NHTSA Probes 2,895 Waymo Vehicles Over School Buses
Federal regulators opened a recall query after Waymo robotaxis kept violating school bus safety rules following a software fix.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Auto Parts
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a recall query Monday covering 2,895 Waymo vehicles after violations of traffic rules involving school buses continued, with most occurring after Waymo said its software remedy was fully deployed.
Why it matters
The probe questions whether a voluntary software recall adequately fixed a safety defect affecting children near school buses. The outcome could shape how federal regulators oversee autonomous vehicle software updates nationwide.
The recall query covers 2,895 vehicles, a subset of the over 3,000 vehicles included in Waymo's December 2025 software recall. Austin's school district documented 19 violations and Atlanta's public schools recorded six, though the causes of the post-remedy incidents remain under review.
The players
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The federal agency responsible for vehicle safety oversight in the United States, which regulates motor vehicle defects and recalls.
Waymo
The autonomous ride-hailing company, a subsidiary of Alphabet, that operates robotaxis in several U.S. cities.
The details
Waymo's robotaxis were found to pass stopped school buses, prompting a voluntary software recall in December 2025 covering its fifth-generation automated driving system. The software update was meant to make vehicles slow down and remain stationary near school buses, but violations continued after Waymo said the fix was fully deployed.
Timeline
October 2025: NHTSA launched a preliminary probe after reports of robotaxis failing to obey school bus rules.
November 2025: Waymo said the software remedy was completed for all affected vehicles.
December 2025: Waymo announced a voluntary software recall affecting over 3,000 vehicles.
January 2026: NHTSA opened a probe after a Waymo vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California.
November 9, 2026: NHTSA opened the recall query into 2,895 vehicles.
Roadmap
The query follows NHTSA's October 2025 preliminary probe into robotaxis passing school buses, extending federal scrutiny from initial reports to whether Waymo's software fix held. It reflects a broader test of how regulators will supervise self-driving fleets that rely on over-the-air software updates to correct safety defects.
Parents and drivers near school zones may encounter autonomous vehicles that have not yet been cleared of school bus violations. Owners of affected Waymo fleet vehicles could see software changes or service restrictions depending on the outcome of the NHTSA review.
The takeaway
Drivers should continue to stop for school buses with flashing lights and extended stop arms, regardless of whether a vehicle is autonomous. Watching how NHTSA resolves this query may signal how strictly future robotaxi software recalls are judged.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by CNA.
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