Amazon-owned Zoox has issued a voluntary software recall for its autonomous driving system, affecting 332 robotaxi vehicles. The recall addresses concerns that the system caused vehicles to cross over center lane lines near intersections or block crosswalks, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. This action, detailed in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), underscores Zoox's commitment to refining its self-driving technology for enhanced safety.
While no collisions have been reported in connection with these specific lane-crossing issues, Zoox acknowledged in its NHTSA filing that such behavior could elevate accident risks. The company currently offers free rides to the public in its driverless Zoox vehicles in select areas of San Francisco and Las Vegas.
A Zoox spokesperson explained that the company identified instances where its vehicles performed maneuvers that, while sometimes observed in human driving, did not meet its stringent safety standards. For example, a robotaxi might stop within a crosswalk to avoid obstructing an intersection at a red light. In other cases, late turns resulted in wide maneuvers, as detailed in an emailed statement from the spokesperson.
The problem was first detected on August 26 when a Zoox robotaxi executed a wide right turn, partially entering the opposing travel lane and briefly stopping in front of oncoming traffic. Following this incident, Zoox monitored its data, identifying 62 additional instances of lane crossings near intersections between August 26 and December 5. The company confirmed it was in "ongoing conversations with NHTSA about the frequency, severity, and root causes of these occurrences."
To rectify these issues, Zoox rolled out software updates on November 7 and again in mid-December. "We have successfully identified and deployed targeted software improvements to address the root causes of these incidents," a company statement affirmed. "Today, we're submitting a voluntary software recall because transparency and safety is foundational to Zoox, and we want to be open with the public and regulators about how we are constantly refining and improving our technology."
The software recall specifically applies to Zoox vehicles that operated on public roads between March 13 and December 18. This is not Zoox's first software recall this year; in March, the company recalled 258 self-driving cars to address unexpected hard braking. That recall followed a preliminary investigation by NHTSA after two reports of motorcyclists colliding with the rear of Zoox vehicles. Additionally, in May, Zoox issued two software recalls concerning the system's ability to predict the movement of other road users.
