Problems · NHTSA complaints

2026 Subaru Solterra problems

Owners filed 18 complaints about the 2026 Subaru Solterra with NHTSA between Feb 2026 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (10).

Complaints
18
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system10
  2. Exterior lighting3
  3. Engine1
  4. Service brakes1
  5. Forward collision avoidance1
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Lane departure1
  8. Other / unknown4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

10 reports1 related recall
“My 2026 Subaru Solterra displays a 12V "Low Battery, Turn Power OFF" warning during DC fast charging, remote preconditioning/app-based remote start, and accessory mode. The underlying failed component or cause is UNKNOWN. I do not know whether this reflects an actual battery problem or an incorrect warning. The warnings did not occur during fast charging or preconditioning when I purchased the vehicle. They began immediately after a recall software update in July 2026. This is the sequence I observed, not an established cause. During dealer service October 15-20, 2026, the repair order recorded my app-start and accessory-mode complaints and software reprogramming. It states: "LOW BATTERY WARNING STILL PRESENT AFTER UPDATE ADVISED CUSTOMER VEHICLE OPERATING AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME." It does not identify which condition produced the warning after the update. The dealer told me it could not test DC fast charging. It also told me Subaru Techline acknowledged the issue but could not find a 12V fault or provide a solution. Subaru's explanation to me addressed accessory-mode battery drain, not the warnings during fast charging or preconditioning. The safety…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2026Electrical systemODI 11774078

Exterior lighting

3 reports
“When driving at night over most roads, a slight bump will cause the headlights to jitter appearing to turn-off momentarily. This is a re-occurring incident”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2026Exterior lightingODI 11757177

Engine

1 report
“A1. 12 v Battery fail. A2 . Unable to use the car at 9:30 pm when I discovered it my safety was in risk not car to use, Subaru assistance never shows up calling them for two days. Dealer have to town truck the car A3.Dealer found the battery dead recharge the battery but not solution from the drain yet. A4. Yes vehicle inspected for the dealer A5. No no indication of the drainage before happening”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11756903

Service brakes

1 report
“On June 23rd, 2026, while driving my 2026 Subaru Solterra at approximately 35 mph on a clear, sunny day with no road obstructions or vehicles ahead, the vehicle suddenly and severely applied the brakes on its own. This unprompted, autonomous braking event brought the vehicle to an abrupt, unsafe slowdown, creating an immediate risk of a rear-end collision. No dashboard warning lights or error codes appeared prior to or during the event. The vehicle had recently been brought in for a safety recall related to the vehicle electronics/ECU. The vehicle was driven to the dealership, where it is currently undergoing diagnostic evaluation for automated pre-collision braking and sensor malfunctions.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2026Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11752968

Forward collision avoidance

1 report

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“On XXX at approximately 1:20 PM, my 2026 Subaru Solterra (approx. 4,761 miles) experienced a sudden loss of motive power while I was driving on a 4 lane trunk highway at approximately 40mph. The vehicle's drive system shut down without warning and the instrument cluster displayed "EV system malfunction – Visit Your Dealer." The vehicle would not deliver any propulsion. I was able to coast to a safe location and park. After shutting the vehicle off and restarting it, it drove normally. The warning message remained on the dashboard and cleared on its own after 4–5 additional ignition cycles. No collision occurred, but the sudden power loss in traffic created a significant crash risk. After the incident, I read the diagnostic trouble codes with an OBD-II scanner. The vehicle had stored: U0111-87 (Lost Communication With Battery Energy Control Module "A"), P0A1F-94 (Battery Energy Control Module "A"), and two instances of U117B-87 (manufacturer defined). These codes indicate the battery ECU dropped off the vehicle's communication network at the time of the shutdown. This failure appears consistent with NHTSA Recall 26V393, which covers 2026 Toyota bZ, Lexus RZ, and…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2026Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11751170
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.