NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Audit Query AQ23-001: Certification
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Audit Query AQ23-001 on March 3, 2023 and closed it on August 4, 2025. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2023–2024, 2026 Zoox Zoox Robotaxi for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- AQ23-001 (also written AQ23001)
- Investigation type
- Audit Query An administrative investigation into compliance with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting Early Warning data on time or carrying out a recall.
- Status
- Closed August 4, 2025
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Zoox, Inc.
- Component
- Unknown or Other
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2023–2024, 2026 Zoox Zoox Robotaxi
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Audit Query AQ23-001.
In July 2022, Zoox announced that it had certified a self-driving vehicle as being compliant with all applicable FMVSS. Zoox described these “purpose-built” vehicles as bi-directional, equipped with an automated driving system, and lacking traditional driving controls. Zoox was an outlier in the industry, having self-certified these vehicles rather than seeking an available exemption. Publicly available materials depicting Zoox’s vehicles suggested that they may not be compliant with certain FMVSS. On September 6, 2022, NHTSA issued a Special Order directing Zoox to answer certain questions and provide information relating to the company’s basis for certifying that the vehicle met all applicable FMVSS. Zoox responded to the Special Order on November 7, 2022. Based on Zoox’s response and other available information, NHTSA opened this Audit Query (AQ23001) on March 3, 2023, to examine the process and technical data on which Zoox relied when certifying the Zoox vehicle and related issues. During this investigation, NHTSA continued its evaluation of information provided by Zoox regarding its vehicles and basis of certification. NHTSA additionally conducted an on-site inspection of two Zoox vehicles. In December 2024, NHTSA issued Zoox an inspection report documenting its findings, which included multiple apparent noncompliances with applicable FMVSS. Following dialogue with the agency during the course of this investigation, Zoox decided to apply for an FMVSS exemption for the subject vehicles. Specifically, in June 2025, Zoox requested an exemption under § 30114(a) for the purposes of demonstration of its purpose-built vehicles. NHTSA carefully evaluated Zoox’s exemption request under the agency’s Automated Vehicle Exemption Program. On August 4, 2025, NHTSA granted Zoox an exemption subject to certain conditions, including that Zoox obscure or remove all existing statements that the purpose-built vehicle complies with or conforms to all applicable FMVSS. This exemption covers all Zoox vehicles encompassed by this investigation, apart from certain 2023 model year vehicles, which Zoox has discontinued from public road operation. As a result, all of the purpose-built vehicles manufactured by Zoox that are now operating on public roads in the United States are doing so pursuant to an FMVSS exemption issued by NHTSA. In view of these actions, NHTSA is closing this investigation. NHTSA will monitor Zoox vehicles under both its Automated Vehicle Exemption Program and other oversight authorities and will take additional action if warranted.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Audit Query AQ23-001. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Zoox
All Zoox recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for AQ23-001
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.