The 2023 Subaru Solterra has been beset with misfortune as it falls victim to yet another recall. This time, the cause of the recall is related to a previous wheel hub bolt issue that has plagued the vehicle.
Subaru has announced that select Solterra vehicles, numbering 1,182 in the United States, will be recalled. The original recall for these vehicles involved the replacement of the original wheel hub bolts. However, the manufacturer has now identified a problem with the vehicles that were repaired at two ports by a specific team of contractors. The repair work was not carried out to the proper standards, and the affected vehicles will be recalled once again to prevent the possibility of the wheels falling off.
“The contractors failed to properly complete the repair procedure, resulting in the likelihood of significantly under-torqued bolts. Out of an abundance of caution, Subaru is recalling all vehicles that were repaired at all port locations supported by the third-party contractor.”
Fortunately, other Solterra vehicles in the US, which were not affected by the original wheel hub bolt concern and those that were repaired at different facilities, are not included in this recall. However, the unfortunate news is that the vehicles that are affected should not be driven.
“Subaru retailers will inspect the hub bolts and, if necessary, retorque them to the proper specifications at no cost to the customer. Until the inspection and remedy have been completed, please do not drive the vehicle. Customers are instructed to contact their retailer and have the vehicle towed for inspection. Towing services will be offered free of charge.”
It is worth noting that the wheel hub bolt issue has not only affected the launch of the Subaru Solterra, but also its electric sibling, the Toyota bZ4X, causing production to be temporarily suspended until October 2022.
Fingers are crossed that this latest recall will finally put the problem to bed. As of the end of January, Subaru had sold a total of 1,418 Solterra vehicles in the US, with 919 sold in 2022 and 499 in January 2023. Meanwhile, Toyota had sold approximately 1,220 bZ4X vehicles in 2022, with no data available for January 2023.
