The record

Where automated decisions went wrong

Incidents gathered from public reporting around the world. Each one links to the articles it came from. None of it is a finding that anyone broke the law.

Reports people file about their own experience are not shown here and never will be without their agreement. Tell us what happened to you.

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35 incidents involving Waymo · search all text for “Waymo” instead · public reporting

WF-D4DS2M11 Dec 2023

Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Crash into Backwards-Towed Pickup in Phoenix

On 11 December 2023, two Waymo autonomous vehicles collided with a pickup truck being towed backwards in Phoenix, Arizona. The vehicles were operating without passengers and sustained minor damage, with no injuries reported. Waymo attributed the crashes to a software error that mispredicted the towed vehicle's motion and subsequently deployed a fix. The company filed a voluntary recall report with the NHTSA.

Company involved
Waymo
AI system involved
Waymo Driver

3 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-IJ5VZ921 May 2023

Waymo self-driving car kills dog in San Francisco collision

A Waymo self-driving car in autonomous mode killed a small dog in San Francisco on May 21, 2023. The vehicle detected the dog running from behind a parked car but could not stop in time. Waymo expressed condolences and said it is investigating. The incident adds to concerns over robotaxi expansion in the city.

Company involved
Waymo
AI system involved
Waymo self-driving system

5 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-RK2OLR12 Oct 2021

Waymo vehicles repeatedly turn around on San Francisco dead-end street

Residents of a dead-end street in San Francisco's Richmond District say Waymo self-driving cars have been driving down their street and making U-turns every five minutes for six to eight weeks. The constant hum of the vehicles has become a nuisance for neighbours working from home. Waymo said the cars were obeying road rules, taking a U-turn due to Slow Streets signage on Lake, and that it continually adjusts to dynamic San Francisco road rules.

Company involved
Waymo
AI system involved
Waymo Driver

9 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-U5J4RS17 May 2021

Waymo self-driving taxi blocks road after confusion with traffic cones

A Waymo self-driving taxi in Phoenix, Arizona, became confused by traffic cones closing a lane and stopped, blocking the road. The vehicle repeatedly drove away from roadside assistance dispatched to help, before a human driver took over. Waymo acknowledged the incident, stating that its remote guidance team provided incorrect instructions and that it has since improved its operational process. The passenger, who documented the event, said such mistakes are rare.

Company involved
Waymo
AI system involved
Waymo Driver

3 source articles · read the reporting →

San Francisco residents lose sleep over Waymo cars honking at night

Residents of San Francisco's South of Market neighbourhood report being repeatedly woken up by driverless Waymo vehicles honking at each other in a nearby parking lot, particularly around 4 a.m. The cars appear to honk while manoeuvring into spaces in between rides. Waymo says it has identified the cause and is working on a fix.

Company involved
Waymo

2 source articles · read the reporting →

Waymo Issues Voluntary Recall After Self-Driving Cars Illegally Pass School Buses

Waymo's self-driving vehicles illegally passed stopped school buses in Austin, Texas, on at least 19 occasions, including one where a student was still in the road. The Austin Independent School District reported the violations, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation. Waymo issued a voluntary software recall and claimed a November 2025 update fixed the issue, but the school district alleges at least five further violations occurred after the update. The recall does not remove vehicles from the road; Waymo will push further software fixes.

Company involved
Waymo
AI system involved
5th Generation Automated Driving System

3 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-CZ5JNDKorean

Robo-taxi Sudden Braking Injures Test Driver: Over 20 Cases at Waymo, Zoox

로보택시 급제동에 시험 운전자 부상 '웨이모·죽스서 20건 넘어' - 오토헤럴드

A test driver was injured when a robo-taxi braked suddenly. There have been over 20 such incidents reported at Waymo and Zoox.

Company involved
Waymo
AI system involved
robotaxi

4 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-GD1TYTJapanese

Waymo Self-Driving Car Collides with Oncoming Vehicle in Arizona

【電子版】米ウェイモの自動運転車、アリゾナ州で対向車と衝突 - 日刊工業新聞

A Waymo autonomous vehicle collided with an oncoming car in Arizona. The incident was reported by the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun.

Company involved
Waymo

2 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-EZHF3P3 Sep 2026

Armed teenagers were travelling in a Waymo robotaxi – the car stopped of its own accord and called the police…

The robotaxi stopped and contacted emergency services after detecting passengers with weapons, resulting in police detaining two minors.

Company involved
Waymo
AI system involved
Waymo robotaxi

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-2AFF9H1 Jan 2025Japanese

US Robotaxis Plagued by Whiplash Injuries from Sudden Braking

米ロボタクシー、「いきなりブレーキ」でむち打ち続出 - 自動運転ラボ

Waymo and Zoox reported over 24 injury accidents involving test drivers in 2024-2025, mostly from sudden braking or system errors. Drivers suffered whiplash and other injuries, with some off work for over 150 days. Zoox recalled hundreds of vehicles due to braking problems.

Company involved
Waymo

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-SH1YQXArabic

Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Proactively Report to Police After Discovering Passenger Hiding a Gun

قامت سيارات الأجرة ذاتية القيادة من شركة Waymo بإبلاغ الشرطة بشكل استباقي بعد اكتشافها أن أحد الركاب كان يخفي مسدساً.…

A Waymo self-driving taxi in San Francisco detected two teenage passengers carrying an unidentified AR-15 rifle loaded with ammunition. The vehicle automatically stopped and alerted police, leading to the arrest of the two teenagers. Waymo stated that its system can identify violations of its terms of service, including carrying weapons, and will proactively notify police.

Company involved
Waymo

1 source article · read the reporting →

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