Waymo has recalled its fleet of nearly 4,000 robotaxis to keep them off highways while it works on better handling of construction zones.

The action follows at least 13 cases where the vehicles entered highway stretches shut down for work. Six took place in Phoenix, Arizona during April, while seven happened in San Francisco, California in May.

Waymo halted all highway use on May 19. A solution remains in development, per reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Vehicles stay in service on local streets, though operations pause at times during bad weather that risks flooding.

The company stated it spotted a need to improve performance near freeway construction areas. It voluntarily limited highway runs last month during upgrades, alerted regulators, and filed a voluntary software recall with NHTSA.

This marks the sixth recall for Waymo robotaxis. Earlier ones addressed flooded-road entries in May, illegal school-bus maneuvers in December, low-speed hits on chains and poles, and issues with towed trucks.

NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board continue to review the software after a January incident in which a robotaxi struck a child near a school bus.

Alphabet-owned Waymo reports more than 170 million autonomous miles and a 13-times lower rate of serious injury crashes versus human drivers.

The firm is expanding rapidly with plans for over 20 new cities this year, including London and Tokyo. Growth has exposed more edge cases, now including highway construction zones.

Waymo began highway rides in November 2025. It told NHTSA that vehicles missed ramp closure signs and entered planned work zones in Phoenix during mid-April. Its Field Safety Committee then restricted highway use there pending a fix.

On May 18, seven robotaxis entered active construction lanes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Software had prioritized other hazards or missed the zone. All freeway driving stopped the next day. The safety board approved the recall on June 8.

Some events appeared in social media clips. One X post from May 19 showed a vehicle passing cones, with claims of a police pursuit.

A witness described construction signs, flashing lights, and distant officers as the car accelerated, leading to fear during the ride. Waymo later offered the rider three future credits of up to 40 dollars each.