_Incident · Recall_

# Waymo recalls 3,871 5th-gen ADS vehicles over freeway construction zone detection failure

Canonical ID: `9a8d0a49-916e-49cc-bc63-e6cf4f862db0`

- **Occurred:** 2026-06-17
- **Kind:** `recall`
- **Status (derived):** active
- **Model:** [Waymo Driver 6th-gen](/models/waymo-driver-gen6.md) (id: `c9a56a6c-55d4-40e3-b080-70a6f04e6956`)

NHTSA recall 26E035 (filed Jun 17, 2026): Waymo AVs entered and drove at speed in freeway construction zones in Phoenix (Apr 11-19, 2026) and the San Francisco Bay Area (May 18, 2026) due to the ADS inappropriately prioritizing avoidance of other freeway hazards and/or failing to recognize the construction zone. Waymo implemented freeway driving restrictions and the Safety Board decided to conduct a recall on Jun 8, 2026. Software remedy in development. No injuries reported.

## Sources (1)

1. **NHTSA (Part 573, 26E035)** · https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26E035-7637.pdf

## Common questions

### What happened in Waymo recalls 3,871 5th-gen ADS vehicles over freeway construction zone detection failure?

NHTSA recall 26E035 (filed Jun 17, 2026): Waymo AVs entered and drove at speed in freeway construction zones in Phoenix (Apr 11-19, 2026) and the San Francisco Bay Area (May 18, 2026) due to the ADS inappropriately prioritizing avoidance of other freeway hazards and/or failing to recognize the construction zone. Waymo implemented freeway driving restrictions and the Safety Board decided to conduct a recall on Jun 8, 2026. Software remedy in development. No injuries reported.

### When did this incident occur?

The incident is recorded as occurring on June 17, 2026 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.

### What robot was involved in Waymo recalls 3,871 5th-gen ADS vehicles over freeway construction zone detection failure?

Waymo Driver 6th-gen is the recorded robot involved in this incident.

### Has anyone responded to Waymo recalls 3,871 5th-gen ADS vehicles over freeway construction zone detection failure?

No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.

### What is the current status of Waymo recalls 3,871 5th-gen ADS vehicles over freeway construction zone detection failure?

This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.


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