---
title: "Test Riders in Waymo’s Self-Driving Cars Won’t Stop Complaining"
description: "Internal feedback reveals that Waymo passengers aren't entirely pleased with how the company's self-driving cars are performing."
date: "2019-08-27"
modified: "2019-08-27"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/riders-waymo-self-driving-cars-complaining"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Self-Driving Vehicles"
tags:
  - "Autonomous vehicles"
  - "the digest"
  - "transport"
  - "waymo"
---

# Test Riders in Waymo’s Self-Driving Cars Won’t Stop Complaining

![Internal feedback reveals that Waymo passengers aren't entirely pleased with how the company's self-driving cars are performing.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/riders-waymo-self-driving-cars-complaining.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Dllu/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Everyone's A Critic

Waymo, the Alphabet-owned [self-driving car company](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/waymo-cars-distraction-self-driving>), is getting some critical reviews from its passengers in Phoenix and San Francisco.

After reviewing records of over 10,500 rides in the company's self-driving vehicles over the course of July and August, *[The Information ](<https://www.theinformation.com/articles/waymo-riders-describe-experiences-on-the-road>)*[found](<https://www.theinformation.com/articles/waymo-riders-describe-experiences-on-the-road>) that a large number of passengers complained about the autonomous vehicles' performance. While Waymo got mostly-positive reviews, the comments from nauseous and otherwise unhappy passengers is a troubling sign for a company that wants to eventually [go head-to-head](<https://www.sfgate.com/travel/resources/transit/article/Waymo-driverless-cars-SF-Uber-Lyft-tech-14379460.php>) with human-driven ride-hailing apps.

## Mostly Happy

Waymo [frequently insists](<https://futurism.com/waymo-one-early-rider-autonomous-vehicle>) that safety is its top priority — the company's ultimate goal is to get error-prone human drivers off the streets and replace them with near**-**perfect artificial intelligence.

And while its [self-reported safety data](<https://futurism.com/waymo-safety-data-trust-numbers>) is questionable, T*he Information* noted a marked improvement in rider satisfaction since it last reviewed the company's internal feedback. In Phoenix specifically, [70 percent of riders](<https://www.theinformation.com/articles/waymos-backseat-drivers-confidential-data-reveals-self-driving-taxi-hurdles>) gave their [self-driving shuttle](<https://futurism.com/nyc-self-driving-shuttle>) a perfect score.

## Sudden Stops

But a large proportion — 10 percent of the Phoenix passengers and 35 percent of the Silicon Valley ones — complained about sudden, uncomfortable, and nauseating stop-and-start driving and excessive braking.

"Excessive braking for almost the entire ride," read one Waymo employee's review. "I got very carsick. Almost pressed the pullover button so I could barf."

Another seven percent found that the vehicles dropped them off anywhere from 50 feet to half a mile away from their actual destination, leaving them to walk or call another cab for the rest of the journey.

**READ MORE:** ['Downright alarming’: Bay Area test riders criticize self-driving taxi service](<https://www.sfgate.com/travel/resources/transit/article/Waymo-driverless-cars-SF-Uber-Lyft-tech-14379460.php>) \[*SFGate*\]

**More on Waymo:** *[Exclusive: A Waymo One Rider’s Experiences Highlight Autonomous Rideshare’s Shortcomings](<https://futurism.com/waymo-one-early-rider-autonomous-vehicle>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)