Amazon-owned Zoox filed a voluntary Zoox software recall covering 105 robotaxis. Its autonomous software failed to handle heavy smoke at an active fire scene. The Part 573 report is now on file with NHTSA as campaign 26E044.
So this is not a hardware defect. Zoox is recalling Automated Driving System software installed on its driverless public-road fleet since April 23, 2026. The company says reduced visibility near an emergency scene can raise crash risk or slow first responders.
What happened on June 20
According to Zoox’s NHTSA filing, an unoccupied robotaxi hit heavy smoke that hid an active fire emergency. First responders had not yet cordoned the lane with cones. The vehicle entered the scene, then braked hard while trying to steer away before it stopped.
After that, a teleguidance tactician guided the robotaxi in reverse. First responders then placed cones and blocked two of three through-lanes. Zoox says this is the only smoke event of its kind in its records. The company also reports no injuries from the review.
What the Zoox software recall fixes
Zoox told NHTSA the ADS software may fail to detect and respond to heavy smoke, especially at active emergency scenes. The Safety Committee decided on July 7 to file the voluntary equipment recall. Manufacturer recall number is 26-01.
As an interim step, Zoox tightened operational measures that steer the fleet away from active fire scenes. Then it shipped a software update that strengthens detection and response for heavy smoke, including active EV fire scenes. The updated software went to all impacted public-road vehicles on July 15.
Because Zoox owns and operates the fleet, there are no retail owners or dealers to mail. NHTSA’s acknowledgment letter confirms the free software remedy and lists the campaign for public search.
Why the timing matters
Emergency-scene behavior is already under federal scrutiny. Earlier in July, NHTSA pressed autonomous vehicle companies on robotaxis that interfere with first responders. Therefore this recall lands where smoke and fire scenes are no longer treated as rare edge cases.
The filing also sits next to Zoox’s broader expansion story. The company recently pushed an updated Zoox robotaxi for a bigger ride-hailing push. Meanwhile, rivals keep opening new markets, from Waymo’s Ojai robotaxi pilot to other supervised-driving programs.
What readers should take away
Treat the Zoox software recall as a software safety patch, not a mass consumer RMA. Zoox controls the fleet and already pushed the July 15 update. Still, the June 20 chronology shows how a single low-visibility fire scene can force a full ADS equipment recall.
For the primary record, start with NHTSA campaign 26E044 and Zoox’s Part 573 report. Those documents carry the unit count, chronology, remedy date, and safety risk language that secondary write-ups summarize.
