The Subaru Solterra has been through two separate wheel recalls, and most owners only ever hear about the first one. In 2022, the same hub bolt defect that made Toyota tell bZ4X owners to stop driving also covered the Solterra, which shares its platform. Then in early 2023 Subaru recalled 1,182 Solterras again. This time the problem was not the original part. It was the repair: a contractor team had under-torqued the replacement bolts before the cars reached dealers. This article explains both recalls, which cars they covered, what a loosening wheel actually feels like, and how to confirm your own Solterra is in the clear.
Here is the short version of where each car stands.
| Situation | What You Notice | How Urgent |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Solterra covered by recall 23V-064 and not yet inspected | Possibly nothing at all. Subaru says the only warning may be a rattle, popping or knocking noise while driving | Do not drive. Subaru’s instruction is to have the car towed to a dealer, and the tow is free |
| 2023 Solterra with both recalls shown as complete | Normal driving | No action needed. Keep the paperwork if you plan to sell |
| 2024 or later Solterra | Neither recall applies | Not affected by these recalls. Any wheel noise still deserves an inspection |
| Any Solterra with a new knock or clunk from one corner | Noise that changes with road speed, or a wheel that feels loose | Stop and check the wheel before driving further, whatever the model year |
If you own a 2023 Solterra and have never checked your VIN against both recalls, do that before your next drive. Both recalls are about the same failure: every hub bolt on one wheel loosening until the wheel can come off. If that happens at speed, you lose control of the car. The second recall exists because some cars that were supposedly already fixed were not.
Why the Solterra Shares the bZ4X’s Wheel Problem
The Solterra and the Toyota bZ4X were developed together and are built by Toyota on the same platform. When Toyota traced a wheel separation in 2022, the Solterra was automatically part of the investigation. We cover Toyota’s side of the story in detail in our Toyota bZ4X wheel detachment recall article. The mechanism is identical on both cars.
Toyota’s recall filing describes several small faults stacking up. First, the hub bolts had a higher-than-expected coefficient of friction on their surface, so torquing them at the factory produced less clamping force than the design called for. Second, under driving conditions that heat the bolts up, that friction could change again and relax the torque further. Third, the wheels on affected cars had excessive roughness on a contact surface and bolt holes that were not properly aligned, both of which reduced the friction holding the wheel against the hub. Put together, braking and cornering loads could overcome what was left, and every bolt on a wheel could back off.
Is This Covered by a Recall?
Yes, twice. The two recalls cover different problems, so it matters which one you are checking for.
Recall 1: NHTSA 22V-444 (2022). Toyota filed this recall on behalf of both brands. It named 2023 Solterras built from March 30 to June 3, 2022, alongside the bZ4X. The filing states that Subaru had told Toyota no Solterra had yet been sold to dealers or retail customers. So the Solterra half of this recall was handled before delivery. Affected cars were held at port processing facilities, and their original hub bolts were replaced and re-tightened there before the cars went on to retailers.
Recall 2: NHTSA 23V-064, Subaru campaign WRE-23 (February 2023). This is the one that matters to people who actually own a Solterra. According to Subaru’s own Part 573 filing, a third-party contractor did the port repairs, and one contractor team did not complete the procedure properly. That left some bolts significantly under-torqued. The problem came to light on January 19, 2023, when a pre-delivery inspection found significantly loose bolts on a Solterra’s left front and left rear wheels. Subaru traced that car to a port in California. It then torque-checked cars repaired at every port it used, found more loose bolts at that port and one other, and found that all of them came from the same contractor team.
The data pointed at that one team at two ports. Subaru nonetheless recalled every Solterra repaired at any port location the contractor supported, which came to 1,182 vehicles, all 2023 models built between March 30 and June 4, 2022. Subaru estimated about 2% of them actually had the defect. At the time of filing it was aware of one technical report, no warranty claims, and no crashes or injuries.
The difference between the two recalls matters here. A Solterra can show recall 22V-444 as done, because its bolts were replaced at the port, and still be one of the cars 23V-064 was created for. That is why this article keeps saying to check your VIN rather than assume.
To check your car, enter the 17-character VIN (on the lower windshield on the driver’s side, or on the registration) at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup shows any open recall on that exact car. Subaru’s own owner site and any Subaru dealer can confirm the same thing and print the completed campaign history.
Symptoms of a Loosening Wheel
Subaru’s filing lists one warning sign: a rattle, popping or knocking noise while driving. That is honest, and it is also a reminder that the early stages can be nearly silent. In practice, loosening wheel fasteners tend to show up as:
- A rhythmic click or knock from one corner that speeds up and slows down with road speed rather than motor speed. On an EV, that distinction is easier to spot, because there is no engine noise to confuse it with.
- A clunk when moving off or braking, as the wheel shifts slightly on the hub under load.
- New vibration through the steering wheel or the floor that was not there last week, often getting worse as you go faster.
- Steering that pulls or feels vague, particularly if a front wheel is affected.
- Visible signs at the wheel: rust-coloured streaks running out from the bolt holes, shiny wear marks on the wheel face around the bolts, or a bolt head that sits proud of its neighbours.
None of these is specific to the recall. Worn wheel bearings, failing CV joints and loose suspension parts can make similar noises. What sets a loose wheel apart is how quickly it gets worse, which is why a new noise from one corner is worth a stop rather than a note for the next service.
How to Confirm Whether Your Solterra Is Affected
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and look specifically for 23V-064. If the lookup shows no open recalls, both campaigns are either complete or do not apply to your car.
- If you bought used, ask a Subaru dealer for the campaign history on that VIN. A car that went through port repair and then the WRE-23 inspection will show both. Do not rely on a previous owner’s word.
- Check the model year. Both recalls are limited to 2023 Solterras built in spring 2022. Later cars were built after the countermeasures and are outside both.
- If you hear a knock from one corner right now, pull over somewhere safe. With the car parked, look at the wheel face for rust streaks or a bolt that is visibly out of line with the others. Do not try to retighten the bolts yourself and carry on driving. The recall remedy includes an inspection at the correct torque specification for good reason.
- Call Subaru of America directly on 844-373-6614 if you cannot reach the online lookup.
Repair Cost
Nothing, for either recall. For 23V-064, Subaru dealers inspect the hub bolts on every wheel and re-torque them to specification if needed, at no charge. Subaru also covers the cost of towing the car to the dealer, because the recall instructs owners not to drive until the inspection is done. Subaru’s filing notes that every affected car was still under its original warranty. If an owner had already paid for a related repair, Subaru’s general reimbursement plan applies.
If your car is outside both recalls and a wheel does come loose, the costs depend on what the wheel damaged on its way out. Replacing a set of hub bolts and a wheel is a modest parts bill. Damage to a hub, brake rotor, caliper or bodywork can make the repair far larger. That is the practical case for dealing with any corner-specific knock straight away.
Can You Keep Driving With It?
Not if your 2023 Solterra shows 23V-064 as open. Subaru’s instruction to owners was specific: do not drive the vehicle until the inspection is completed, and arrange a free tow to the dealer. That is the same level of caution Toyota applied to the bZ4X in 2022, and it reflects the failure being a wheel leaving the car rather than a gradual decline in performance.
If the VIN check shows everything complete, or your Solterra is a 2024 or later model, these recalls do not affect how you drive it. The recall population was small and precisely defined, and most Solterras on the road today were never part of it. The whole risk in this story comes from assuming rather than checking, and that is especially true for a used 2023 car whose history you did not see.
Why was the Subaru Solterra recalled for wheels coming off?
The Solterra shares its platform with the Toyota bZ4X, whose hub bolts could lose clamping force and loosen until a wheel detached. The original 2022 recall (22V-444) replaced those bolts at port before any Solterra reached customers. A second recall in 2023 (23V-064) covered 1,182 Solterras where a contractor team had under-torqued the replacement bolts.
Is my Solterra covered by the wheel recall?
Only 2023 model year Solterras built between March 30 and June 4, 2022 are in scope. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It will show whether recall 23V-064 applies to your car and whether it has been completed. 2024 and later Solterras are not affected.
Is it safe to drive a Solterra with an open wheel recall?
No. Subaru tells owners of cars with 23V-064 open not to drive them and to arrange a tow to a Subaru dealer instead. The tow is free. Once the inspection is recorded as complete, normal driving is fine.
How much does the Solterra wheel recall repair cost?
Nothing. Dealers inspect the hub bolts and re-torque them to specification at no charge, and Subaru pays for the tow to get the car there. Subaru also has a reimbursement plan for owners who paid for a related repair themselves.
What does a loose wheel sound like on a Solterra?
Subaru says the warning may be a rattle, popping or knocking noise while driving. It is usually a rhythmic click or clunk from one corner that follows road speed, sometimes with new vibration or a pull in the steering. Rust streaks around the bolt holes on the wheel face are another sign.
If the first Solterra wheel recall was done, am I covered?
Not necessarily. The 2023 recall exists because some cars that already had the 2022 port repair were left with under-torqued bolts. A car can show the first recall as complete and still need the second inspection, so check your VIN for 23V-064 specifically.
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