2023 Subaru Solterra: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
25 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 25 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 8.33
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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 o…
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 diagnos…
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.
Recalls: 4 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V577000 | Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 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. |
| 23V064000 | Wheels:Hub | Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Solterra vehicles. |
| 22V444000 | Wheels:Hub | 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. |
| 25V744000 | Back Over Prevention:Display Function | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 104 MPGe · estimated annual energy cost $700 · EPA range 228 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Forward Collision Avoidance9 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Electrical System8 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other8 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Vehicle Speed Control6 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Service Brakes4 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Engine3 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Subaru Solterra?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Forward Collision Avoidance (9 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2023 Subaru Solterra a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 81/100, computed from 25 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2023 Subaru Solterra's most common problem?
9 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2023 Subaru Solterra sit in the Forward Collision Avoidance group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is radar or camera module replacement and calibration: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $780–$2,160 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2023 Subaru Solterra cost to run per year?
About $1,948 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $9,740 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2023 Subaru Solterra have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2023 Subaru Solterra, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 04/09/2025. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2023 Subaru Solterra really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Thin evidence — 25 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 25 NHTSA complaints on record (8.3/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (7.0/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality