Zoox Recalls 105 Robotaxis After Vehicle Enters Fire Scene

The Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox issued a voluntary software recall for 105 robotaxis on July 17, 2026. The move follows a June 20 incident in Las Vegas, where an unoccupied vehicle failed to detect heavy smoke and entered an active fire scene. The vehicle braked hard before a remote teleguidance employee instructed it to reverse; no injuries were reported. Zoox filed the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 8, deploying an over-the-air update to improve smoke detection and emergency scene recognition.

The recall coincides with a broader federal crackdown on robotaxis interfering with first responders. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison warned developers of a clear pattern of driverless vehicles blocking ambulances and failing to recognize flares and flashing lights. Morrison characterized the inability of these vehicles to interact safely with emergency personnel as a functional insufficiency.

Federal regulators are also targeting other industry players. The NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating Waymo for incidents in Texas where vehicles reportedly blocked fire trucks and illegally passed stopped school buses. Zoox continues to expand its testing in cities including San Francisco, Miami, and Austin while seeking federal exemptions for its steering-wheel-less vehicle design.