Waymo has announced its sixth recall following incidents where robotaxis entered highway construction zones on 13 occasions.

      Waymo has issued its sixth recall for nearly 4,000 robotaxis that have entered highway construction zones on at least 13 occasions across two cities. Six of these incidents took place in Phoenix in April, while the remaining seven occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area on the same day in May. According to filings with the NHTSA, a fix is currently in the works.

      The vehicles ignored ramp closure signs, cones, and flashing lights, driving into freeway sections that were under active construction. Waymo stated to the NHTSA that the software sometimes "prioritizes the avoidance of other freeway hazards and/or fails to recognize the construction zone."

      One passenger shared a video on X showing a Waymo vehicle "barreling through cones" while being pursued by police. The rider recounted to CBS News, “There were construction signs. There were lights flashing. Police were in the distance, and it sped up. At that moment, I looked at my fiancée and thought, we’re done. This is it. We’re dead.” In response, Waymo provided the rider with three complimentary rides, each valued at up to $40.

      Following these incidents, Waymo removed all robotaxis from highways on May 19 and has not reinstated freeway service since. The vehicles continue to operate on surface streets. Waymo voluntarily filed the recall with the NHTSA on June 8 and said it had proactively informed state and federal regulators.

      This recall marks the second within just over a month. In May, Waymo recalled 3,791 robotaxis due to their entering flooded roadways, an issue that a software update was unable to resolve. Previous recalls have dealt with collisions involving telephone poles, gates, and chains, illegal maneuvers around school buses, and an incident where a robotaxi struck a child near a school, which is still under investigation by the NHTSA.

      Waymo claims its vehicles have traveled over 170 million autonomous miles and has reported a 13-fold reduction in serious injury or worse crashes compared to human drivers. The company plans to expand its operations to over 20 cities this year, including London and Tokyo, and recently introduced a subscription plan for $29.99 per month aimed at its most frequent riders.

      However, the rapid expansion is revealing edge cases more quickly than the software can address them. Highway construction zones are a common occurrence on American freeways. A robotaxi service that is unable to reliably identify cones, closure signs, and flashing lights on highways, even when they have already been mapped, indicates that it is not adequately prepared for highway operation. Waymo commenced its freeway rides in November 2025 but discontinued the service just seven months later.