TL;DR
Amazon-owned Zoox issued a voluntary software recall covering 332 vehicles after its autonomous driving system was observed crossing center lane lines near intersections and at times stopping in crosswalks. The company deployed software updates in November and mid-December and says it has implemented targeted improvements, while continuing conversations with NHTSA.
What happened
Zoox submitted a voluntary software recall to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after identifying instances in which its driverless vehicles crossed the center lane line near intersections or blocked crosswalks. The recall applies to 332 vehicles that operated on public roads between March 13 and December 18. The company traced the issue to an initial Aug. 26 event in which a robotaxi made a wide right turn, briefly entered the opposing lane and stopped near the oncoming travel lane. Monitoring turned up 62 similar lane-crossing occurrences between Aug. 26 and Dec. 5. Zoox says no collisions have been linked to these maneuvers but acknowledged they could raise crash risk. The company rolled out software updates on Nov. 7 and again in mid-December and described the changes as targeted improvements addressing root causes. Zoox also noted it is in ongoing discussions with NHTSA about the frequency, severity and causes of the events.
Why it matters
- Lane-crossing and crosswalk-blocking behaviors can increase the risk of collisions and endanger pedestrians and other road users.
- A voluntary recall and regulator engagement underline growing scrutiny of autonomous vehicle safety as public trials continue.
- Repeated software updates and multiple recalls within a year may affect public confidence in robotaxi services.
- Issues that resemble human driving practices show the difficulty of translating common human behavior into acceptable and safe automated driving decisions.
Key facts
- Zoox filed a voluntary software recall with NHTSA covering 332 vehicles.
- The problematic behaviors included crossing the center lane line near intersections and stopping in crosswalks.
- Zoox identified the issue after an Aug. 26 incident involving a wide right turn that entered the opposing lane.
- The company found 62 lane-crossing instances between Aug. 26 and Dec. 5 during its data review.
- Zoox issued software updates on Nov. 7 and again in mid-December to address the behaviors.
- No collisions have been reported in connection with these lane-crossing incidents, though Zoox said they could increase crash risk.
- Affected vehicles operated on public roads from March 13 through Dec. 18, per the filing.
- Zoox said it is in ongoing conversations with NHTSA about frequency, severity and root causes.
- Earlier in the year Zoox issued recalls: one in March to address unexpected hard braking after an NHTSA preliminary probe tied to two reports of motorcyclists striking the back of Zoox vehicles, and two in May about predicting movements of other road users.
What to watch next
- NHTSA follow-up actions or formal investigations stemming from the recall and ongoing discussions with Zoox.
- Whether post-update telemetry shows a sustained reduction in lane-crossing events and crosswalk intrusions (not confirmed in the source).
- Any operational changes to Zoox's public ride programs in San Francisco and Las Vegas as a result of the recall (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Voluntary software recall: A company-initiated update or remediation released to address a safety-related software issue without a mandatory government order.
- NHTSA: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. federal agency that regulates vehicle safety and investigates defects.
- Autonomous driving system: Software and sensors used to control a vehicle’s navigation and driving tasks without human input.
- Crosswalk: A marked or unmarked portion of a roadway designated for pedestrian crossing.
Reader FAQ
Were any crashes reported as a result of these lane crossings?
No collisions were reported in the filing, though Zoox said the behavior could increase crash risk.
How many vehicles are affected by the recall?
The recall covers 332 Zoox vehicles, according to the NHTSA filing.
When did Zoox release software updates to address the issue?
Zoox issued updates on Nov. 7 and again in mid-December.
Have the updates fully resolved the problem?
Zoox says it deployed targeted improvements, but full resolution and independent verification are not confirmed in the source.
Are Zoox’s public robotaxi services suspended?
not confirmed in the source
Amazon-owned Zoox issued a recall Tuesday over concerns its autonomous driving system caused vehicles to cross over the center lane line near intersections or block crosswalks. The voluntary recall of…
Sources
- Zoox issues software recall over lane crossings
- Amazon's Zoox to recall 332 US vehicles over software error
- Amazon robotaxis flagged for intersection stops, 332 recalled
- Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25E090