Waymo is facing dual crises: a major safety recall affecting 3,791 vehicles and escalating national security concerns tied to its use of Chinese-manufactured vehicles. The autonomous vehicle company's partnership with Chinese automaker Zeekr has triggered warnings from Trump administration officials about potential foreign surveillance risks, even as the company grapples with software failures in extreme weather conditions.

What Safety Issues Prompted Waymo's Massive Recall?

In May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) acknowledged Waymo's voluntary recall of 3,791 vehicles after discovering a critical software flaw. The issue: Waymo's 5th and 6th generation automated driving systems could allow vehicles to slow down and then drive into standing water on high-speed roadways, potentially causing loss of vehicle control and increasing crash risk.

The problem emerged after an unoccupied Waymo vehicle drove onto a flooded roadway in San Antonio and was swept away. Waymo temporarily suspended operations in that city following the incident. A source close to the Trump administration expressed alarm about the company's preparedness, stating that Waymo vehicles are being tested in real-world conditions without adequate programming or testing for extreme weather scenarios.

"They're testing these in real-life situations, and they're also putting American lives at risk. When you're talking about pedestrians, when you're talking about these flood issues, you know, if you're in one of these Waymos, you're totally dependent on whatever AI program that they've instituted to be able to navigate you safely out of there," a source close to the Trump administration told Fox News Digital.

Anonymous source, Trump administration official

As an interim remedy, Waymo updated its vehicle operations to enhance weather-related constraints and refined its mapping systems. All affected vehicles received the software update by April 20. The company also limited access to areas where flash flooding might occur and refined its extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain.

Why Is a Chinese Automaker Partnership Raising National Security Red Flags?

Beyond the safety recall, Waymo faces a more serious challenge: questions about whether its vehicles pose national security risks. The core issue centers on the Waymo Ojai, a robotaxi produced by Zeekr, a Chinese automaker. Waymo formed this partnership in 2021, and the company later unveiled a robotaxi prototype based on Zeekr's SEA-M platform.

Trump administration sources have raised alarm about the surveillance potential embedded in these vehicles. Since all Waymo robotaxis contain cameras and audio recording systems that operate continuously, officials worry about the possibility of foreign manipulation or data collection through these electronic components.

"There's no reason to not think that with these cars that are now being rushed to market in so many major American cities that the electronic components which all have cameras in them, they all have audio in them, they're all being recorded all the time, are not susceptible to foreign manipulation," a source told Fox News Digital.

Anonymous source, Trump administration official

The source emphasized that the Trump administration is "cognizant of the vulnerabilities to foreign spyware" and views this as a critical concern as the administration ramps up its focus on China-linked technology and supply chains.

How Is Waymo Responding to Safety and Security Concerns?

Waymo has pushed back on both the safety criticisms and the national security allegations. The company maintains that its autonomous driving technology is developed and installed entirely in America, despite the Chinese manufacturing of the vehicle platform itself.

• Technology Development: Waymo states that the software, sensors, and computing systems that make vehicles autonomous are developed and installed by Waymo in the United States, not sourced from China.
• Regulatory Support: Waymo expressed strong support for the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) connected vehicle rule, which addresses national security risks from foreign autonomous vehicle technology, including both software and hardware components.
• Safety Priority: The company emphasized that safety is its primary priority and that it provides over half a million trips weekly in challenging driving environments across the United States.

"Waymo provides over half a million trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments across the U.S., and safety is our primary priority. We have identified an area of improvement regarding untraversable flooded lanes specific to higher-speed roadways, and have made the decision to file a voluntary software recall with NHTSA related to this scenario," a Waymo spokesperson stated.

Waymo spokesperson

The company added that it is "committed to furthering our own and America's leadership in the development and deployment of the critical automated driving technologies".

What Does This Mean for the Future of Robotaxis in America?

The convergence of safety failures and national security concerns raises fundamental questions about whether autonomous vehicle technology is ready for widespread deployment in American cities. The recall demonstrates that Waymo's software still struggles with real-world conditions that human drivers navigate routinely. Meanwhile, the national security angle introduces a new regulatory dimension that could reshape how autonomous vehicles are approved and operated.

Whether these incidents prompt further regulatory action remains uncertain, but they have already raised questions about the readiness of autonomous technology for real-world conditions and how foreign supply chains could factor into the expansion of robotaxi services across America. The Trump administration's heightened scrutiny of China-linked technology suggests that future autonomous vehicle approvals may face additional national security reviews beyond traditional safety assessments.