Key points
- NHTSA filed a recall query on November 6 to assess the adequacy of Waymo's previous software remedy.
- according to the published report, incidents of illegal passing happened after Waymo deployed its software update.
- Austin school officials reported at least five such incidents involving Waymo vehicles in their district.
Federal safety regulators are investigating why Waymo robotaxis continue to illegally pass stopped school buses despite a prior software fix. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a new inquiry on November 6, citing data that shows the majority of reported incidents occurred after the company deployed its intended remedy.reportedFederal regulators are checking if Waymo's fix for illegal bus passing actually worked, since problems continued after the update.NHTSA’s recall query indicates that post-deployment data shows illegal school bus passing behaviors persisted after the software update.
Evidence: reported
Waymo robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after software fix, feds sayaifleet-techcrunch-all
What was released or claimed
TechCrunch reported that NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation launched a recall query to evaluate whether the previous software update adequately addressed the safety issue.reported The filing notes that the initial investigation began in October 2025 after footage surfaced of a Waymo vehicle maneuvering around a stopped bus in Atlanta.reported
Evidence: reported
Waymo robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after software fix, feds sayaifleet-techcrunch-all
Evidence: reported
Waymo robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after software fix, feds sayaifleet-techcrunch-all
Who it affects
The incidents involve school districts where Waymo operates, specifically Austin Independent School District and areas in Atlanta. Austin officials documented at least five incidents involving Waymo robotaxis passing stopped school buses with flashing lights and extended stop signs.
What is still unknown
It remains unclear whether Waymo has identified the root cause of the persistent behavior or if additional software changes are planned. TechCrunch stated it reached out to Waymo and Austin officials for comment but had not received a response at the time of reporting.
What changes, what does not
The regulatory stance has shifted from an initial investigation to a formal recall query assessing remedy adequacy. The operational reality for school districts has not improved, as documented incidents continued in Austin after the software update was deployed.
Methods and limits
The research relies on NHTSA filings and school district reports rather than independent technical audits of Waymo’s perception stack.reported The stated limitation is that the majority of incidents occurred post-update, suggesting the fix was insufficient, but the specific algorithmic failure mode remains undocumented in public sources.
Evidence: reported
Waymo robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after software fix, feds sayaifleet-techcrunch-all
Why it matters
- Platform architects must recognize that software updates do not guarantee edge-case resolution, as evidenced by persistent bus-passing errors.
- Regulatory scrutiny can intensify quickly, moving from initial inquiries to formal recall queries within weeks if incidents continue.
- Operational data from specific regions like Austin provides critical real-world feedback that may differ from controlled testing environments.
- Safety systems require continuous validation post-deployment, as a single update may not address all permutation of school bus scenarios.
Topics: autonomous vehicles, NHTSA, Waymo, safety regulation, software updates
Updated
Then / now / next
Waymo deployed a software update to address illegal passing of stopped school buses.
NHTSA has opened a recall query because most incidents occurred after that update was deployed.
Regulators will assess whether the remedy is adequate or if further action is required.
Story timeline
- Then Waymo deployed a software update to address illegal passing of stopped school buses.
- 09 Nov 2026 Waymo robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after software fix, feds say
- Now NHTSA has opened a recall query because most incidents occurred after that update was deployed.
- Next Regulators will assess whether the remedy is adequate or if further action is required.
The strongest doubt
Counterpoint from the sources
Waymo stated that the software update was completed for all affected vehicles, noting the deployment timeline without commenting on the ongoing investigation.
For readers
Policy
- NHTSA is assessing remedy adequacy via a recall query filed on November 6.
Researchers
- Incidents persisted post-update, suggesting perception stack limitations in school bus scenarios.
Developers
- Software fixes may not resolve all edge cases, requiring continuous monitoring and validation.
Ask the article
Local keyword search of this article; no generated answers.Did this article give you the evidence you needed?
Your choice stays on this device. No public tally.Questions readers ask
When did Waymo deploy the software update intended to fix the bus-passing issue?
Waymo stated that the software update was completed for all affected vehicles on November 17.
How many incidents were reported in Austin?
Austin Independent School District officials reported at least five such incidents at the time of their letter to NHTSA.
What is the current status of the federal investigation?
NHTSA opened a recall query on November 6 to assess the adequacy of the remedy provided by Waymo.
Connected stories
Reading receipt
- NHTSA filed a recall query on November 6 to assess the adequacy of Waymo's previous software remedy.
- according to the published report, incidents of illegal passing happened after Waymo deployed its software update.
- Austin school officials reported at least five such incidents involving Waymo vehicles in their district.
Still open: What specific algorithmic changes were included in the software update?
Still open: Will Waymo deploy a new software patch to address the remaining incidents?