2023 Subaru Solterra other reported problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

November 1, 2024 (46,750 Miles): Vehicle suffered an initial internal high-voltage electric A/C compressor meltdown (Diagnostic Trouble Code B14721C). The authorized dealership replaced the compressor under warranty but left the original, contaminated micro-channel condenser assembly in the vehicle, attempting to clear it via a basic fluid flush. January 15, 2026 (121,269 miles): Vehicle was brought to an authorized Subaru dealer for the mandatory Federal Safety Recall WRD-25 (NHTSA Campaign 25V577). The software patch was applied, and the dealership explicitly stated that the A/C compressor was in good working condition at that time. No physical flush or deep system contamination audit was conducted. July 2026 (132,911 Miles): Only six months after the recall certification, the high-voltage electric compressor suffered a subsequent, total mechanical failure. The servicing dealership confirmed that the closed thermal loop is actively contaminated with metal debris. Because parallel-flow EV condensers cannot be flushed clear of metal shards, the leftover debris from the 2024 warranty failure acted as a physical abrasive, causing the rapid destruction of the replacement compressor despite the dealer's recent confirmation that it was functional. Safety Impact: The vehicle's windshield defroster and defogger systems are completely inoperative due to this compressor failure, recreating the exact visibility hazard targeted by Safety Recall WRD-25. This failure also impacts the high-voltage EV battery pack's thermal management system. Widespread Component Pattern: There is documented community-wide evidence on automotive safety forums indicating that numerous 2023–2025 Solterra and bZ4X owners are suffering identical post-recall compressor failures. The factory WRD-25 software patch simply adjusted the ECU failsafe programming to keep the defroster running; it did not fix the physical fragility or preexisting mechanical degradation of the compressor.

NHTSA complaint #11753828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

When the sun is at certain angles in the middle of the day, direct sunlight bounces off of the high-gloss plastic trim around the shifting knob directly into the driver's eyes. This is distracting and makes it hard to see the road.

NHTSA complaint #11725788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Was told by Subaru today that the rear drive unit of the rear motor needs replaced already at 50k miles and was not covered under warranty. Upon searching online it appears that Subaru Solterras and the Toyota Bz4x are having multiple users report this issue. The issue causes a hum and loud concerning noise to the breaking system but no alerts provided by the car. According to online it is a serious problem that needs fixed (I was also told by Subaru not to drive the car until fixed) and I feel like this should be a recall if multiple vehicles are having this issue that has potential safety concerns when operating the vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11707921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Component/System that failed: Battery range performance and charging system on 2025 Subaru Solterra. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: The vehicle loses significant range after charging, creating a real risk of being stranded in traffic, on the freeway, or in remote locations — even during short in-town trips. This could leave me without power in unsafe conditions. Problem details: On one occasion, after charging for 48 minutes at a Level 3 DC fast charger, I gained only 53 miles of range, then lost 17 of those miles in just 2 miles of driving. On other occasions, I have lost 21 miles in 1 mile of driving and 27 miles in 6 miles. No climate control was in use during some of these tests. Reproduction/confirmation: The problem occurs repeatedly and has been documented with photographic evidence. Gresham Subaru has claimed this is “normal,” but it is not consistent with expected EV performance. Inspection history: The vehicle has been looked at by Gresham Subaru but no thorough diagnostic or battery inspection has been completed. Subaru of America is aware of the issue. Warning signs: No warning lamps, error messages, or other dashboard indicators appear before or during the loss of range. The issue began shortly after purchase and has continued despite software updates.

NHTSA complaint #11680030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11641214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11609539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

NHTSA complaint #11602700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11572031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

NHTSA complaint #11572241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11547383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11533554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #11530346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Black piano plastic blinds driver when it is sunny outside.

NHTSA complaint #11524281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.