{"id":"0285f184-d182-4e56-b0ce-e53c071ec7c6","slug":"nhtsa-zoox-recall-26e044000","kind":"recall","headline":"Zoox recalls entire 105-vehicle fleet after robotaxi drove into smoke-filled active fire scene","summary":"NHTSA recall 26E044 (July 17 2026): On June 20 2026, an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi encountered heavy smoke obscuring an active emergency fire scene that was not cordoned off with cones. The vehicle failed to detect and respond to the smoke-filled scene. Zoox issued a software update to 105 vehicles enhancing detection of active emergency scenes by adding heavy-smoke response capability. No injuries reported. The recall came one week after NHTSA warned AV companies about interfering with first responders.","occurredAt":"2026-07-17T12:00:00.000Z","reviewStatus":"reviewed","modelId":"e94a4a69-6197-45c9-bf9a-1cb637f307bd","deploymentId":"37a5a8e3-83ab-428c-ad44-f5f6e2032651","companyId":null,"dataCenterId":null,"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"none","reviewNote":null,"severity":"serious","rootCauseCategory":"planning_perception_error","rootCauseDetail":"ADS failed to detect and respond to heavy smoke obscuring an active emergency fire scene.","affectedUnitsCount":105,"affectedUnitsBasis":"exact","remediationStatus":"remediated","regulatoryAction":"recall_ordered","regulatoryBody":"NHTSA","propertyDamageEstimateUsd":null,"damageEstimateBasis":null,"bodilyInjurySeverity":null,"fatalityCount":null,"lossCostClass":null,"sourceQualityTier":null,"oshaRecordable":null,"oshaCaseNumber":null,"rootCauseDisclosed":null,"publicDisclosureDate":null,"insuranceClaimPublic":null,"formFactor":null,"latitude":{"s":1,"e":1,"d":[36,1699000]},"longitude":{"s":-1,"e":2,"d":[115,1398000]},"autonomyClass":null,"legalOutcomeClass":"unknown","createdAt":"2026-07-22T00:32:15.289Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-09T05:24:01.599Z","model":{"id":"e94a4a69-6197-45c9-bf9a-1cb637f307bd","companyId":"6ab92a95-6f4e-4493-a771-ae645c7969c6","modelName":"Zoox Robotaxi","slug":"zoox-robotaxi","description":"Zoox's purpose-built bidirectional autonomous robotaxi, designed from scratch without a steering wheel or pedals and featuring carriage-style seating for four passengers (two facing forward, two backward). [Amazon](/companies/amazon) acquired [Zoox](/companies/zoox) in June 2020 for approximately $1.3 billion. The vehicle is battery-electric with a 133 kWh pack and a manufacturer-claimed top speed of 120 km/h. On August 10, 2026, Zoox launched its first-ever paid commercial ride-hailing service in [Las Vegas](/locations/las-vegas-nevada-usa) under NHTSA's temporary exemption allowing up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years. Free demonstration rides continue in [San Francisco](/locations/san-francisco-california-usa). Zoox has issued three NHTSA software recalls in 2025 for unexpected braking, a Las Vegas collision, and unnecessary lane-crossings.","formFactor":"av","industryVertical":"passenger_transport","environment":"road","maturityStage":"commercial","lifecycleState":"active","supersededByModelId":null,"specs":{"power":"battery-electric","range":"16 h continuous","design":"purpose-built, bidirectional (symmetrical front-rear)","pedals":"none","battery":"133 kWh","seating":"4 passengers, carriage-style (2 forward-facing, 2 backward-facing)","max_speed":"75 mph","battery_kwh":133,"recall_date":"May 2025 (touchscreen freeze, traction control loss)","max_speed_kmh":120,"parent_company":"Amazon (acquired June 2020 for ~$1.3B)","steering_wheel":"none","public_demo_cities":"San Francisco CA, Las Vegas NV"},"manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/06/amazon-owned-zoox-issues-recall-following-robotaxi-crash/","label":"Amazon-owned Zoox issues recall following robotaxi crash","title":"Amazon-owned Zoox issues recall following robotaxi crash","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"TechCrunch","publishedAt":"2025-05-06"},{"url":"https://zoox.com/","title":"Zoox (official) - purpose-built autonomous robotaxi (Amazon subsidiary)","sourceName":"Zoox (official)"},{"url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/10/amazons-zoox-jumps-into-us-robotaxi-race-with-las-vegas-launch-.html","title":"Amazon's Zoox launches public driverless robotaxi service in Las Vegas (Sept 10, 2025)","sourceName":"CNBC"},{"url":"https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/10/amazons-zoox-robotaxi-san-francisco-public-rides.html","label":"Amazon's Zoox robotaxi launches public rides in San Francisco","title":"Amazon's Zoox robotaxi launches public rides in San Francisco","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"CNBC","publishedAt":"2025-09-10"},{"url":"https://zoox.com/vehicle/","label":"Zoox Vehicle Overview","title":"Zoox Vehicle Overview","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Zoox (official)","publishedAt":"2020-12-14"},{"url":"https://zoox.com/common/files/202507-zoox-vehicle-brochure-pdf.pdf","title":"Introducing Zoox","sourceName":"Zoox (official)"}],"aliases":["Zoox purpose-built robotaxi"],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"manufacturerTermForTeleop":null,"keyFacts":[{"label":"Form factor","value":"av"},{"label":"Configuration","value":"purpose-built, bidirectional, no steering wheel or pedals"},{"label":"Maturity","value":"pilot"},{"label":"Test fleet","value":"retrofitted Toyota Highlander with safety operators"}],"createdAt":"2026-05-26T18:25:09.786Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-10T22:11:11.412Z","unitsInFieldClaimed":100,"unitsInFieldVerified":229,"unitsManufacturedClaimed":null,"unitsManufacturedVerified":null,"unitsAsOf":"2026-07-08T00:00:00.000Z","unitsSource":[{"url":"https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-03-24/zoox-robotaxis-to-roam-in-more-san-francisco-areas-new-cities","label":"Zoox has a fleet of around 100, a company spokesperson said"},{"url":"https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-california-robotaxi-registered-vehicles-drivers-2025-12","label":"The agency said Zoox has 229 registered vehicles"},{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DZBbunKAnFX/","label":"Zoox, owned by Amazon, has 35 authorized robotaxis"}],"salesModel":"not_sold","priceUndisclosedSince":null,"autonomyClass":"autonomous","autonomyStatement":null,"autonomyStatementSource":null,"demoForensics":null,"exportControlClass":null,"minCommitment":null,"warrantyTerms":null,"serviceModel":null,"productionRateClaimed":null,"productionRateEvidenced":null,"teleopRatioDisclosed":null,"interventionRateDisclosed":null},"deployment":{"id":"37a5a8e3-83ab-428c-ad44-f5f6e2032651","modelId":"e94a4a69-6197-45c9-bf9a-1cb637f307bd","versionId":null,"locationId":"05159d42-5809-4678-b688-9f42820e8728","operatorId":"6ab92a95-6f4e-4493-a771-ae645c7969c6","ownerId":null,"slug":"zoox-robotaxi-phoenix-arizona-usa","status":"pilot","firstSeen":"2026-08-04T00:00:00.000Z","statusChangeReason":null,"contractType":null,"pilotOutcome":null,"endedAt":null,"unitsOnSite":null,"tasksPerformed":["delivery"],"shiftStructure":null,"hoursPerDay":16,"siteType":"airport","operatorConfirmed":null,"humanSupervisionOnsite":null,"locationPrecisionTier":"verified_coordinates","deploymentScale":"small_2_10","siteEnvironment":"outdoor","operatorType":null,"sourceQualityTier":2,"manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://www.therobotreport.com/zoox-unveils-production-ready-robotaxi-for-u-s-expansion/","label":"Zoox unveils production-ready robotaxi for U.S. expansion","title":"Zoox unveils production-ready robotaxi for U.S. expansion","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"The Robot Report","publishedAt":"2026-08-04"}],"notes":"Zoox testing purpose-built robotaxis in Phoenix; production design unveiled Aug 2026","keyFacts":[],"reviewNote":null,"exposureHours":null,"deploymentMilesEstimate":null,"exposureBasis":null,"customerSegment":"logistics","scaleTier":"pilot_lt10","contractValueUsd":null,"contractValueBasis":null,"customerCompanyId":null,"customerExternalName":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-04T21:57:10.031Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-21T14:21:48.117Z"},"company":null,"derived":{"status":"active"},"sources":[{"id":"c4b3ec99-e2a8-4789-bd4e-f9353984a210","incidentId":"0285f184-d182-4e56-b0ce-e53c071ec7c6","url":"https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26E044-2993.pdf","label":"NHTSA (Part 573, 26E044)","publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":null,"sourceName":null,"mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-07-22T00:32:15.289Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-22T00:32:15.289Z"},{"id":"3826f457-d38c-4dd3-a343-2d591de926b6","incidentId":"0285f184-d182-4e56-b0ce-e53c071ec7c6","url":"https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/zoox-issues-software-recall-after-a-robotaxi-got-confused-by-heavy-smoke/","label":"TechCrunch","publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":null,"sourceName":null,"mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-07-22T00:32:15.289Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-22T00:32:15.289Z"}],"responses":[],"statusEvents":[],"jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/nhtsa-zoox-recall-26e044000","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/nhtsa-zoox-recall-26e044000","headline":"Zoox recalls entire 105-vehicle fleet after robotaxi drove into smoke-filled active fire scene","description":"NHTSA recall 26E044 (July 17 2026): On June 20 2026, an unoccupied Zoox robotaxi encountered heavy smoke obscuring an active emergency fire scene that was not cordoned off with cones. The vehicle failed to detect and respond to the smoke-filled scene. Zoox issued a software update to 105 vehicles enhancing detection of active emergency scenes by adding heavy-smoke response capability. No injuries reported. The recall came one week after NHTSA warned AV companies about interfering with first responders.","identifier":"0285f184-d182-4e56-b0ce-e53c071ec7c6","datePublished":"2026-07-17T12:00:00.000Z","articleSection":"recall","publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":2,"primary_source_types":["primary-regulatory-filing","secondary-industry-publication"]}}}