2023 SUBARU Solterra Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

2 complaints

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 think what might have happened if a person had been standing in front of the car. The car is now being repaired by a shop selected by my insurance company. Once completed it needs to be thoroughly tested to determine if this could be an ongoing problem. I theorize a software glitch my be responsible.

Mar 06, 2025

Crash: 1

Ihad something happen 3 times with the car on my drive to work. It was raining and vehicles ahead of me were kicking up a significant amount of mist in front of my Solterra. I was using the adaptive cruise control feature and it is supposed to follow cars in front of you and slow down or speed up (to your max set rate) to keep with traffic. THREE (3) times it did not see the car in front of me and I had to apply the brakes to slow the vehicle down or I may have hit the vehicle in front of me. As mentioned above, this happened in very misty conditions. Every other car I have had would have automatically turned off the feature and given me an alarm bell to alert me that the adaptive cruise control had been disabled. This did NOT happen with my 2023 Subaru Solterra

Mar 28, 2023

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

A/C Air compressor failure resulting in no heat. Report as very common problem on internet but no recall or other fix. $3000 repair in a car approximately 2 years old.

Feb 06, 2025

Black piano plastic blinds driver when it is sunny outside.

May 29, 2023

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

2 complaints

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.

Dec 28, 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.

Jan 19, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

Subaru states that the vehicle will dc fast charge at 100KWh. My Solterra and others(complaints on Subaru Solterra Forum) takes on average 1 hour and 40 minutes to charge 80%, with an additional 40 minutes to get to 100%. This is a major EV safety concern whern travelling---especially at night. In addition the milage range of the vehicle falls way short of wht SUBARU ADVERTISES TO CONSUMERS. They say 220---but I max out at 208 on a d2 charge. When the weathewr drops below 65F my range has fallen to 169(verified by dealer service records---154 miles. Bottom line from Subaru after having the vehicle in shop for over 30 days was: "performing as designed" Please help.......I am not alone---this issue is pervasive among 2023 Subaru Solterra owners

Jul 16, 2024

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

Feb 15, 2024

SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

I am writing to express my concern regarding a series of significant issues I’ve experienced with my vehicle, all occurring within a span of less than six months and well within the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty period. 1.Battery Failure in Cold Weather: After the first exposure to below-freezing temperatures, the vehicle would not start on multiple occasions. This ultimately led to a full battery replacement. 2.Suspension and Rear Motor Issue: I recently brought the vehicle in due to an increasingly poor ride quality and excessive road impact. The inspection revealed a suspension issue and, more seriously, a failing rear motor that now requires replacement. 3.Electrical Malfunction – Blinker Failure: The vehicle is currently in the shop due to the failure of the left turn signal, which was traced to erosion in the casing housing the electrical wiring. These repeated failures are deeply concerning, particularly for a relatively new vehicle. I am requesting a thorough review of the situation and a clear resolution path, as this level of reliability is unacceptable for a vehicle still under warranty

May 07, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

1 complaint

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 unintended acceleration.) The vehicle is being repaired at a body shop. Damage was to front and underside. There were no prior warnings or symptoms.

Apr 21, 2025

Crash: 1

SERVICE BRAKES,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

Solterra 2023 bought Dec 23, 2022 Report: 1. Unintended Acceleration while parking. 2. No braking power till few feet away from fence. Incident:1. Prior parking, owner had accidentally touched the Regenerative Braking Paddle which is right next to turn signal lever. 2. Approaching a row of trees within 2 feet, the Solterra lurched forward, mowed down 2 trees and accelerated while owner's foot was on brake; owner yelled at passenger" NO BRAKES!!" Car accelerated onto backyard, passed a children's swing set, kept going onto the grass. Finally,car stopped by itself within several feet of the fence which faces busy Jericho Turnpike road. 3. Date & Time: 4/14/2025 about 1:30 PM. Owner's Doubt: If the brake system is hydraulic, then pressing brake pedal would stop vehicle; Malfunction: Regenerative Brake System generated acceleration instead of braking ! Recall Service Appt. with Dealer on April 27, 2025: Subaru WRG 231, WRG 241 and repairing front. Done: NHTSA Recall ID 23V-064, February 2023 = Subaru WRE-23. Experience once before: A few seconds of no braking during crawling traffic jam, about a year ago. Vehicle is available for inspection at owner's driveway.

Apr 16, 2025

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Solterra. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the heating system became inoperable. The contact stated that the heating system failed to function properly and was blowing out cold air instead of heat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the failure was duplicated by the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to retrieve a fault code. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 16,000.

Feb 18, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

Driving vehicle during rain storm at 10mph through standing water approximately 1 foot depth while exiting freeway in San Francisco caused front bumper components to loosen/crack, front fender liners to tear off, thereby exposing the electrical components of the battery drive unit and electricals under the front hood, including high voltage cables to be exposed to water intrusion. We can see the bright orange high voltage cables through the wheel well, along with electrical wires that appear to be grounds! Safety concern of exposing electrical high voltage system to water if driver was not aware that fender liners detached while driving. We are concerned this may pose potential risk of electrical malfunction as car is driven on wet roads due to water intrusion, reaching sensitive parts, potentially causing sudden electrical or mechanical issues and affecting vehicle safety, causing sudden malfunction given electric vehicle. Other similar reports in bz4x and Solterra - similar models badged by Toyota/Subaru partnership: Google search of "bz4x fender liners damage" [XXX] [XXX] We stopped driving due to front bumper damage, concerns with the electrical system exposed, fender liner hanging off and in contact with tire, filed insurance claim and completed repairs. The fender liner appears to be made of a very soft pliable composition with questionable integrity which may contribute to liner ripping off attachment points. The charging port door also opened AFTER driving through the standing water causing warning light to come on. Video of damage morning after incident: [XXX] Toyota specifications on wading depth: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Jan 31, 2025

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

I must express my disappointment and concern regarding the actual range performance of the ELECTRIC vehicle 2023 Subaru Solterra. Subaru claims that the Solterra has a range of 228 miles, but I am consistently getting only around 160 miles. This significant discrepancy suggests that Subaru may have falsified the range information, misleading customers about the vehicle's capabilities. Moreover, it is highly frustrating that customers like myself are left at the mercy of retailers who lack the necessary knowledge to properly service Subaru EVs. This situation is unacceptable, and I urge you to address these issues promptly. If you have any further questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dec 17, 2024

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

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.

Oct 05, 2024

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

Leased the vehicle in November 2023, the Air Condenser failed at the beginning of August, it no longer blows cold air. I have a 1year old baby, it’s California in the summer and it gets 105+ outside, in the car is even hotter. This is a safety hazard, my daughter can no longer be in the vehicle, and my wife is also pregnant driving it to work every day. The vehicle is still waiting to be repaired since August 4th when the issue was identified, and the date of August 12th since the manufacturer has identified the issue at their repair shop. The air condenser has not come in yet.

Aug 19, 2024

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

Slow DC charging of Subaru Solterra 2023 at low temperatures is unsafe for toddlers and babies. The battery pack of Subaru Solterra 2023 has a slow charging rate at DC, and with low temperature( 32 F), it becomes even slower; what makes the matter worse is that if you use air conditioning, the charging rate becomes ten times slower. We were with our toddler driving on the i80 and we had to charge the car to get us to our destination, We have stopped at 50 kw DC charger. The vehicle only pulled 35 kw, the temperature outside was 34 F, and we wanted to keep the air conditioning because our toddler was on board, but the car was taking an insane amount of time to charge, 1000 minutes from 40% to 100%. Toddlers can't stay that long in a car, you can't turn off the AC at the risk of hypothermia, and you can't wait in the nearby building because the DC charger, like most DC chargers, is in the middle of nowhere. We turned off the AC for 10 minutes while sitting in the back with our toddler's body, warming him to get enough charge to reach our next destination. I would expect if the weather was worse, the DC charger would have been slower, and even 10 minutes without AC could have had severe adverse health consequences on the car passengers, kids, and adults. Other EVs have battery conditioning that makes DC chargers faster at low temperatures, thus decreasing the risk of toddler discomfort and hypothermia.

Feb 15, 2024

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,VISIBILITY

1 complaint

Started the car, dash had multiple warning lights for "drive start control system", "ev system malfunction" and "systems not available" (all safety systems were off). Took car to dealer, they said the car stored no codes, reset the car, took it home. Two days later- same thing happened but also this time the car had NO HEAT. Luckily the heated seats worked but it was 20 degrees F and I had to drive my mother and sister home (which was 90 minutes- a VERY long time to be without heat). Thankfully it did not snow which would have made the car undriveable due to the inability to defrost the windshield. Car went back to dealer (ziegler subaru of Kenosha WI), they have stated (thus far) two valves are bad and need replacing. i am in several online forums with other Solterra drivers, some of which are experiencing the same issues and being told the cause is the same valves, or the compressor. Lead times to acquire these parts are 2+ months. I have had my car since April 2023 and it has 9000 miles and to have it fail, with no heat or safety systems, is a danger to myself and others on the road.

Jan 24, 2024

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

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 automatically for oncoming cars) instead of illuminating the road properly, neither the driver nor the braking system can detect an object. The regular lights have an abnormally short distance. Only the brights setting illuminates a sufficient braking distance, & those can't be used with oncoming traffic. The headlights have a hard limit on the top, instead of 2 circles of light. The driver, also an engineer, said that the camera needs a certain level of lighting to detect objects, & they probably didn't test these systems together on a dark country road. Normal illumination could have prevented or lessened the damage/danger, swivel headlights would have been best. A driver needs a certain distance illuminated for braking distance at speed, unless the camera is radar or infrared: it needs light too. The front 1/3 of the car was peeled off, causing over $15k in damages. Several body panels ripped off, the wiring harness was ripped out. There were no warnings before the impact. No automatic braking occured. No airbags were deployed. There is a police report. Road was dark, clear and dry. The driver was sober, attentive and going the speed limit. A camera reprogramming without a headlight fix will not solve this safety issue, & we told Subaru as much. This situation may apply to Toyota.

Dec 20, 2023

Crash: 1

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

Under certain circumstances when using adaptive cruise control the car can accelerate towards a stationary vehicle. The last time that it occurred I was using the adaptative control at 35 mph and was approaching a stop light with the car correctly detecting a car in front which my car had detected and was slowing to allow adapt to the speed of the car that was ahead. The car entered a turn lane on the left and there was another car directly in from of mine and it was stopped at the light. My car began to accelerate to the speed which is was set at and didn't detect the car in front which was stopped at a traffic light. I had to quickly apply my brakes to avoid a collision. My car had recently been updated with an update to it's software. An update had been applied to the front camera's software.

Oct 16, 2023

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

9/29/2023, driving through 4-5 inch of flood water on the road at around 10 miles per hour, the undercover piece under front engenie area fall fall and both front mud guard liners ripped off and broken. Brand new vehcile only been dirving for 1 month with only 775 miles. Went to Subaru dealership, and dealership said those broken parts are not under warranty. This undercover piece & both front mud guard liners are very poorly design and super bad quality. I would like to file a cliam and request Subaru/Toyota (car was made by Toyoto) to recall & provide free repair to the car owner who has experience this issue.

Sep 29, 2023

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

Left and right wheel well liners , front undertray and rear undertray came off while driving at slow speed on a street that had about 8 inches of water during heavy rain. I took the car to the Subaru dealer to get fixed under the guarantee as the car was just 6 months old and 7,553 miles but the dealer said they could not apply the guarantee on this situation because it was consider and act of nature. However , a car that is marketed as an SUV with a 8.3 inches of ground clearance and cannot handle a low speed pass over slightly deep water, shows that the car is not performing as it should. I am sure that day a lot of other cars were on the road and this didnt happen to them . I have a video of that day while driving and another car was also on the same road. I really question the quality of those parts and maybe it should be looked into in case that this has happen to a lot of other Solterra and BZ4Z ( which shares the same platform with the Solterra. The other issue is that according to the Subaru dealer, the replacement parts are not available they don't know when they will become available , and I have read that driving the car without those liners it can damage other components on the car due to debris that can be thrown by the tire against the unprotected critical parts.

Sep 14, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

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

Aug 14, 2023

Crash: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

Subject: Safety Concerns with Subaru Solterra - Urgent Attention Required I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding the safety issues I am experiencing with my newly purchased Subaru Solterra 2023 Touring. Despite my enthusiasm for the vehicle, the problems outlined below have caused me considerable distress and are posing significant risks to both myself and my beloved pet. Safety Issue 1: Bluetooth Connectivity and Remote Climate Control The Bluetooth connectivity features in the vehicle, including driver detection, load profile, locking/unlocking, and remote climate control, are currently non-functional. The dealership has acknowledged this issue but has been unable to provide an estimated timeframe for a fix. This problem alone presents multiple safety concerns: 1.1. Risk to My Pet's Safety: I frequently leave my pet in the car during extreme weather conditions to ensure their safety. The inability to operate the remote climate control due to the connectivity issue can lead to a life-threatening situation for my pet, as the car automatically shuts off after 20 minutes. 1.2. Inability to Lock the Car: Additionally, the inability to lock the car from the app exacerbates the safety risks, as it compromises the security of both my pet and the vehicle's contents when I am away. Safety Issue 2: Discrepancy in Mileage Reporting The mileage displayed on the Subaru Connect App and the car itself shows a significant discrepancy. While the app indicates a range of 240 miles on a full charge, the car's display only shows 179 miles. This disparity is not only disconcerting but also raises serious safety concerns: 2.1. Uncertain Range Reliability: As an electric vehicle owner, knowing the accurate range is crucial for planning my journeys. The discrepancy between the app and the car's display leaves me unsure of the actual remaining range, potentially leading to battery depletion and a complete shutdown while operating.

Jul 20, 2023

SUSPENSION,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

The Toyota bz4x have a large crash rate, because the Car Computer System is different from the Driver mind on the Highway. Cars cannot be a Driver or Substitute on Streets for Now. Any Changes of the lines on the Highway need Signals before, If you don't, your Car bz4x can't changed your line. In the work zone, the bz4x have a large probability of crash, because of NO STRAIGHT LINE IN THE WORK ZONE, that means the bz4x need assistance in work ZONE before driving, if you don't have any intention of changing the line, you will need your Signals Sign to keep moving straight. Signals before any changing of the lines, any Exits or Merging is the Best things for the Drivers to do on the Streets. IF THE DRIVERS CANNOT SHOW THEIR INTENTIONS ON THE HIGHWAY, ISN'T THE CARS JOBS TO DO IT. ALL THIS, IT'S ABOUT SAFETY.

Jul 04, 2023

VISIBILITY/WIPER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

The Solterra's rear window in mounted at a flat angle and lacks a rear window wiper. It also has a black "spoiler" at the bottom of the window. These features combine to drive a significant accumulation of snow on the rear window that blocks all rear view in just a few miles. With no way to clear this without exiting the car that may be unsafe in many situations. . Under snow or rain conditions the rear view camera usually become covered in rain or mud and are useless. Due to the inability to see to the rear is likely to result in collisions with other cars, objects, people or the driving off of the roadway. The attached photo shows the Solterra that was prewarmed, including the rear defroster in operation, clear of all snow on the rear window and driven just 5 miles.

Dec 20, 2022

4.2/5.0

45 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2023 SUBARU Solterra have?

The 2023 SUBARU Solterra currently has 26 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2023 SUBARU Solterra?

The most common problems reported for the 2023 SUBARU Solterra are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2023 SUBARU Solterra problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2023 SUBARU Solterra comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.