Zoox has issued a software recall for 105 of its robotaxis due to an inability to safely navigate heavy smoke. The recall was prompted by an incident on June 20 where a Zoox vehicle encountered smoke from an uncordoned fire, braking hard and attempting to steer away before stopping. Under teleguidance, the vehicle reversed, allowing first responders to block lanes.

This marks the only known instance of a Zoox vehicle encountering such an issue. The company is rolling out a software update to "enhance existing capability of detecting and responding to heavy smoke." This recall follows a previous software recall in May 2025 after a fleet car collided with another vehicle in Las Vegas.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently demanded autonomous vehicle companies improve responses to emergency situations, highlighting that these are not "edge cases." NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison stated that the inability to detect and respond appropriately is a "functional insufficiency." The recall is a setback for Zoox, which has been expanding its services and testing in new cities.