Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Urgent recall on this model.

At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Confirm by VIN that the repair was completed before driving or buying this car. The fix is free at a dealer.

Recalls

4 total · 4 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Safety recall

Do not driveRecall 23V064000 · Feb 2023

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.
Status
Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Do not driveRecall 22V444000 · Jun 2022

A wheel detaching from a moving vehicle can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.
Status
Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V744000 · Oct 2025

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.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Body & glass recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V577000 · Sep 2025

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.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

25 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
6

Most reports here involve unintended acceleration. Of these, 3 mention a crash.

unintended acceleration 4software faults 2
A recent report: 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…
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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.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11655928 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
7

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 2corrosion 1
A recent report: 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…
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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

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11659610 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
3

Most reports here involve loss of braking.

loss of braking 1software faults 1unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: 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…
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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.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11655104 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
2

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 2
A recent report: Black piano plastic blinds driver when it is sunny outside.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11524281 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
7

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: 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…
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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.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11643441 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 25 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2022 and 2025, roughly 11 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2023 has 25 complaints on file, more than the 2024 (14). That is the most of the 3 model years of the Subaru Solterra we cover. Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.