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Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Subaru · Compact SUV

2023 Subaru Solterra

Electric
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
64 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls2 critical 4
Complaints5 crash reported 42
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA 228 mi
20272026202520242023

The 2023 Subaru Solterra is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Solterra AWD, is EPA-rated at 228 miles with 104 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 42 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Subaru Solterra — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Subaru Solterra · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitCompare a trim →
TrimPowertrainDriveMSRPHPTorqueMPG combSeatsCargo (2nd row)Wheels
PremiumElectricAWD—215 hp249 lb-ft104 MPGe523.8 cu-ft18 in
LimitedElectricAWD—215 hp249 lb-ft102 MPGe523.8 cu-ft20 in
TouringElectricAWD—215 hp249 lb-ft102 MPGe523.8 cu-ft20 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Solterra AWDElectricAWDTBD11494104 MPGe228 mi30.911 h$700
Solterra Limited/Touring AWDElectricAWDTBD11193102 MPGe222 mi32.111 h$700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 46030, 46031.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Solterra AWD10 / 10California ZEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 0All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite
Solterra Limited/Touring AWD10 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

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Factory warranty running out?

The 2023 Subaru Solterra is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

25TB13/25LB06/WRE25
1,024,407 vehicles 81% reported repaired built Mar 29, 2022 – Jun 2, 2025
Problem 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. Fix 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 campaign 25V744000 reported Oct 30, 2025 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Visibility

25TB07,25LB04,WRD25
94,320 vehicles 84% reported repaired built Mar 29, 2022 – Jun 3, 2025
Problem 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. Fix 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 campaign 25V577000 reported Sep 4, 2025 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Wheels

WRE-23
Do not drive 1,182 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V064000 reported Feb 9, 2023 Subaru of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Wheels

22TA06
Do not drive 661 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V444000 reported Jun 23, 2022 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Solterra

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2023 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Subaru publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2023 Subaru Solterra, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2023 Subaru Solterra

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Solterra →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
42complaints filed

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

38 per 10,000 built · Subaru reported 11,175 Solterra built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 1 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 14 · 2026: 9

Most-cited components

Electrical System 16
Unspecified 13
Forward Collision Avoidance 12
Visibility/Wiper 7
Vehicle Speed Control 6
Service Brakes 6

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

On the 23-25MY Subaru Solterra there is piano black reflective material plastics on the center console. It is angled slightly and when the sun is shinning through the windshield from directly above the car, such as noon/lunch time.
Structure Aug 23, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11682564
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.
Electrical System May 7, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11659610
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…
Vehicle Speed Control Apr 21, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11655928
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.
Service Brakes Apr 16, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11655104
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.
Forward Collision Avoidance Mar 6, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11646679
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.
Visibility/Wiper at 16,000 miles Feb 18, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11643441

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Subaru itself: 5 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 6 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 45 per 100,000 built. Every Solterra model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆12%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 179
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-05
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 144 service bulletins, 35 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Power Train.

  • 11037943 Other
    2026-10-05 · Electrical System
  • This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
  • 13-109-26 Service bulletin
    2026-09-18 · Unknown Or Other
  • This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
  • 07-243-26 Service bulletin
    2026-09-18 · Exterior Lighting
  • This Bulletin was developed to help prevent water intrusion at the rear tail light connector.
  • 11037930 Other
    2026-09-15 · Unknown Or Other
  • This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
  • 15-333-25R Service bulletin
    2026-09-14 · Electrical System
  • This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
  • 15-304-22R Service bulletin
    2026-09-14 · Electrical System
  • This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
  • 15-308-23R Service bulletin
    2026-08-20 · Electrical System
  • This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
  • 19-04-26 Service bulletin
    2026-08-14 · Electrical System
  • This Bulletin provided diagnostic procedure information to be followed when addressing Dark Current / Parasitic Draw concerns on Subaru EV vehicles.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
B2A16
B2A16 on Subaru →
Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
B2A20Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Subaru Solterra failed the safety inspection on 1.4% of first inspections — close to the 1.1% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected.

New York inspections 1.4%

failed the safety inspection

511 initial inspections of 504 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2023 SolterraEvery 2023 vehicleBehind it
Failed the safety inspection1.4%1.1%511
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0%0.16%511
Miles driven a year7,83510,038odometer at inspection
Average odometer24,91432,673odometer at inspection

Electric vehicles get no emissions test in New York, so the safety inspection is the record here. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2023 vehicle” is every 2023 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Common questions about the 2023 Solterra

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2023 Subaru Solterra have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2023 Subaru Solterra, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 23V064000, covering Wheels. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. There is an active do not drive advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2023 Subaru Solterra?

NHTSA gave the 2023 Subaru Solterra 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (64/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Subaru Solterra?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2023 Subaru Solterra, the longest EPA range is 228 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2023 Subaru Solterra?

Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Subaru Solterra, most often about electrical system, unspecified, forward collision avoidance. Of those, 5 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2023 Subaru Solterra?

The EPA smog rating for the 2023 Subaru Solterra is 10 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2023 Subaru Solterra?

The manufacturer has filed 179 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2023 Subaru Solterra, most often covering electrical system, equipment, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-10-05. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2023 Subaru Solterra do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2023 Subaru Solterra failed the safety inspection on 1.4% of first inspections — close to the 1.1% for every 2023 model-year vehicle inspected. The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations2 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates2 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls4NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints42NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings1 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins179NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSAnoneNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWe had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment3 trimsManufacturer press kitTranscribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

JSON for this page · API