Driver (6th gen)

Jurisdiction / Location

Sacramento, California, USA

Audit Standard

Physical State Verified

Incident Abstract & Audit Findings

An unoccupied Waymo autonomous vehicle entered an untraversable flooded lane on a 40 mph roadway in San Antonio during extreme weather on April 20, 2026. The vehicle was swept into a creek with no passengers on board. Waymo filed a voluntary software recall with NHTSA on April 30 covering up to 3,791 vehicles with 5th and 6th generation ADS, addressing a risk that vehicles could drive onto flooded higher-speed roadways. San Antonio robotaxi service was temporarily suspended.

System & Fleet Architecture

Operating Manufacturer

Hardware Platform

Waymo Driver (6th gen)

Operational Sectors

Physical AI / Robotics

Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings

  • https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/12/waymo-recalls-3800-robotaxis-after-able-drive-into-standing-water.html

    https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/12/waymo-recalls-3800-robotaxis-after-able-drive-into-standing-water.html

  • https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/waymo-recall-nearly-3800-robotaxis-over-self-driving-software-issue-2026-05-12/

    https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/waymo-recall-nearly-3800-robotaxis-over-self-driving-software-issue-2026-05-12/

  • https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCAK-26E026-9973.pdf

    https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCAK-26E026-9973.pdf

Related Incidents & Failure Precedents

6 records on file

Incident Context & FAQ

What happened in Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after autonomous vehicle enters flooded road in San Antonio?

An unoccupied Waymo autonomous vehicle entered an untraversable flooded lane on a 40 mph roadway in San Antonio during extreme weather on April 20, 2026. The vehicle was swept into a creek with no passengers on board. Waymo filed a voluntary software recall with NHTSA on April 30 covering up to 3,791 vehicles with 5th and 6th generation ADS, addressing a risk that vehicles could drive onto flooded higher-speed roadways. San Antonio robotaxi service was temporarily suspended.

When did this incident occur?

The incident is recorded as occurring on April 20, 2026 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.

What robot was involved in Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after autonomous vehicle enters flooded road in San Antonio?

Waymo Driver (6th gen) by Waymo is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Sacramento, California, USA.

Has anyone responded to Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after autonomous vehicle enters flooded road in San Antonio?

No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.

What is the current status of Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis after autonomous vehicle enters flooded road in San Antonio?

This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.