U.S. ends Waymo investigation after self-driving crashes and odd behavior

Waymo’s investigation comes to a close

In July 2025, the U.S. government, via NHTSA, formally ended its 14‑month investigation into Waymo’s self-driving system, following 22 complaints and 17 minor collisions. This decision means the company won’t face any penalties or further actions from safety officials.

Waymo had been under watch because of how its vehicles responded in real traffic. Now that the case is closed, the company feels more confident about moving forward.

What sparked the probe

The government opened the case in May 2024 after getting 22 complaints about Waymo cars acting in ways that seemed unsafe or confusing. Many reports said the cars didn’t follow traffic laws or behaved oddly near signs or in traffic.

Out of those, 17 cases involved crashes that caused small but worrying damage. These incidents raised serious questions about how safe these robotaxis really were.

Safety concerns from the start

Waymo’s self-driving cars were said to crash into objects that were very easy to see and should have been avoided by any careful driver. These included fences, poles, and road barriers that were right in the car’s path but still went unnoticed.

That made safety officials worry that the system wasn’t working properly. They needed to find out if the technology was safe enough to stay on the road.

First major recall by Waymo

In early 2024, Waymo issued its first recall after one of its cars drove straight into a utility pole, raising alarm about its sensor system. The company quickly updated its software to better detect objects that could get in the car’s way.

This move helped show regulators that Waymo was taking safety seriously. It also allowed the company to avoid deeper trouble while making needed improvements.

Second recall focused on obstacles

The second recall came in May 2025 and involved more than 1,200 Waymo cars across different cities. These cars had trouble noticing things like gates, chained barriers, and other common road blockages.

Waymo updated its system again to make sure the vehicles could see and avoid those obstacles. The fix helped show the company was improving and willing to fix safety concerns quickly.

NHTSA’s final decision

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ended its investigation in July 2025, saying it found no serious issues that needed more action. Waymo’s two recalls and updated systems were enough to close the case.

The agency said the company’s response showed it was working to stay safe and fix mistakes. This helped Waymo keep operating while earning some trust back from regulators.

Behavior in work zones a key focus

Many of the complaints involved Waymo cars making strange choices in construction zones where things can change quickly. Some of the vehicles acted slowly, got confused by cones, or didn’t follow temporary signs.

These places are hard for all drivers, so it’s even more important for self-driving cars to be alert. Waymo’s software was updated to help the cars move through work zones more safely.

Waymo pledges to stay safe

A Waymo spokesperson said the company is proud that the investigation is over and will keep working to improve its systems. Safety remains their top priority, and they want to build trust with both the public and local leaders.

They know people need to feel secure when riding in these cars. Waymo is promising to always fix problems fast and learn from each situation.

How many cars are on the road

Waymo now operates more than 1,500 self-driving vehicles across Phoenix, San Francisco, Austin, and Los Angeles. These robotaxis give over 250,000 driverless rides every week, showing how quickly the service is growing.

Many riders are using them for everyday trips, work commutes, and errands. This widespread use proves the company’s cars are becoming a regular part of city life.

Expanding to more cities

Waymo isn’t stopping with just a few cities; it has plans to bring its cars to places like New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C. They’ve also started offering rides in Atlanta by teaming up with Uber.

The company sees big chances to grow as more cities open up to self-driving vehicles. Each move into a new city brings both excitement and new challenges.

Past problems in the industry

In 2023, a Cruise vehicle owned by General Motors hit a pedestrian, making the public question self-driving safety. That accident brought more government attention to all companies working with autonomous cars.

After that, Cruise lost funding and was folded into GM’s other operations. These problems reminded everyone that the technology must be carefully tested and controlled.

Boston pushes back on robotaxis

Waymo wants to expand to Boston, but the city’s leaders aren’t quite ready to say yes. Local lawmakers are holding hearings to decide if these cars belong on their streets.

They feel the public still doesn’t fully trust the technology yet. Until those fears are addressed, Boston’s doors will stay partly closed.

Public trust is still a problem

Even though the investigation has ended, many people are still unsure about self-driving cars. Some worry the vehicles won’t respond properly in sudden situations or heavy traffic.

These doubts could make it harder for Waymo to grow in new areas. Building public trust is just as important as fixing software.

What makes the tech work

Waymo’s vehicles rely on cameras, sensors, and smart software to understand their surroundings and drive safely. These tools work together to detect other cars, road signs, and even people walking nearby.

But if one part of the system fails, the whole ride could become unsafe. That’s why Waymo keeps updating its software and checking its cars often.

How recalls made a difference

The two recalls showed that Waymo takes safety issues seriously and moves fast to solve them. By fixing problems quickly, the company avoided larger trouble and kept its cars on the road.

The recalls also helped keep passengers safer and gave regulators more trust in the system. Waymo’s actions showed that it is ready to improve when needed.

Want to see what’s next? Waymo launches Atlanta robotaxis right after Tesla’s big reveal.

No systemic issues found

After months of checking, NHTSA said it didn’t find any deep or ongoing safety problems with Waymo’s vehicles. The issues that did happen were seen as fixable mistakes, not signs of a broken system.

Because Waymo responded quickly, no big penalties were handed out. This outcome helps the company continue its work with more confidence.

Keep watching the race heat up. Amazon aims to pump out 10,000 robotaxis a year to rival Waymo.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.