Waymo, a leading company in autonomous vehicle technology, recently issued a recall for 1,212 of its vehicles. This recall addresses a software issue that could potentially lead to minor collisions. The problem stems from the fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS) struggling to accurately identify certain obstacles, particularly stationary or semi-stationary objects like gates and chains. This issue impacts a significant portion of Waymo’s operational fleet across several major cities where the company operates its ride-hailing service.
The recall highlights the ongoing challenges in perfecting autonomous driving technology. While Waymo’s vehicles have driven millions of miles, navigating complex and unpredictable real-world scenarios remains a hurdle. The fact that this recall covers a large portion of their operational fleet underscores the widespread nature of the problem and the importance of addressing it promptly.
A Waymo vehicle navigating city streets. Source: Waymo.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue involves Waymo vehicles equipped with the fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS) software. These vehicles exhibited difficulty in recognizing and responding appropriately to “stationary and semi-stationary objects such as gates and chains.” While the collisions resulting from this issue were reported as low-speed impacts, the potential for more serious incidents prompted a thorough investigation.
NHTSA initiated its investigation in May 2024 following seven reported incidents where Waymo’s autonomous vehicles collided with gates and chains. By the end of 2024, the number of reported collisions had increased to sixteen. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported as a result of these incidents. The timeline of events is summarized in the table below:
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | NHTSA Investigation | Investigation launched after 7 incidents of collisions with gates and chains. |
| End of 2024 | Additional Collisions | 9 more collisions with similar barriers reported, bringing the total to 16. |
| December 26, 2024 | Software Update | Waymo completed a fleet-wide software update to address the issue. |
Interestingly, the Waymo software update addressing this issue was already implemented across its entire fleet by December 26, 2024, prior to the official recall announcement. This update specifically targets the fifth-generation software, as the sixth-generation version is not yet in use. This proactive approach suggests Waymo’s commitment to quickly resolving safety concerns as they arise.
A Waymo spokesperson provided a statement emphasizing the company’s dedication to safety, stating: “Waymo provides more than 250,000 paid trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the U.S. We hold ourselves to a high safety standard, and our record of reducing injuries over tens of millions of fully autonomous miles driven shows our technology is making roads safer. NHTSA plays a vital role in road safety, and we will continue to work collaboratively with the agency as part of our mission to be the world’s most trusted driver.”
It’s worth noting that this isn’t Waymo’s first recall. In February 2024, the company recalled 444 vehicles due to issues with recognizing and responding to vehicles being towed. Another recall in June addressed problems with identifying poles or pole-like objects. These previous recalls highlight the iterative nature of developing safe and reliable autonomous driving systems and the importance of continuous monitoring and improvement.
