Subaru Solterra 1st gen (e-TNGA) Problems, Recalls & Lemon Law

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

Recall 22V444 (Toyota-filed, June 2022) issued a stop-drive order — owners were told not to operate the vehicle at all until repairs were completed. A stop-drive recall that prevents use for any period counts toward the Song-Beverly out-of-service day total. If dealers could not promptly perform the hub-bolt replacement and the vehicle was off the road for 30 or more total calendar days within the warranty period, that alone may establish lemon-law eligibility independent of the repair-attempt count.

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they are repaired. Dealers will replace the hub bolts and wheels, free of charge. Letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 27, 2022. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Toyota's custome

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

Recall 23V064 is Subaru's own campaign (February 2023) for the same hub-bolt loosening defect covered by Toyota's 22V444. The two separate campaigns for the same defect confirm manufacturer knowledge of the wheel-detachment hazard. Owners who received service under both campaigns should verify that hub bolts were torqued to spec on each visit and retain both repair orders, as multiple recall-related visits to the same dealer for the same hazard strengthen a Song-Beverly out-of-service argument.

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repair has been completed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the hub bolts, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's n

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

Recall 25V577000 confirms that a failed electric compressor disables the defroster and defogger — directly impairing forward visibility in rain and cold. Impaired visibility is a safety-grade nonconformity under Song-Beverly. The recall remedy (HVAC ECU software update plus compressor inspection/replacement) was notified to owners in October 2025; if a Solterra required dealer visits for this condition before or after the remedy, those visits count toward the repair-attempt threshold. Owners whose compressors were replaced out-of-pocket prior to the recall should seek reimbursement from Subaru.

Dealers will update the HVAC control ECU software, free of charge. Dealers will also inspect the electrical compressor, and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numb

backup camera blank; screen goes black in reverse; rearview camera distorted

Recall 25V744000 addresses a rearview camera that freezes or goes blank in reverse — a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 (Rear Visibility). A federal safety-standard violation is compelling evidence of a nonconformity under California's Song-Beverly Act. If the dealer performed the parking-assist software update and the camera still intermittently fails, that post-remedy recurrence is a new repair visit for the same defect. Document every instance of camera failure with the date, mileage, and a video recording before bringing the vehicle in.

Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.

DC fast charger stuck at 5-35 kW instead of rated 100 kW; charge session showing 1000+ minutes to full; no battery preconditioning available; charging slows further when climate control is on; dealer response: 'operating as designed'

California's Song-Beverly Act covers defects in materials or workmanship — a design limitation that leaves an EV effectively unusable for long-distance winter driving may qualify as a nonconformity if it substantially impairs use, value, or safety. When multiple dealer visits produce only a 'designed as such' response with no actual repair, that pattern can support a claim. Document every charge attempt with timestamp and kW data, and request written statements from the dealer on each visit.

No OEM remedy available as of Jun 30, 2026; Subaru has not issued a TSB adding navigation-based or timer-based preconditioning. Owners are advised to park in heated spaces before DC sessions and to pre-schedule charging for warmer periods. A mid-cycle software update is possible but not announced.

adaptive cruise control suddenly brakes hard for non-existent hazard in rain or mist; EyeSight icon goes gray and system disables itself; forward-collision warning fires at highway speed with no obstacle; camera-related dashboard warning lights on; system re-enables only after restart

Phantom braking — a safety system that activates without cause — substantially impairs the vehicle's safe use and can constitute a nonconformity under Song-Beverly. If the dealer performs camera reprogramming (WRG23-1) and the issue returns, multiple repair attempts for the same symptom strengthen a lemon-law claim. Request that every EyeSight-related visit be written up with the specific complaint.

Subaru OEM campaign WRG23-1 — forward recognition camera reprogramming (2023 MY); windshield camera cleaning and recalibration. If phantom braking recurs post-campaign, escalate to Subaru Customer Advocacy team; no further formal remedy announced.

S-Pedal (maximum regen mode) unexpectedly shuts off mid-drive; vehicle suddenly coasts with no engine braking; driver must immediately apply friction brake pedal; no warning before deactivation; system may or may not re-engage automatically

Unexpected loss of regenerative braking is a safety-relevant powertrain nonconformity. Under Song-Beverly, if an owner brings the vehicle in multiple times for sudden regen deactivation and the dealer cannot reproduce or repair it, that 'cannot duplicate' pattern is itself documentable evidence. Preserve every repair order and note the date, speed, and conditions of each event in the service request.

No public TSB or recall remedy as of Jun 30, 2026. Dealers have recommended restarting the vehicle. Owners should report the event to Subaru Customer Advocacy and file an NHTSA complaint to build a pattern record.

vehicle will not start or power on; 12V auxiliary battery dead without warning; 'EV System Malfunction' and 'Drive Start Control Malfunction' warning lights; all safety systems (EyeSight, lane-keep, collision avoidance) go offline simultaneously; traction battery state-of-charge drops unexpectedly; repeated battery failure within first year of ownership

A vehicle that leaves an owner stranded due to a repeated electrical defect that the dealer replaces the same component more than once is a classic Song-Beverly pattern. If the 12V battery or its associated parasitic-draw condition requires two or more repair visits within the warranty period, that repair history may support a lemon-law claim. Request itemized repair orders for every no-start or system-malfunction visit.

12V auxiliary battery replacement (typically dealer-covered under warranty if within 3 yr/36k mi). If the replacement does not resolve recurring drain, dealers should inspect for parasitic draw via current-draw test. No formal TSB on record as of Jun 30, 2026.

no cabin heat or heat blows cold air; air conditioning inoperative; defroster and defogger inoperative; EV range drops sharply in cold weather; dealer unable to retrieve fault code; quoted $3000 repair outside warranty

Loss of cabin heat and defroster in cold or wet weather is a safety-grade nonconformity that impairs both safety and value. Recall 25V577000 confirms the manufacturer's notice of the defect. If a Solterra required multiple dealer visits for compressor or HVAC failure before or after the recall remedy, those visits may count toward the Song-Beverly repair-attempt threshold. Owners who paid out-of-pocket for compressor replacement before the recall should preserve repair orders and invoices.

Recall 25V577000: HVAC control ECU software update; compressor inspection and replacement if failed — free of charge. If the vehicle has not received this remedy, contact the dealer for recall service. Owners whose compressors failed before the recall and were charged out-of-pocket should request reimbursement from Subaru Customer Advocacy.

consistent real-world range of 150-175 miles vs. EPA-rated 228 miles; range estimate displayed on dashboard drops faster than expected; significant additional degradation in cold weather; dealer states 'operating as designed'

Range misrepresentation combined with charging throttling (see iss-05) can collectively impair the vehicle's primary use — long-distance electric driving. If an owner purchased the Solterra specifically on the basis of the EPA range claim and the vehicle consistently delivers materially less, there may be warranty and consumer-protection angles to explore alongside Song-Beverly. Document actual range per charge cycle with screenshots of the dashboard range estimate at each start and end.

No OEM remedy. Subaru guidance is to pre-condition the vehicle while plugged in. No software update or battery replacement program announced as of Jun 30, 2026.