The Alphabet Inc. (Google’s parent company) subsidiary and autonomous ride-sharing service have recently made headlines for several mishaps that created strange and potentially hazardous conditions for motorists, pedestrians, and riders. Waymo's latest operational issue is leading to its largest recall of 2026 thus far. Here's what Nashville residents need to know about Waymo's latest recall and how it impacts Music City. Why are Waymo autonomous vehicles being recalled? Waymo vehicles are being recalled following an April 20 incident in San Antonio, Texas, where an unoccupied Waymo entered a flooded road going 40 miles per hour. After reviewing the incident, Waymo determined that vehicles with the 5th and 6th-Generation Automated Driving System (ADS) should be recalled. A Jaguar I-Pace Waymo autonomous vehicle is shown Monday, April 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. The vehicle is equipped with 29 cameras and six radars. The company is recalling the entire U.S. fleet, 3,791 vehicles, because of a software flaw that could allow vehicles to drive into floodwater after detecting it. There have been no injuries or crashes involving other vehicles related to this specific software flaw. "We are working to implement additional software safeguards and have put mitigations in place, including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain, limiting access to areas where flash flooding might occur," Waymo said in a statement to Reuters. How Waymo is addressing the floodwater software flaw An over-the-air (OTA) software update for the entire fleetActive development of a long-term software fix Limitations on service in areas hit with extreme weather How does Waymo recall affect Nashville? The autonomous ride-sharing company began operating in Nashville on April 7. Riders join a waitlist on its mobile app to use the service and pay slightly more than the cost of a Lyft or Uber. No Waymo vehicles operating in Nashville will need to be immediately pulled from service because of the recall, since Waymo has issued a fleet-wide software update for its autonomous vehicles. On the other hand, the recall news is concerning, since Tennessee does experience localized flooding and heavy rains along with other extreme weather events. Additionally, Waymo's Nashville rollout has led to viral video complaints regarding traffic and safety. Ultimately, the recent Waymo recall underscores the novelty of autonomous vehicle technology and the growing pains that come with its usage and maturation. Some riders may be fine with Waymo early-stage issues in Nashville while others will shun the service and technology completely. How do Waymo cars work? Waymo autonomous vehicles are Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles that are equipped with Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors that create a "3D picture of the vehicle's surroundings" according to the company's technology description. The vehicles also use 29 different cameras to create a simultaneous 360-degree view around the car. A Jaguar I-Pace Waymo autonomous vehicle is shown Monday, April 6, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. The vehicle is equipped with 29 cameras and six radars. The Waymo vehicles use an onboard computer to identify other cars, objects, and pedestrians as well as plan routes. Before Waymo deploys vehicles to a new area, the company maps them out so the vehicles can use custom detailed maps, artificial intelligence, and real-time sensor data to navigate. Waymos may be advanced and innovative, but they can struggle to adapt to changing road and environmental conditions, as displayed in videos recorded by Nashville citizens. The vehicles can lack the situational decision-making of a human driver, leading to awkward and even potentially hazardous reactions to changes such as construction and weather. Reuters contributed to this report. Charles Singh is an Autos Connect Reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at CSingh@Gannett.com.
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