Table of contents
- Latest Waymo Recall Lawsuit Updates
- June 18, 2026: Waymo Recalls Nearly 3,900 Robotaxis
- May 22, 2026: Waymo Pauses Service in Five Cities
- May 18, 2026: Law.com Cites Absence of Serious Injury
- May 6, 2026: Waymo Files Flood Recall 26E026
- March 3, 2026: NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on School Bus Incident
- December 10, 2025: Waymo Tells NHTSA of School Bus Recall 25E-084
- October 22, 2025: NHTSA Investigates Atlanta School Bus Incident
- October 17, 2025: NHTSA Opens Preliminary Evaluation PE25013
- June 6, 2025: Cyclist Sues Waymo in San Francisco
- May 15, 2025: Waymo Recalls 1,212 Vehicles After Barrier Collisions
- February 13, 2024: Waymo Files Voluntary Recall of Earlier Software
- What Is the Waymo Driver?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Recall and Regulatory Background
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Can You Sue Waymo If You Are Injured in an Accident?
- What Does the Research Say About Waymo Crashes?
- Has Waymo Been Recalled Before 2025?
- What Has Waymo Said About the Recalls?
- What Else Does the Cyclist Allege About the Crash?
Waymo has recalled its driverless taxis several times since 2024. The latest recall, in June 2026, involved freeway construction zones. Federal agencies are also looking into school bus incidents.
One cyclist has filed a federal lawsuit against Waymo in San Francisco. She alleges a brain injury and spinal damage after a Waymo door opened into her path. The recalls cite risks such as loss of vehicle control.
That is the only injury lawsuit reported against Waymo. No injury MDL or class action has been formed, and no settlement has been reported.
Latest Waymo Recall Lawsuit Updates
June 18, 2026: Waymo Recalls Nearly 3,900 Robotaxis
CBS News reported that Waymo recalled nearly 3,900 robotaxis. Their software repeatedly failed to recognize ramp closures and construction zones in Arizona and California, per an NHTSA notice for recall 26E035 [1].
The robotaxis use its 5th Generation Automated Driving System. Waymo said it had restricted freeway operations the month before while making improvements. It then chose to file a voluntary software recall.
May 22, 2026: Waymo Pauses Service in Five Cities
The BBC reported that Waymo paused its self-driving service in five US cities. Four are in Texas, and one is Atlanta. The pause followed the flooded-road recall [2].
The BBC described a software issue that has seen some vehicles enter flooded roads and get stuck. Waymo also pulled freeway service while it evaluated construction-zone performance.
May 18, 2026: Law.com Cites Absence of Serious Injury
Law.com reported that litigator Rebekah Cooper of The Cooper Firm in Marietta, Georgia says legal claims over Waymo are not yet ripe. She spoke after a recall of more than 3,700 vehicles [3].
She cites the absence of serious injury. In her view, without serious injury the cost of litigation is not supported by damages. This is one lawyer’s opinion.
May 6, 2026: Waymo Files Flood Recall 26E026
Waymo filed a Part 573 safety recall report with NHTSA for recall 26E026 [4]. It covers 3,791 vehicles with 5th and 6th generation ADS.
The filing followed an April 20, 2026 incident. An unoccupied Waymo met a flooded roadway with a 40 mph speed limit. CNBC reported that NHTSA posted the recall on May 12 [5].
March 3, 2026: NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on School Bus Incident
The NTSB released its preliminary report, HWY26FH007, on a January 12, 2026 incident in Austin, Texas. An unoccupied Waymo passed a school bus that was loading students. No crash occurred [6].
The investigation is ongoing while the NTSB determines the probable cause. The agency says the information is preliminary and subject to change.
December 10, 2025: Waymo Tells NHTSA of School Bus Recall 25E-084
Waymo told NHTSA of recall 25E-084. It covers 3,067 vehicles with 5th-generation ADS software that drove past stopped school buses, increasing the risk of a crash [7].
Reuters reported that all affected vehicles had been repaired by November 17. Texas officials said Waymo vehicles illegally passed school buses at least 19 times since the start of the school year.
October 22, 2025: NHTSA Investigates Atlanta School Bus Incident
CBS Atlanta reported that NHTSA opened an investigation. A self-driving Waymo was caught passing a stopped school bus in metro Atlanta the month before [8].
Students were disembarking at the time. A Waymo spokesperson said the bus’s lights and stop sign were not visible to the autonomous vehicle. That is the company’s account.
October 17, 2025: NHTSA Opens Preliminary Evaluation PE25013
According to the NTSB, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened preliminary evaluation PE25013 of Waymo vehicles passing stopped school buses.
CBS News later reported that Austin ISD knew of 20 incidents this school year. Waymo received its 20th citation by December 1, 2025 [9].
June 6, 2025: Cyclist Sues Waymo in San Francisco
Courthouse News reported that a bicyclist sued Waymo in federal court in San Francisco. In her complaint, a Waymo parked in a no-stopping zone and a passenger opened a rear door into her path [10].
Jalopnik identified the cyclist as Jenifer Hanki and said the suit was filed earlier in June 2025 [11]. These are allegations.
May 15, 2025: Waymo Recalls 1,212 Vehicles After Barrier Collisions
Just Auto reported that Waymo recalled 1,212 vehicles running its automated driving system software. The recall followed a series of collisions with barriers [12].
Waymo reported 16 collisions involving chains, gates and other barriers from 2022 to late 2024. No injuries resulted from these incidents. Just Auto published the report on May 15, 2025.
February 13, 2024: Waymo Files Voluntary Recall of Earlier Software
Waymo filed a voluntary recall report with NHTSA for earlier fleet software, according to the Waymo blog. The filing followed two incidents in Phoenix on December 11, 2023 [13].
Waymo said the incidents happened in a rare scenario. They caused no injuries and minor vehicle damage. The company announced the filing the same day on its blog.
What Is the Waymo Driver?
The Waymo Driver is the system that drives Waymo’s driverless taxis. According to the NTSB, Waymo calls its 5th-generation system an SAE Level 4 highly automated system [14].
SAE International defines Level 4 as a car that handles all driving without human help. It works only within specific, restricted, geofenced areas or conditions. The recalls on this page involve this software.
Who May Be Affected?
People in or near a Waymo can be hurt when a passenger opens its door into a bike lane, as one cyclist’s federal lawsuit alleges. Any claim needs an individual legal review of what happened to you.
Regulator records describe Waymo vehicles driving into flooded roads, freeway construction zones and past stopped school buses. Those events can put riders, cyclists, pedestrians, school-bus passengers and other drivers at risk of a crash.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The cyclist alleges a brain injury plus spinal and soft tissue damage, according to the San Francisco Chronicle as relayed by Jalopnik. These are allegations.
The Mercury News calls her a severely injured cyclist and reports that the lawsuit is proceeding through the court [15].
Regulator records describe crash risk rather than injuries. The NHTSA report for recall 26E026 says entering a flooded roadway that cannot be crossed can result in loss of vehicle control.
For recall 26E035, the NHTSA notice says driving at speed in a freeway construction zone increases the potential for collisions. As CBS News reports, the notice counts six Phoenix incidents and seven San Francisco-area incidents in April and May 2026.
Recall and Regulatory Background
For recall 26E026, NHTSA says Waymo owns all affected vehicles. Waymo repaired the vehicles in recall 25E-084 with a software update.
Recall 26E035 covers robotaxis that may enter freeway construction zones at speed. For recall 26E026, Waymo applied an interim remedy that restricts operating conditions. The final remedy is still in development. A recall does not prove liability.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep these items from any crash or incident involving a Waymo vehicle:
- Take photos of the scene, the vehicles, any damage and your injuries as soon as it is safe.
- Keep the ride-app receipt or trip record that shows the date, time and route.
- Save medical records and bills for every visit, test and treatment linked to the injury.
- Get the police report or 911 record, and the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
- Save any messages from Waymo or its insurer, and do not edit or delete them.
- Write down what happened while it is fresh, including the time and the weather.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines to file an injury claim come from state law. How long you have depends on where you live and when the injury happened.
Missing the deadline may end a claim, whatever the facts show. People weighing legal action should talk to a lawyer soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Sue Waymo If You Are Injured in an Accident?
Whether you can sue Waymo after an accident injury depends on how your crash happened and what injuries resulted. Reuters calls Waymo an Alphabet unit, and a cyclist’s federal suit names Waymo as defendant.
What Does the Research Say About Waymo Crashes?
Research on Waymo crashes includes the NTSB preliminary report, which says a remote assistance agent answered No to whether an Austin vehicle faced a school bus with active signals. Six vehicles passed the bus in total.
Has Waymo Been Recalled Before 2025?
Yes, Waymo was recalled before 2025. Just Auto reported a February 2024 recall of 444 vehicles after two minor collisions in Arizona from a software error in predicting how a towed vehicle would move.
What Has Waymo Said About the Recalls?
Waymo has said it chose voluntary software recalls. For the flood recall it said it opted for a voluntary software recall and has put mitigations in place. These are company statements.
What Else Does the Cyclist Allege About the Crash?
The cyclist alleges the crash went further: the opened door sent her onto a second Waymo also blocking the bike lane. She says bystanders called 911, and the four passengers did not.