SAN FRANCISCO — Waymo is recalling nearly 4,000 robotaxis in the United States after a software issue led some autonomous vehicles to enter closed freeway construction zones, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and statements from the company this week.
The voluntary recall affects about 3,871 vehicles equipped with Waymo’s fifth-generation automated driving system, federal safety records show. The Alphabet-owned self-driving technology company said it had restricted freeway operations while developing a software fix aimed at preventing similar incidents. No crashes or injuries related to the issue have been reported, according to the company and regulators.
The recall follows 13 documented incidents in Arizona and California since April in which Waymo vehicles failed to recognize freeway closure signs or construction barriers and entered restricted areas. NHTSA said the software could allow a vehicle to continue driving into a closed construction zone, increasing the risk of a collision.
Waymo said it identified what it described as “an area of improvement regarding performance around freeway construction zones” and voluntarily limited freeway operations while working on corrective measures. The company said it informed state and federal regulators before filing the recall.
According to NHTSA documents, six incidents occurred in the Phoenix area in April, while seven were reported in the San Francisco Bay Area in May. In some cases, vehicles drove past ramp closure signs or entered lanes marked off by traffic cones during active construction work.
The affected vehicles were manufactured between 2022 and May 2026, according to recall records. Federal regulators said Waymo plans to update the software free of charge. The company owns and operates the recalled vehicles, allowing updates to be deployed directly to its fleet.
The action marks Waymo’s second recall in 2026. In May, the company recalled roughly 3,800 robotaxis after identifying a separate software issue that could allow vehicles to enter flooded roadways.
Waymo has expanded its driverless ride-hailing service across multiple U.S. cities and began offering freeway rides in some markets in late 2025. The company said surface-street operations will continue during the recall process while freeway service remains restricted pending further software improvements. As of Friday, the company said a permanent remedy remained under development.
