Amazon's Zoox Recalls Robotaxis After Software-Linked Crash

Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox issued a voluntary software recall for 270 vehicles after a crash involving one of its unoccupied robotaxis in Las Vegas on April 8, 2025. According to filings submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 1, the automated driving system had a defect that could inaccurately predict the movements of other vehicles, increasing the risk of collisions.

The incident occurred when a passenger vehicle exited a commercial driveway and entered a lane where a Zoox robotaxi was operating. Zoox explained that the robotaxi anticipated the passenger vehicle would continue forward and adjusted its behavior by slowing down and steering to the right. However, the passenger vehicle stopped, yielding to the Zoox robotaxi and remaining in the shoulder lane. Despite hard braking, the robotaxi was unable to avoid contact.

There were no injuries, and both vehicles sustained only minor damage. Zoox paused all driverless testing immediately after the crash and initiated an internal review. “After analysis and rigorous testing, Zoox identified the root cause. We issued a software update that was implemented across all Zoox vehicles,” the company stated. Testing operations resumed after the update was deployed on Apr. 17.

The recall affects 270 vehicles equipped with the specific software version implicated in the crash. This number does not represent the total size of Zoox’s fleet and includes both the company’s custom-built robotaxis, which lack steering wheels and pedals, and retrofitted Toyota Highlanders.

The Las Vegas crash follows a March 2025 recall, when Zoox voluntarily recalled 258 vehicles due to an issue that could cause unexpected hard braking. Additionally, the NHTSA investigated Zoox in 2023 after two incidents where motorcyclists rear-ended Highlanders operating in autonomous mode. That investigation was closed in April 2025.

Despite these challenges, Zoox is moving forward with its commercial rollout plans. A company spokesperson confirmed that Zoox still intends to launch its robotaxi service in Las Vegas later this year. Zoox has been testing its autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas, Foster City, and San Francisco, with additional testing in Austin, Miami, and Seattle using Highlanders with human safety drivers. Earlier this year, Zoox began offering rides to employees, media, and invited guests in its custom-built robotaxis.

Amazon acquired Zoox in 2020 for over US$1 billion to advance autonomous ride-hailing technology. However, the company trails competitors like Alphabet’s Waymo, which operates commercial robotaxi services in multiple US cities. Tesla has also announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Austin in June.