Zoox robotaxi crashes into parked car, injuring driver's hand in San Francisco
On 17 January 2026, a Zoox autonomous vehicle carrying a company employee collided with the open driver's-side door of a parked 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in San Francisco. The door was opened by street ambassador Jamel Durden, whose hand was smashed in the crash. Zoox stated the robotaxi detected the opening door and attempted to avoid it but contact was unavoidable. The San Francisco Police Department and California DMV are investigating, and Zoox is cooperating with authorities.
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox robotaxi
1 source article · read the reporting →
Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After Vehicle Enters Fire Scene in Las Vegas
A Zoox autonomous vehicle drove into heavy smoke at an active fire scene in Las Vegas on June 20, 2026, before emergency crews had fully secured the area. The unoccupied robotaxi braked and stopped, then reversed out under remote operator guidance. Zoox issued a voluntary recall of its 105-vehicle fleet and deployed a software update to improve smoke detection. The incident has drawn scrutiny from NHTSA, which plans to meet with autonomous vehicle developers to address such safety issues.
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox autonomous driving software
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Zoox Recalls Software After Autonomous Vehicles Cross Lane Lines
Zoox issued a voluntary software recall for 332 autonomous vehicles after identifying instances where the vehicles crossed center lane lines or blocked crosswalks. The issue, first observed on August 26, 2025, involved a robotaxi making a wide turn into an opposing lane. No collisions occurred, but the company acknowledged the risk and deployed software updates in November and December to correct the behavior. Zoox is in ongoing discussions with NHTSA about the incidents.
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox autonomous driving system
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo driverless taxi blocked by men demanding passenger's number
A woman using a Waymo driverless taxi in San Francisco was trapped when two men blocked the vehicle and demanded her phone number. The autonomous car stalled, and the men persisted despite her protests. Waymo's rider support contacted her during the incident and followed up afterwards. The passenger described the experience as terrifying and warned others to be careful when riding alone.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
8 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 →
Tesla Model S on Autopilot crashes into stationary van on Swiss highway
A Tesla Model S owner in Switzerland was using the car's Autopilot and Adaptive Cruise Control on a highway when the system failed to detect a stationary van after the preceding vehicle changed lanes. The car accelerated slightly and collided with the van, causing front-end damage that required replacement of parts including a parking sensor and a steel beam. The driver acknowledged they could have reacted sooner but had grown to trust the system after many successful trips. Tesla's manual warns that the system may not brake for stationary vehicles in such situations.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Tesla Autopilot
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Austin council demands Waymo meeting after cars blocked first responders
Austin City Council member Zo Qadri and colleagues sent a letter to Waymo after a March 1 autonomous vehicle allegedly stopped on a street near a mass shooting, requiring an officer to move it. The city wants to discuss emergency-response procedures at a joint committee meeting on April 29. Waymo had not responded to the letter as of the interview, and the council member expressed frustration that the city lacks authority to regulate autonomous vehicles on its streets.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo Driver
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo passengers felt trapped during pedestrian attack in San Francisco
A couple riding in a Waymo driverless car in San Francisco felt trapped when a pedestrian attempted to cover the vehicle's sensors. The passengers contacted Waymo support and were advised to remain inside the vehicle. The pedestrian eventually walked away, and the passengers were unharmed. Waymo stated that remaining inside is often the safest course of action during such an event.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo Driver
1 source article · read the reporting →
Volvo self-driving car blinded by snow in Sweden test
During testing in Jokkmokk, Sweden, a Volvo self-driving XC90 SUV's radar sensors became caked with frozen flakes, rendering the vehicle unable to read the road. The incident highlighted the challenge of snow blindness for autonomous vehicles. Ford engineers later proposed a solution using lidar to create high-definition 3-D maps.
- Company involved
- Volvo Cars
- AI system involved
- self-driving XC90 SUV
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo recalls robotaxi software after crash into telephone pole
On May 21, 2024, a Waymo autonomous vehicle crashed into a telephone pole in Phoenix, Arizona, while driving to a passenger pickup location. The vehicle was damaged but no one was injured. Waymo issued a voluntary recall and updated the software and mapping for its entire fleet of 672 vehicles to correct an error that assigned a low damage score to the pole and to improve the map.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo autonomous vehicle
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Truck drivers sue Motive over AI dash cam mass surveillance
Truck drivers Adam Dean and Christian Erickson filed a class action lawsuit against Motive Technologies Inc., alleging that the company's AI-powered dash cams with automatic license plate readers collected license plate data and tracked drivers' movements without consent. The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, claims violations of California's ALPR Law and seeks damages of $2,500 per class member. The drivers allege privacy invasion and emotional distress from the surreptitious surveillance.
- Company involved
- Motive Technologies Inc.
1 source article · read the reporting →
Xpeng P7 Collides with Truck During NGP Assisted Driving, Driver Injured
On 23 September 2021, a Xpeng P7 owner in China was using the NGP automatic navigation assisted driving system when the vehicle failed to identify a flatbed truck ahead and collided with its rear. The driver, who trusted the system to brake automatically, sustained slight injuries. Xpeng Motors stated that the system's functions were operating normally before the crash and that further analysis would be conducted. Experts suggested the visual camera may have misjudged the distance due to the truck's unusual shape.
- Company involved
- Xpeng Motors
- AI system involved
- NGP automatic navigation assisted driving system
1 source article · read the reporting →
Cruise driverless cars stall in San Francisco, blocking traffic after Outside Lands festival
As many as 10 Cruise autonomous vehicles became immobilized on Grant Avenue in North Beach on Friday night due to wireless connectivity issues caused by the Outside Lands music festival. The cars blocked traffic, and officials noted that emergency vehicles would not have been able to pass. Cruise apologised and said it is investigating solutions. The incident occurred a day after the California Public Utilities Commission approved expanded robotaxi operations in the city.
- Company involved
- Cruise
- AI system involved
- Cruise driverless cars
1 source article · read the reporting →
Waymo recalls 3,500 robotaxis after vehicle enters flooded Texas road
On April 20, 2026, an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi entered a flooded road in San Antonio, Texas, during severe weather. No injuries occurred, but the incident prompted Waymo to issue a voluntary recall of up to 3,791 vehicles due to software that could allow the cars to drive onto flooded roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published recall documents, and Waymo stated it is implementing additional software safeguards and has restricted operations in extreme weather. The fix is still under development.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo autonomous driving system
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo rider trapped in robotaxi during vandalism attack in San Francisco
In May 2026, Sherman Watson was riding in a Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco when two men attacked the vehicle, smashing the windshield. The car stopped and remained stationary, trapping Watson inside for about 10 minutes while he feared for his life. Waymo's remote assistant called police but could not move the car. Watson later sought therapy and requested video footage from Waymo, which the company has not provided, citing the need for a police search warrant.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo robotaxi
1 source article · read the reporting →
Waymo passenger flees robotaxi stuck on Phoenix light rail tracks
A Waymo self-driving car mistakenly drove onto light rail tracks in Phoenix, forcing a passenger to flee the vehicle. The incident occurred near moving trains before the car continued along the tracks. Valley Metro confirmed it was notified and responded, and Waymo was contacted.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Cruise Recalls Self-Driving Software After San Francisco Crash Injures Two
In June 2022, a Cruise autonomous vehicle operating in San Francisco attempted an unprotected left turn and braked hard after incorrectly predicting an oncoming car would turn right. The other car continued straight and struck the Cruise vehicle, injuring a Cruise employee and a person in the other car. Cruise subsequently recalled the software on 80 vehicles, temporarily restricted left turns, and issued a software update to improve predictions. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration oversaw the recall.
- Company involved
- Cruise
7 source articles · read the reporting →
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 →
Man gets stuck in trunk of Waymo robotaxi in Los Angeles
A man jumped into the open trunk of a Waymo robotaxi in Los Angeles and became trapped. The next passenger discovered him upon the vehicle's arrival, and police removed the man. Waymo acknowledged the incident was unacceptable and said it is implementing changes to prevent similar occurrences. The event was captured on video and shared widely on social media.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo robotaxi
1 source article · 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 →
California Cracks Down on Robotaxis Blocking First Responders
California authorities are taking action against robotaxis that have been blocking first responders. The autonomous vehicles have reportedly obstructed emergency vehicles, prompting a regulatory crackdown.
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise driverless cars block traffic in San Francisco
On 22 May 2022, three driverless Cruise vehicles stopped in the middle of Masonic Avenue in San Francisco, blocking two lanes of traffic. The cars reportedly became confused and halted, causing disruption. The incident was shared on social media by a witness.
- Company involved
- Cruise
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise autonomous vehicle briefly evades police traffic stop
On April 2, 2022, a driverless Cruise taxi in San Francisco was pulled over by police for driving without headlights. The vehicle initially drove away before stopping at a safe location, confusing officers. Cruise stated the car yielded as programmed and no citation was issued. The incident highlights challenges of autonomous vehicles interacting with law enforcement.
- Company involved
- Cruise
5 source articles · read the reporting →
California threatens legal action against Uber over self-driving cars without permit
Uber launched a pilot program of self-driving taxis in San Francisco without obtaining a required permit from the California DMV. Two of the vehicles were observed running red lights on the first day. The California attorney general threatened legal action unless Uber removes the cars from the road. Uber argued that its cars are not fully autonomous and therefore not subject to the permit requirement.
- Company involved
- Uber
10 source articles · read the reporting →
