NHTSA opens new investigation into Waymo: robotaxis kept illegally passing school buses after the software recall

The regulator questioned the effectiveness of the fix

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a new investigation into Waymo: despite a software update released nearly a year ago, the company's driverless robotaxis continued to illegally pass stopped school buses with flashing red lights activated. The new investigation was reported by TechCrunch; Reuters was the first to write about the document.

What the new document states

In the NHTSA document dated November 6, 2026 it says that most of the documented incidents occurred after Waymo had already deployed the software update intended to fix the problem. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a recall query to 'assess the adequacy of the remedy.' The matter concerns 2,895 Waymo vehicles.

Background: Atlanta and Austin

ODI opened its first investigation in October 2025 after a video showed a Waymo autonomous vehicle driving around a stopped school bus in Atlanta: the bus had its stop sign extended, its flashing lights on, and children were being dropped off. The robotaxi crossed the bus's path on the right at a right angle, then passed it on the front left and continued on. After that, incidents were also recorded in Austin, where Waymo also operates: according to a letter filed with NHTSA, the Austin school district reported at least five such cases.

Recall timeline

Waymo stated that the software update for all affected vehicles was completed on November 17, 2025. However, according to NHTSA, most of the incidents occurred after that date — and it is precisely this discrepancy that became the subject of the new query. TechCrunch reached out to Waymo and the Austin school district administration for comment; at the time of publication, there had been no response.