CSR

Subaru · NHTSA safety record

2023 Subaru Solterra

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 42 safety complaints about the 2023 Subaru Solterra with the US government. Of those, 5 describe a crash and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 16 complaints, 38% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2022 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

42 complaints on file

42

Complaints

5

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16 · 38%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13 · 31%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10 · 24%
POWER TRAIN 6 · 14%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 14%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 · 14%
STRUCTURE 4 · 10%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 4 · 10%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 3 · 7%
ENGINE 3 · 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 7%
VISIBILITY 3 · 7%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 42.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 14.

16 12 8 4
22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2022 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2023 Subaru SOLTERRA, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 11.6%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

25V744000 · October 30, 2025

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,024,407 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

25V577000 · September 4, 2025

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative.
The risk
An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB07 and 25TA07. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB04 and 25LA04. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-25.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 94,320 vehicles across all model years covered

WHEELS:HUB

23V064000 · February 9, 2023

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Solterra vehicles. Improperly tightened hub bolts may loosen and cause the wheels to detach from the vehicle.
The risk
Wheel detachment while driving can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repair has been completed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the hub bolts, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE-23.

Subaru of America, Inc. · up to 1,182 vehicles across all model years covered

WHEELS:HUB

22V444000 · June 23, 2022

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Subaru Solterra and Toyota BZ4X vehicles. The hub bolts on the wheels may loosen, causing a wheel to detach from the vehicle after low-mileage use.
The risk
A wheel detaching from a moving vehicle can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they are repaired. Dealers will replace the hub bolts and wheels, free of charge. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 27, 2022. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 661 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed

Subaru Solterra - Sudden unexpected acceleration with no ability to brake or steer. Message appeared "System Malfunction" Crashed into woods; small trees slowed and stopped car; airbags did not deploy. no injuries but great risk if car had headed to nearby highway instead of trees. car now at dealer undergoing inspection by Subaru.Police report made; copy not yet available. Michigan State Police report 75-2169-23

NHTSA complaint 11538316. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

crash · towed

We hit a stationary deer at night. Afterwards, we found an open recall: WRG23-1: Forward recognition camera reprogramming 2023 Subaru Solterra, but Subaru refused to investigate as they claim animals (suddenly appearing) are a carve out on their liability. However, the deer wasn't leaping, it was already frozen in the road. The headlights only illuminated its knees, too late for the driver to stop before impact. It could have just as easily been a person, or other heavy road debris. The incident was on a dark highway bypass, with slight left curve, so poor headlights hampered the driver & automatic systems from stopping in time. The headlights angle down (tilts & dims from brights

NHTSA complaint 11561166, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

crash · towed

My Subaru Solterra EV was parked in the driveway of an Airbnb in Virginia. We were about to depart to return home. Vehicle was turned on and driver commenced to back out of the driveway, however rear safety warning activated as car neared a bush. Driver stopped vehicle, then placed in Drive in order to pull forward a few feet to negotiate putting the car in reverse to leave the driveway. The car then lurched forward with great force and collided with the corner of the house we had been staying in, causing significant damage. Two concerns arise: 1. Why did the car lurch forward with great force to begin with? 2. Why didn’t the automatic emergency braking system not activate? I shiver when I

NHTSA complaint 11646679, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash · towed

Sudden unintended acceleration while maneuvering to park. The acceleration was instantaneous and forceful, that in less than 20 feet of rapid movement the car forced itself over some utility poles laying behind the intended parking spot, and jumped from the utility poles, fast enough so that the first ground contact was nearly 10 feet beyond the poles (as evidenced by disturbed grass in the photos). Stopped stuck on hard debris, irregular terrain, and dead tree logs. In other circumstances, this could have had grave consequences to others or the driver. We're not sure we can trust this vehicle not to do this again. Not checked with a dealer. (All manufacturers blame drivers for sudden

NHTSA complaint 11655928, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Water collected inside the passenger compartment of my 2023 Subaru Solterra. The carpet was soaked and there was standing water on the floor in both the front and the rear of the vehicle. I first noticed a musty smell in approximately July, 2026. By Aug, 2026 there was standing water on the floor. The dealer told me the cause was a blocked air conditioning drain line. Nothing in my owner's manual or maintenance schedule tells owners to clean, inspect, or service that drain, and I had no way to know it existed or that it could fail. My concern is a safety concern. This is an electric vehicle, and a significant amount of water sat on the floor of the passenger compartment unnoticed due to the

NHTSA complaint 11763709, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
NHTSA VEHICLE-DATA MISMATCH: The VIN entered in the vehicle-information field belongs to a Toyota-branded 2023 bZ4X AWD Limited, as shown by the vehicle, Toyota app, factory window sticker, and Toyota dealer records. NHTSA's form incorrectly displays a 2023 Subaru Solterra. NHTSA's VIN decoder identifies the manufacturer as TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION but assigns Subaru/Solterra as the make/model. Please correct the classification and associate this complaint with the 2023 Toyota bZ4X. On August 10, 2026, at about 18,309 miles, my wife was driving with our daughters as passengers when the vehicle displayed Brake System and Electronically Controlled Brake System malfunction warnings. Braking

NHTSA complaint 11755825, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
November 1, 2024 (46,750 Miles): Vehicle suffered an initial internal high-voltage electric A/C compressor meltdown (Diagnostic Trouble Code B14721C). The authorized dealership replaced the compressor under warranty but left the original, contaminated micro-channel condenser assembly in the vehicle, attempting to clear it via a basic fluid flush. January 15, 2026 (121,269 miles): Vehicle was brought to an authorized Subaru dealer for the mandatory Federal Safety Recall WRD-25 (NHTSA Campaign 25V577). The software patch was applied, and the dealership explicitly stated that the A/C compressor was in good working condition at that time. No physical flush or deep system contamination audit was

NHTSA complaint 11753828, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I had been hearing a humming noise for around a year and when reported to the dealer I was told that the rear electric motor had to be replaced. I had been researching online about this issue and apparently, is something a lot of Solterra owner have gone through. After a week of the car at the dealer, Subaru still doesn't approve the repairs that should be under Power Train guarantee. Should this be something to be part of a recall already considering so many public reports of this issue?

NHTSA complaint 11735160. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

15,000 miles

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Solterra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, while attempting to start to the vehicle, the horn sounded unexpectedly. Several warnings lights illuminated, and the gear shifter failed to shift to drive(D). A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had occurred more than eight times. The battery was replaced twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the battery would be replaced under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

NHTSA complaint 11726521. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
When the sun is at certain angles in the middle of the day, direct sunlight bounces off of the high-gloss plastic trim around the shifting knob directly into the driver's eyes. This is distracting and makes it hard to see the road.

NHTSA complaint 11725788. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Subaru Solterra

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 17 1 —
2024 14 2 —

Other 2023 Subaru models

Every Subaru on this site — 99 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst