Subarunet Announcement
To: All Subaru Retailers
From: Subaru of America, Inc.
Date: February 21, 2023
UPDATE Safety Recall: WRE-23 Solterra Hub Bolt Torque
Owner Notification
Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail on February 21, 2023.
Retailers should continue to proactively reach out to their affected customers. As a reminder, retailers
may access their open affected VIN list for any recall or campaign on subarunet.com, under Recalls &
Campaigns/Recall Affected VIN List.
The Subaru Recall Concierge outbound calling team will also call affected owners with phone numbers
on file with Subaru, to assist them with scheduling this repair. Please note that this outreach will be
performed at no charge on behalf of all retailers even if the retailer is not enrolled in the Recall
Concierge program.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall for certain 2023 model year Solterra
vehicles to inspect the hub bolts and, if necessary, retorque them to the proper specification.
Until the inspection/remedy is completed, these vehicles should not be driven.
Description of the Defect and Safety Risk
The vehicles included in this new safety recall had previously been contained at specific port processing
facilities for repair which included the replacement and tightening of the hub bolts before delivery to
Subaru retailers. The original hub bolts required replacement, because they had characteristics that
could cause them to loosen under certain conditions of vehicle use. A third-party contractor was
engaged to perform the repair work.
A certain contractor team did not properly complete the repair procedure resulting in the potential for
under-torqued bolts. Data indicates the recall population is limited to a certain contractor team at two
port locations; however, out of an abundance of caution, the recall population includes all vehicles
repaired at all port locations supported by the third-party contractor.
Under-torqued hub bolts could result in all the hub bolts on a wheel to loosen to the point where they
can detach. If a wheel detaches from the vehicle while driving, it could result in a loss of vehicle control,
increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
For all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru dealers will inspect the hub bolts and, if necessary, retorque
them to the proper specification at no cost to the customer.
Until the inspection/remedy is completed, customers will be instructed not to drive their vehicle and
to make arrangements with their Subaru retailer to have the vehicle towed for inspection. Towing will
be provided at no cost to the customer.
Affected Vehicles
A total of 1,182 U.S. Subaru Solterra vehicles will be affected by this recall, as listed below:
Model Year
Carline
Production Date Range
2023
Solterra
March 30, 2022 – June 4, 2022
Not all vehicles in the production range listed above are affected by this recall. Coverage must be
confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com prior to repair. This
information is now available.
Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions
For detailed service, parts, and claim instructions, please refer to the WRE-23 Product Campaign Bulletin
on STIS.
Retailer Responsibility
Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle
covered by a recall under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied. Therefore, any Authorized Subaru
Retailer failing to perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their
inventory prior to the vehicle being placed in service may be subject to civil penalties of up to $22,423
per violation (i.e., for each vehicle), as provided in 49 CFR §578.6 and will also be in breach of the
Subaru Dealer Agreement.
Any vehicles listed in any recall/campaign that are in retailer stock must be:
•
•
•

Immediately identified
Tagged or otherwise marked to prevent their delivery or use prior to repair
Repaired in accordance with the repair procedures outlined in the Product Campaign Bulletin

Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures, to correct all affected vehicles in
their inventory (used, demo & SSLP). Whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into retailer
inventory necessary steps should be taken to ensure the recall correction has been made before selling
or releasing the vehicle.