Subaru has just announced it is recalling more than 1,000 Soltera electric crossovers. The automaker discovered an issue with a previous recall fix, and so is bringing some vehicles in to have the fix fixed, or at least checked.
Issue Affects Previously Recalled Vehicles
The original 2023 Subaru Solterra recall was announced back in June 2022. Subaru’s first EV, along with its sibling, the Toyota BZ4X, was recalled for a problem with the wheel hubs.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the U.S. vehicle safety regulator, “The hub bolts on the wheels may loosen, causing a wheel to detach from the vehicle after low-mileage use.”
That recall came with an advisory that drivers should stop driving their vehicles until they were repaired. It applied to vehicles at dealers, some delivered to customers, but it also applied to some that had not yet made it to shore.
In a statement, Subaru said that the 1,182 vehicles being recalled today were subject to that earlier recall.
New Subaru Solterra Recall
The issue: “Subaru identified an issue with vehicles repaired at two port locations by one particular team of contractors.”
The automaker said that “teams did not properly complete the repair procedure resulting in the potential for significantly under-torqued bolts.” This could result in the wheel coming detached from the vehicle.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” Subaru says, it is recalling every 2023 Solterra that was repaired at any port location supported by that third-party contractor.
Subaru says that vehicles not subject to the original hub bolt concern as well as those repaired at other facilities (like a Subaru dealer) are not affected.
Subaru Solterra: ‘Do Not Drive’ Warning Issued
This is a serious safety concern. So, Subaru is again asking customers not to drive their vehicles until the new inspection and remedy are completed. The automaker says customers will be instructed to contact their Subaru dealer to have the vehicle towed in for inspection. There will be no cost to the customer for the tow or the recall remedy.
Subaru said that it will contact all affected owners by mail. Concerned customers can also go to Subaru’s recall website to check. They can also visit the NHTSA’s site. The site asks for their 17-digit VIN to search for any applicable recalls. Subaru also directs customers to the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
