Amazon's Zoox Recalls 105 Autonomous Vehicles Over Smoke Detection Flaw

Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle developer Zoox has recalled its fleet of 105 self-driving vehicles after identifying a software flaw that could prevent the vehicles from properly detecting dense smoke, raising concerns about their ability to safely operate around emergency response scenes.

The voluntary recall was announced on Friday, just one week after the top U.S. auto safety regulator warned autonomous vehicle companies to address what it described as a recurring pattern of robotaxis interfering with police officers, firefighters, and other first responders.

According to Zoox, the recall stems from an incident on June 20, when one of its unoccupied autonomous vehicles encountered heavy smoke that obscured visibility near an active emergency response scene.

The vehicle entered the affected area before applying its brakes sharply while attempting to turn away, eventually coming to a complete stop.

The car was later reversed using Zoox's remote assistance system, allowing emergency crews to place traffic cones and close two of the three traffic lanes at the scene.

The company said the software update will strengthen the vehicles' ability to detect dense smoke and respond more safely in complex emergency environments.

The recall comes as U.S. regulators increase pressure on the autonomous driving industry to improve how self-driving vehicles interact with emergency personnel.

Jonathan Morrison, head of the federal vehicle safety agency, recently warned autonomous vehicle developers that investigators have documented multiple incidents involving robotaxis entering active emergency scenes, blocking ambulances and fire trucks, and failing to recognize critical safety signals such as flashing lights, road flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones.

The agency said it plans to meet with autonomous vehicle manufacturers before the end of the month to seek immediate solutions.

In its letter to industry participants, regulators stressed that autonomous vehicles incapable of safely responding to first responders pose a risk to public safety.

The concerns extend beyond Zoox. Local media in Texas reported that a self-driving vehicle operated by Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving unit, partially blocked the route used by firefighters responding to a residential building fire in Dallas in late May.

Additional videos have shown Waymo vehicles obstructing an ambulance and entering an active police scene, adding to growing questions about how autonomous systems perform in unpredictable real-world emergencies.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conducting separate investigations into incidents involving Waymo vehicles, including cases in which robotaxis allegedly passed stopped school buses displaying active warning lights, an apparent violation of Texas traffic laws.