Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, acceleration and cruise control, and brakes. The 10 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023Two recalls on this model year told owners to stop driving until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing they were completed for this VIN.
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/10 checked
2023 Subaru Solterra: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2023 checks
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Underbody liners torn off in water
775–7,553 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Subaru Solterra, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Sudden, forceful acceleration at parking speed is the most serious pattern, and both crash-related reports describe it. The car lunges over obstacles or into trees, and one report cites a "System Malfunction" message with no ability to brake or steer. Other complaints cover slow DC fast charging that gets worse near freezing, with one dealer calling a 24 kW cap normal operation. Bluetooth features such as phone unlocking and remote climate control stop working on some cars. Driving through standing water can tear off the fender liners and leave high-voltage cables exposed.
The car can lurch forward with great force at low speed. In the one crash-related report, it hit a house and automatic emergency braking did not activate. The more common complaint involves adaptive cruise control in rain or heavy road mist. The system loses track of the vehicle ahead, shows no car on the display, and speeds up toward it, so the driver has to brake hard. Owners note that it gives no warning when it stops detecting traffic.
Braking behavior changes without warning. Regenerative braking in S pedal mode can shut off at random, so the car stops slowing until the driver presses the brake pedal. Reports also describe weak braking during unintended acceleration while parking, with the foot already on the brake. In snow, reverse braking sensor warnings flash and the car stops abruptly and slides. Repairs can drag on, and one car spent 6 weeks in the shop.
A worsening ride and harsh road impacts point to a suspension fault, which in one report turned up alongside a failing rear motor that needed replacement. That owner also describes a battery that would not start the car in freezing weather and had to be replaced, all within the warranty period. The other complaint is about lane-keeping behavior in highway work zones and does not describe a suspension failure. With only 2 reports, this category shows no clear pattern.
Safety systems can switch off at startup. The dash shows warnings for "drive start control system," "ev system malfunction" and "systems not available." Dealers find no stored codes, and the fault comes back, in one case along with a loss of cabin heat at 20 degrees F. A second pattern involves adaptive cruise control speeding up toward a stopped car after a lane change. The driver has to brake quickly to avoid a collision.
The front wheel well liners and undertray tear off when the car drives slowly through standing water about 4 to 8 inches deep. Both reports involve nearly new cars, at 775 and 7,553 miles. Dealers deny warranty coverage, either calling the damage an act of nature or saying the parts are not covered. Electrical-system complaints describe the same failure leaving high-voltage cables exposed to water.
Excerpts from complaints Solterra owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
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
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
problem with milage range and charging rate . The vehicle will not charge above 24Kw--no fast charing possible "the vehicle has been found to be operating as designed and no repairs are being recommended" Leased vehicle in October 2023
Filed with NHTSA, February 2024
During any precipitation, primarily rain, the adaptive cruise control fails to sense vehicles in front of it. This became alarming as the vehicle began to speed up and get alarmingly close to the other vehicle, causing driver to slam brakes. When looking at the cruise control display, the vehicle never showed another vehicle in front of it.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2024
Vehicle stopped dramatically at low speed in snow while sensors were freaking out and flashing reverse breaking sensor problem. Car has been in shop for 6 weeks. My concern is the breaks auto/over corrected and caused my car to slide in snow.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2024
The S pedal regenerative breaking shuts off randomly, causing the vehicle to stop breaking, and the need for an immediate use of the brake pedal.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 has the most owner complaints of the 3 Solterra years we cover, about 2.8 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Recall repairs are free at any Subaru dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: A wheel detaching from a moving vehicle can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Subaru Solterra, with their own 2023 checklists.
2023 owner complaints, side by side
