It still feels like a technological marvel: Waymo\u2019s autonomous cars are now transporting passengers across six cities. Alas, this driverless future comes with its own set of problems. These vehicles can be rendered inert if a passenger accidentally leaves the door open.<\/p>\n
According to a Reddit post<\/a>, one DoorDash driver discovered this issue when an odd request appeared in their queue. Instead of making a delivery, the driver was offered $6.25 to drive less than one mile to a Waymo vehicle and close its door. After \u201cverified completion,\u201d they would get an extra $5.<\/p>\n \u201cYou actually \u2018door\u2019 dashed,\u201d one commenter noted.<\/p>\n It seems too ironic to be real. Waymo vehicles represent technological breakthroughs that once seemed unfathomable. The Alphabet-owned company just raised $16 billion<\/a> to take its driverless cars international!<\/p>\n But Waymo and DoorDash confirmed to TechCrunch that this Reddit post is legitimate. This is, in fact, a real problem.<\/p>\n \u201cWaymo is currently running a pilot program in Atlanta to enhance its AV fleet efficiency. In the rare event a vehicle door is left ajar, preventing the car from departing, nearby Dashers are notified, allowing Waymo to get its vehicles back on the road quickly,\u201d Waymo and DoorDash said in a joint response. (The door-closing partnership, which began earlier this year<\/a>, is just one facet of Waymo and DoorDash\u2019s broader relationship. In October, the companies launched an autonomous delivery service in Phoenix, where Waymo vehicles deliver food and groceries to DoorDash customers.)<\/p>\n If a Waymo door is left open, it\u2019s worth it to the company to pay someone to close it \u2014 the car cannot complete any more rides if it\u2019s left immobile. Not to mention, an unmoving car could block the flow of traffic. <\/p>\n Techcrunch event<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston, MA<\/span> This isn\u2019t the first time Waymo has enlisted help with its door troubles. In Los Angeles, Waymo works with Honk<\/a>, an app that\u2019s like Uber for towing services. According to reports, Honk users in L.A. have been offered up to $24<\/a> to close a Waymo door \u2014 more than double what Atlanta DoorDash drivers receive.<\/p>\n The company noted that Waymo\u2019s future vehicles will have automated door closures. But for now, gig workers are Waymo\u2019s best bet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/craziest-offer-v0-83q95pe2cpig1.webp?w=314\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJune 23, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n