Waymo has paused its fully autonomous robotaxi service in Dallas, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio following safety incidents tied to flooded roads and a recent software recall.
The Alphabet subsidiary cited severe weather across Texas and proactive safety measures as reasons for the suspension, TechCrunch noted. No injuries have been reported in the latest pauses, but the move highlights ongoing challenges for autonomous vehicles operating in variable conditions.
Waymo launched commercial operations in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando in February 2026, expanding its presence in Texas after earlier testing and limited service in Austin. The Dallas Express previously reported on the initial rollout announcement, noting excitement from city leaders about innovative transportation options alongside public interest in driverless rides.
The current pause stems from heavy rains and flash flooding. A Waymo spokesperson told FOX 4 that the company is making “proactive decisions” to pause service during severe weather, emphasizing rider and community safety.
This follows an April 20 incident in San Antonio in which an empty Waymo robotaxi entered a flooded road and was swept into Salado Creek, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News. The company issued a voluntary software recall affecting nearly 3,800 vehicles (3,791 according to NHTSA filings) to address flooded roadway detection in both high-speed and surface-street scenarios, Traffic Technology Today reported.
A second San Antonio flood incident occurred earlier in April when another unoccupied vehicle became stranded, Government Technology reported. Waymo has since paused operations in San Antonio longer than in previous cases while reviewing flood monitoring.
The history of issues includes multiple reports in Texas. In Austin, police documented robotaxis failing to follow officer hand signals, driving through construction barricades, and blocking emergency vehicles during a 6th Street shooting response, The Dallas Express reported at the time.
In Dallas, video captured a Waymo running a red light at a busy intersection, DX reported. Waymo attributed it to a “heavily dimmed” traffic signal viewed from the right-turn lane and said it was addressing the issue.
Separately, NHTSA is probing a Santa Monica, California incident where a Waymo vehicle allegedly struck a child in a school zone.
The Dallas Express has tracked the expansion of autonomous vehicles in North Texas, reporting in 2025 on planned 2026 rollouts and public demonstrations, while noting community questions about safety in urban environments.
Waymo operates a commercial robotaxi service in multiple major U.S. metro areas. The company stated that it remains committed to improvements and will resume operations in Texas “once conditions are safe to do so,” FOX 4 reported. It continues full service in other unaffected markets.
Next steps include over-the-air software updates to improve flood detection and performance in construction zones. Waymo has paused freeway service in several cities nationwide while implementing refinements, per Fox Business. The company did not provide a specific resumption timeline for its Texas operations.
