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If you’ve spent time in Phoenix, San Francisco, or Los Angeles recently, you may have seen a Waymo self-driving car or two ferrying passengers to their urban destinations. As of Q3 2024, Waymo boasts over one million miles of autonomous taxi rides per week. Unfortunately, such volume with an emerging technology means the inevitable hiccup. You would hope that a hiccup wouldn’t drive you in circles.    

A passenger in a Waymo self-driving car drove in circles in a Scottsdale parking lot, nearly causing him to miss a flight

“Ok, why is this happening to me on a Monday?” That was Mike Johns’s cheeky remark in a social media post as he took a ride in a Waymo self-driving car. Johns was on his way to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Arizona when his ride started acting up.

Johns used his smartphone to show the front seats of the Waymo Jaguar I-PACE as the wheel spun to the right. “I’m in a Waymo car. And this car is just going in circles.” Shortly after the video started, a customer support representative started talking to Johns as the vehicle continued its pavement pirouette. “Hi there, Mike. This is Gab calling from Waymo Support. I received a notification that your car might be experiencing some routing issues.” 

Incidentally, Johns kept his cool as he explained the situation. “I got a flight to catch. Why is this thing going in a circle? I’m getting dizzy.” Johns and Gab from customer support discussed that the Waymo self-driving car was stuck orbiting part of a Scottsdale parking lot. 

Johns told Gab that he was trapped in the vehicle. “I feel like I’m in the movies,” Johns told customer support. However, he lost his patience when Gab couldn’t “take over the car” from her terminal. “I don’t have an option to control the car,” Gab told him.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that a Waymo self-driving car drove in circles repeatedly. Last month, an autonomous Jaguar I-PACE circled a tiny roundabout in a Phoenix parking lot repeatedly. However, there didn’t appear to be a passenger in that instance.

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Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer, an admitted petrolhead, and an avid motorcyclist. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and Humvees. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with expertise covering everything from sports cars and electric motorcycles to pontoon boats and jet skis. Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He also studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC). When he’s not working, you can find Erik on his motorcycle or out for a spirited drive.