Waymo Recalls 1,212 Vehicles After Barrier Collisions

Alphabet's self-driving unit, Waymo, is recalling 1,212 vehicles due to a software fault that caused some cars to collide with roadway barriers such as chains and gates. The issue involved the vehicles' object detection or response mechanisms, which affected their ability to avoid visible obstacles. Waymo has addressed the problem with a software update, deploying its latest sixth-generation automated driving system across the fleet by the end of December. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation in May 2024 after reports of robotaxis exhibiting unsafe driving behavior, including collisions that a competent driver would be expected to avoid; the investigation remains open. Despite these incidents, Waymo reported no injuries from 16 collisions recorded between 2022 and late 2024 and emphasized that its technology has contributed to road safety through millions of fully autonomous miles driven. This recall follows an earlier one in February 2024 involving 444 vehicles after minor collisions in Arizona due to a software error in predicting the movement of towed vehicles.