Should I Buy a Subaru Solterra?

Complete buying guide for the Subaru Solterra: best years, worst years, common problems, recall history, and reliability trends across all model years.

3Model Years
40Total Complaints
8Total Recalls

Overview: Is the Subaru Solterra a Good Buy?

The Subaru Solterra spans 3 model years in the NHTSA database, with 40 total consumer complaints and 8 safety recalls on record. That works out to an average of approximately 13 complaints per model year. This buying guide is designed to help you identify the best and worst model years, understand the most common problems owners report, and make a more informed purchasing decision backed by official NHTSA safety data rather than anecdotal reviews.

Best vs. Worst Years at a Glance

If you are shopping for a used Subaru Solterra, the model years to prioritize are 2025, 2024, 2023, which have the fewest owner-reported complaints. The years to approach with more caution are 2023, 2024, 2025, which have significantly higher complaint volumes. The difference between the best and worst years can be dramatic — the worst year has 25 complaints compared to just 2 for the best year. This gap often correlates with specific manufacturing issues, design changes, or component suppliers used during those production years.

Common Issues to Watch For

Across all model years, the most frequently reported problems with the Subaru Solterra involve Bluetooth Connectivity Issues, Suspension Issues, Back Over Prevention Recall. These are the components and systems that owners have flagged most often in their NHTSA complaints. If you are inspecting a used Subaru Solterra, have a mechanic pay special attention to these areas. Some issues may be covered under existing recalls or extended warranties, so check the recall history for your specific model year before purchasing.

Best Years to Buy

These Subaru Solterra model years have the fewest complaints and best reliability:

2025 — 2 complaints 2024 — 13 complaints 2023 — 25 complaints

Years to Avoid

These model years have the most complaints and known issues:

2023 — 25 complaints 2024 — 13 complaints 2025 — 2 complaints

Common Problems Across All Years

All Model Years

YearComplaintsRecallsReliability
2025 2 2 85/100
2024 13 2 5/100
2023 25 4 55/100