2023 Subaru Solterra Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
No verdictComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 3 Solterra years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2023 Solterra has the highest complaint index (100) of the three model years, with 42 complaints, 4 recalls including 2 do-not-drive hub bolt recalls, and a top problem area of Electrical System (40% of complaints). It ranks worst among Solterra years.
- Complaints
- 42
- Recalls
- 4
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 103
- 112.5 city / 93.5 hwy
Top 2023 Subaru Solterra problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System17 (40%)
- Other13 (31%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (29%)
- Engine8 (19%)
- Brakes6 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (14%)
- Structure & Body4 (10%)
- Visibility & Wipers4 (10%)
- Fuel System3 (7%)
- HVAC3 (7%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration events while parking or maneuvering, sometimes ending in a crash.
- Adaptive cruise control reportedly fails to detect slowing traffic ahead, causing the car to accelerate toward stopped vehicles.
- Parking assist and rear camera sensors reportedly stop working after minor collisions and cannot be reactivated by dealers.
- The flat rear window design with no wiper reportedly collects snow quickly, blocking rear visibility.
- Regenerative braking reportedly disengages at random, forcing an immediate switch to the manual brake pedal.
- Wheel well liners and undertray panels reportedly detached while driving through deep water on the road.
2023 Subaru Solterra recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V744000Oct 30, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,024,407 vehicles
Back over prevention:display function
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."
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.
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.
- NHTSA 25V577000Sep 4, 2025HVAC94,320 vehicles
Visibility:defroster/defogger/HVAC system
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.
Risk: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 23V064000Feb 9, 2023Suspension, Wheels & Tires1,182 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Wheels:hub
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.
Risk: Wheel detachment while driving can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
2023 Subaru Solterra fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 112.5 MPG
- Highway
- 93.5 MPG
- Combined
- 103 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Electricity
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2023 compared with other Solterra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2023 Subaru Solterra reliable?
- Among the three Solterra model years with data, 2023 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst, with 42 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls, 2 of them do-not-drive.
- What problems does the 2023 Subaru Solterra have?
- NHTSA complaints point to Electrical System issues (40% of complaints), Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues (29%), Engine issues (19%), and Brakes issues (14%). The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints is 15,000 miles.
- Does the 2023 Subaru Solterra have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2023 Solterra, including two do-not-drive recalls (campaigns 23V064000 and 22V444000) for hub bolts that could loosen and let a wheel detach.
- How does the 2023 Solterra compare to other Solterra years?
- The 2023 model has a complaint index of 100, compared to 50 for 2024 and 0 for 2025, making 2023 the worst-ranked Solterra year in this data.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Subaru Solterra?
- EPA rates the 2023 Solterra at 103 MPG combined (112.5 city / 93.5 highway) with an annual fuel cost of $700.