When you buy an electric car, you’re also buying the software that runs it. With the Subaru Solterra, that software story has been… eventful. From early wheel-related campaigns and fussy DC fast charging behavior to 2025–2026 recalls for HVAC defrosters and rear cameras, understanding the Subaru Solterra software update history is crucial, especially if you’re shopping used or planning to keep yours for a long time.
Software history = real-world ownership
Why Subaru Solterra software history matters
1. Safety & legal compliance
Recent Solterra recalls have been triggered by software flaws in safety-related systems like the HVAC defroster and the rear-view camera. These are invisible until you need them most, on a cold, foggy highway or backing out of a tight parking space.
2. Charging, range & livability
Updates have also targeted DC fast-charging limits, battery thermal behavior, and everyday usability. For a road-trip‑capable EV, that can mean the difference between a 40‑minute coffee stop and an hour‑plus wait staring at a charger screen.
If you’re buying a used Solterra, or evaluating whether to keep yours past lease, knowing which software campaigns and recalls have been completed is almost as important as checking the tires.
Does the Subaru Solterra get over-the-air (OTA) updates?
This is the most common question, and the answer is nuanced:
- Core vehicle firmware (battery management system, inverter, braking, most charging logic) is updated at a Subaru dealer, not over the air.
- Infotainment and telematics features can see small cloud-side tweaks via Subaru’s connected services, but these are not the big, Tesla-style OTA version jumps some owners expect.
- Owners sometimes report “little changes” appearing, but major fixes, charging, HVAC, rear camera, have all been tied to service visits or formal recalls rather than silent OTA patches.
Don’t assume your Solterra updates itself
Timeline: Subaru Solterra software updates & recalls
Solterra software & recall snapshot (through early 2026)
Below is a simplified, owner-focused timeline. Exact dates and campaign numbers vary by market and build, but this is how Solterra’s software story has unfolded in broad strokes.
High-level Subaru Solterra software & recall timeline
Key milestones that affected how the Solterra drives, charges, and keeps you safe.
| Period | Model years most affected | What changed | Software angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid–2022 | Early 2023 builds | Wheel-hub “do not drive” recall | Not software, but a manufacturing fix; important historical context for first-batch cars. |
| 2023 | 2023 Solterra | Early DC fast-charging behavior complaints | Dealer updates to battery/charging control units; higher useful DC energy window. |
| 2024 | 2023–2024 Solterra | Refined fast-charging window & driveability tweaks | Improved DCFC session limits and thermal management; some cars got updated during routine service. |
| Late 2025 | 2023–2025 Solterra | HVAC / defroster ECU recall | Software bug in HVAC control ECU could shut down heat/defrost in failsafe mode; fixed with new ECU software and, in some cases, compressor replacement. |
| Late 2025–early 2026 | 2023–2025 Solterra | Rear-view camera recall | Parking/vision software update to prevent frozen or blank camera images when reversing. |
| 2026 MY | 2026 Solterra | Major hardware + software refresh | New battery and powertrain calibration, faster DC charging, NACS port support, larger infotainment with updated UI. |
Always confirm open campaigns by running your VIN on the official Subaru or NHTSA recall site before you buy, or before a road trip.
Where to see your car’s history
Charging software updates: fast charging limits and fixes
The Solterra’s DC fast charging has been the lightning rod of owner criticism since launch. Early cars had two main complaints: conservative charging curves and strict limits on how often you could DC fast-charge in a 24‑hour period before the car throttled hard.
Early Solterra DC fast-charging complaints
Most of these were gradually softened with software revisions.
Slow above ~50–60%
Thermal throttling
Session caps
What later charging updates improved
If your Solterra has had its charging control software updated, you’re more likely to see consistent 30–60 kW sessions through the heart of the battery, and fewer episodes where the car simply refuses to start a DC fast charge because it believes you’ve already had “too much” in a day.
How to tell if your Solterra’s charging software is current
Safety-related software recalls: HVAC & rear camera
Starting in late 2025, Solterra joined its Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ platform-mates in two large, software-heavy recalls: one for the HVAC system and one for the rear-view camera.
Major Solterra software recalls (through 2025)
Recalls here focus on software defects rather than mechanical issues like the earlier wheel-hub campaign.
| Recall focus | Model years | Symptom | Software fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC / Defroster ECU | 2023–2025 | In certain compressor failure modes, the HVAC control ECU enters failsafe, disabling heat and defrost and severely reducing windshield clearing in cold conditions. | Dealer updates HVAC ECU software; in some cases, the compressor is also replaced for customer satisfaction. |
| Rear-view camera / parking software | 2023–2025 | Rear camera image may freeze or go blank when reversing, reducing rear visibility. | Dealer updates parking assist / camera software to restore consistent image feed and comply with visibility regulations. |
All recall work is free at Subaru dealers, regardless of whether you’re the first or fifth owner.
These recalls are not optional
2026 Solterra: major software and hardware refresh
For 2026, Subaru doesn’t just patch the Solterra, it substantially reissues it. The facelift combines new hardware with rewritten software, addressing many of the complaints aimed at early cars.
What changes for 2026 Solterra software-wise?
New hardware, but the meaningful differences are how the software uses it.
Larger battery & range
Faster DC charging
Native NACS & Superchargers
Infotainment & UX
The 2026 refresh brings a bigger 14‑inch center screen, updated graphics, and more modern phone integration. Under the glass, the OS is still not Tesla‑flexible, but it’s a generational jump over the 2023–2025 units in both speed and layout.
Charging intelligence
Newer software lets you precondition the battery when routing to a DC fast charger through the onboard nav or SubaruConnect app. That’s the difference between pulling up to a DC station with a cold, reluctant pack and arriving with everything warmed up and ready to take serious power.
2023–2025 owners: NACS and Superchargers are still on the table
Practical checklist for current Solterra owners
6 software-related checks every Solterra owner should do
1. Run your VIN for open recalls
Before anything else, plug your VIN into Subaru’s or NHTSA’s recall lookup. Confirm the <strong>HVAC/defroster ECU</strong> and <strong>rear camera</strong> campaigns are shown as completed, or get them scheduled.
2. Ask your dealer about charging firmware
Have the service advisor print your completed <strong>software campaigns</strong>, especially for DC fast charging and battery management. If you road‑trip often, you want the latest calibration on a 2023–2024 car.
3. Test DC fast charging intentionally
On a warm day, arrive at a DC charger with 10–20% battery. Note the initial kW rate and how quickly it tapers. After a firmware update, the car should sustain healthy speeds through the middle of the pack without unexplained refusals to start a session.
4. Check HVAC and defrost in bad weather
On a cold, damp morning, verify that <strong>heat, A/C, and defrost</strong> respond quickly and that the windshield clears in a reasonable time. Any loss of heat or lingering fog could signal HVAC issues that tie back to software or the compressor.
5. Confirm camera behavior when reversing
Put the car in reverse several times in a row. Watch for any <strong>frozen or blacked-out</strong> rear camera images. If you see glitches, don’t wait, have the dealer inspect and apply the camera/parking ECU update.
6. Lock in your charging settings
Once your profiles are set, confirm that <strong>charge limits and schedules</strong> actually stick between drives. Earlier glitches sometimes reset limits when multiple driver profiles fought over preferences.
How Recharged can help current owners
What used Solterra shoppers should look for
On the used market, the Solterra can be a smart buy: traction-rich all‑wheel drive, solid Subaru brand equity, Toyota-derived underpinnings. But the winner’s circle is reserved for cars with their software house in order.
Four software questions to ask about any used Solterra
These separate the merely cheap from the actually good buys.
1. Are all safety campaigns done?
2. Has charging behavior been updated?
3. Does everything behave in edge cases?
4. Is there a transparent health report?
Why early software drama can be a buying opportunity
FAQ: Subaru Solterra software updates & recalls
Frequently asked questions about Solterra software
Bottom line: how worried should you be about Solterra software?
The Subaru Solterra’s software history is more complicated than Subaru probably hoped: conservative fast-charging behavior, multiple safety-related software recalls, and a mid‑cycle reboot with the 2026 refresh. But taken as a whole, the pattern here is less “hopelessly flawed EV” and more “first‑generation product steadily maturing through updates.”
If you’re an owner, the playbook is simple: stay on top of HVAC and camera recalls, make sure your charging firmware is current, and consider adding NACS adapter capability to widen your DC charging options. If you’re shopping used, prioritize cars with documented campaign completion and a clear battery health report, the kind of documentation Recharged bakes into every Solterra listing.
Do that, and the Solterra’s software drama fades into background noise, leaving what the car has always done well: quiet competence, year‑round traction, and the sort of calmly capable driving experience Subaru buyers show up for in the first place.
