Waymo Recalls 3,900 Robotaxis Over Construction Zone Software Issue; Alphabet (GOOGL) Impact

Waymo, Alphabet's (GOOGL) autonomous driving unit, has recalled nearly 3,900 robotaxis due to a software issue that caused vehicles to mispredict the behavior of a tow truck in construction zones. The recall, announced June 18, 2026, follows two minor collisions in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 21, 2026, which resulted in no injuries. The affected software bug led Waymo to deploy an over-the-air software update (version 2026.05.01) to its entire fleet between May 28 and June 4, 2026. The company officially filed the recall report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on June 12, 2026. This marks Waymo's second recall in 2026, following a February 2026 recall affecting 441 vehicles for a separate software issue.