2023 Subaru SolterraRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“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.”

“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”

“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.”