Subaru has issued another recall for its battery-electric Solterra crossover over concerns that hub bolts on the wheels could loosen and become loose.
Subaru said the issue affects model year 1,182 2023 Subaru Solterra vehicles.
The 2023 Subaru Solterra EV and 2023 Toyota bZ4x — the products of a collaboration between Toyota and Subaru to co-develop an electric car platform — were recalled last June for the same issue.
Apparently, the company is concerned that the fix hasn’t stuck.
The vehicles were repaired at two port locations before being delivered to customers. Subaru said it found the outside contractor had not properly completed the repair procedure, resulting in a potential for significantly under-torqued bolts.
“As a precaution, Subaru is recalling all vehicles repaired at all port locations supported by the third-party contractor,” the company said in its announcement. “Vehicles without the original hub bolt concerns and vehicles repaired at other facilities are not affected.”
Subaru warned customers not to drive the vehicle. The company will cover the cost of towing the vehicle to a local dealership where it can be inspected. If necessary, the hub bolts are retightened.
The recall is the latest sign of the rocky launch of the Solterra and the Toyota bZ4x. The first recall in June 2022 came just two months after the Toyota bZ4x went on sale.
Toyota engineers struggled to identify which was the cause of the loose hub bolt problem. Production of the two vehicles resumed in October.
