Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle unit, has issued a voluntary software recall after identifying lane-crossing behavior in its robotaxi fleet that could increase the risk of crashes near intersections. The recall affects 332 vehicles operating on public roads in the United States and was filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Although no collisions or injuries have been linked to this issue, Zoox’s filing warns that the unintended crossing of center lines or stopping in crosswalks could elevate risk and prompted swift action to update the company’s automated driving system (ADS) software.
Why the Recall Happened
The issue first came to light after a robotaxi made a wide turn on August 26 that caused it to partially enter the opposing lane and pause in front of oncoming traffic. Zoox reviewed fleet-wide data and identified 62 instances of similar behavior between that date and early December, typically involving lane line encroachments near intersections.
Company engineers told regulators that some maneuvers were similar to those a human driver might make, such as stopping to avoid blocking traffic, but did not meet Zoox’s internal safety standards. Examples included:
Stopping in or blocking crosswalks at red lights.
Wide turns that caused vehicles to cross into adjacent lanes.
These behaviors were flagged as potentially unsafe despite not resulting in reported crashes. Zoox has been in continued dialogue with the NHTSA about the frequency, severity, and causes of these behaviors.
Software Fixes and Updates
Zoox has already responded with targeted software updates designed to improve how its ADS navigates intersections and lane boundaries:
A software update on November 7 addressed many early issues.
A further update in mid-December tackled remaining lane-crossing scenarios.
The company says these updates successfully address the root causes of the lane-crossing behavior, and it voluntarily submitted the recall to “be transparent” with regulators and the public about ongoing safety work.
What Zoox Is Saying
In its public statement, a Zoox spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to safety and continuous improvement. Although no crashes have been attributed to the lane-crossing behavior, Zoox chose to issue the recall to ensure confidence in its system and compliance with safety oversight.
Zoox continues offering free rides on its robotaxis in parts of San Francisco and Las Vegas, where its autonomous fleet operates, while implementing the updated software to prevent future occurrences.
Broader Context: Recalls and Regulation
This recall is the latest in a series of software-related actions by Zoox meant to refine ADS performance and address safety flags:
Earlier this year, Zoox issued recalls to fix unexpected hard braking and issues with predicting movements of other road users.
The NHTSA has also examined past incidents and compliance issues as autonomous vehicles are tested more broadly across the U.S.
The recall underscores ongoing regulatory scrutiny of autonomous driving systems as robotaxi services and driverless operations become more prevalent.