Subaru

Solterra (1st)

2023-2025 · Compact SUV Β· 1 engine
Best Engine βœ… Recommended (3.6)
40 NHTSA Complaints
4 Recalls
0 Fire Reports
5 Crash Reports
πŸ“‹ Inspection checklist

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (11.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (11.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
4/5 (11.6% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard

Engine Reliability Ratings

1YM Motor

βœ… Recommended (3.6)
40 complaints 13.3 per year Electric
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
17
electrical
13
other
6
brakes
4
body
4

Known Issues

Safety Systems Issues (17 complaints)
Electrical System Issues (13 complaints)
Brakes Issues (4 complaints)

Same engine used in

Battery & Propulsion Reliability

Battery Electric (BEV)

Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra

β€” Insufficient Data
8 battery-related complaints 3.0 per year 0 battery-related recalls

Too few field reports to rate this generation against peers yet. Most recently launched models accumulate complaints over the first 2-3 years.

What kind of battery complaint?

Among the 8 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about β€” not how reliable the vehicle is overall.

High-Voltage Battery 4 (50%)

Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.

Electric Propulsion 3 (38%)

Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.

Charging System 1 (13%)

Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.

Sample complaint excerpts
High-Voltage Battery
  • [2023] 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 r
  • [2023] 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
  • [2024] On December 15, 2025, driving on a highway in low temperatures, my 2024 Subaru Solterra (VIN: [XXX] ) experienced a progressive loss of power. At 9:20 a.m., I departed NYC for Amenia, NY (91 miles). The range showed ~130 miles (no AC). For the first ~70 miles, the range indicator consistently remained higher than miles-to-destination, confirming sufficient charge to arrive safely. Around mile 70
Electric Propulsion
  • [2023] 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 b
  • [2024] On December 15, 2025, driving on a highway in low temperatures, my 2024 Subaru Solterra (VIN: [XXX] ) experienced a progressive loss of power. At 9:20 a.m., I departed NYC for Amenia, NY (91 miles). The range showed ~130 miles (no AC). For the first ~70 miles, the range indicator consistently remained higher than miles-to-destination, confirming sufficient charge to arrive safely. Around mile 70
  • [2024] I am writing to file a formal safety complaint regarding my 2024 Subaru Solterra. On 09 Aug 2025, while driving, my vehicle displayed β€œEV System Malfunction” and β€œDrive Start Control Malfunction” alerts simultaneously. Although the vehicle was still drivable, this combination of warnings is alarming, as it suggests a possible high-voltage system fault or drive control failure. The AC is not worki
Charging System
  • [2023] 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 b

Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN β€” high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.

Battery: Toyota / Subaru bZ Pack (71.4 kWh)

NCM 712 Β· Panasonic (Japan) Β· 96 cells in series, liquid-cooled, 355V
β–Ό You're looking at: Solterra Premium / Limited / Touring (AWD only)
EPA range 222 mi Β· Highway est.* 189 mi Β· MPGe combined 102
* Highway estimate = EPA combined Γ— 0.85; real numbers vary with terrain, speed, and climate.
About the pack
Capacity
64 kWh
useable Β· 71.4 total
Fast charge
100 kW
peak
Warranty floor
70%
capacity floor at 10 yr / 100k mi

Pack overview

ChemistryNCM 712
Cell supplierPanasonic (Japan)
Cell formatPrismatic
Voltage (nominal)355 V
CoolingLiquid (glycol)
Architecture96 cells in series, liquid-cooled, 355V
Warranty 10 yr / 100k mi
Capacity floor70%

Known issues

Low
Wheel-detachment issue at launch (2023): wheel hub bolts could loosen on early bZ4X and Solterra. Both Toyota and Subaru bought back affected vehicles before issuing a fix. Pack itself was not implicated.
News
Low
DC fast charging caps at 100 kW (FWD) or 150 kW (AWD). Charge curve drops earlier than peer NCM packs; some owners report sub-50 kW above 80% SOC.
Owner-fleet data
Low
AWD trim has reduced range (~228 mi) versus FWD (~252 mi), and tow capacity is intentionally limited.
Owner-fleet data
Low
Conservative pack management β€” buffer is large, peak power output modest. Good for longevity, mediocre for performance.
Owner-fleet data

How this pack ages (industry context)

Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).

OEM warranty floor on this pack: 10 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.

Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Subaru Solterra regardless of engine variant.

Safety Systems Issues (17 complaints)
safety_systems critical
Electrical System Issues (13 complaints)
electrical critical

Recalls (4)

25V744000Oct 29, 2025serious
Back Over Prevention

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."

25V577000Apr 8, 2025serious
Visibility

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.

23V064000Sep 1, 2023serious
Wheels

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.

22V444000Jun 22, 2022serious
Wheels

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.

Alternatives in Compact SUV

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra problems?

The 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra has accumulated 40 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Safety Systems, Electrical System, Brakes. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Subaru Solterra engine is most reliable?

The 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra was offered with 1 engine option. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the ?L ?-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra a good used car?

The 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 40 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra have?

The 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra has 40 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra?

There are 4 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2023-2025 Subaru Solterra vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN β€” check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Subaru Solterra?

Before buying a used Subaru Solterra, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Safety Systems, Electrical System, Brakes, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Solterra?

The 2025 Subaru Solterra received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (11.6% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 40 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: moderate. Last updated: 2026-05-18.

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