Zoox recalls robotaxi software after smoke obscured fire scene

Zoox, an Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company, has issued a software recall for its fleet of 105 robotaxis after one of its vehicles encountered difficulties navigating a smoke-filled emergency fire scene in June. The vehicle reportedly braked hard and attempted to steer away from the scene before coming to a stop. A Zoox teleoperator was able to remotely reverse the vehicle, allowing first responders to secure the area.

Zoox informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that this was the only such incident experienced by the company and that no injuries are associated with the problem. The company decided to issue the recall on July 7, shortly before NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison sent a letter to self-driving car companies urging them to prioritize the detection and appropriate response to emergency scenes, highlighting that such situations are not rare edge cases.

This is not Zoox's first recall; the company previously recalled software in March 2025 for a hard braking issue and issued two more recalls in May 2025 following a collision and an incident with an e-scooter rider. Zoox is currently expanding its testing and offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco, with a planned commercial launch contingent on NHTSA granting exemptions for its vehicles, which lack traditional steering wheels and pedals.