Last updated: 2026-10-10

Cadillac XT6 vs Subaru Solterra: Reliability Compared

Slightly ahead on reliability, the Cadillac XT6 beats the Subaru Solterra mainly on severity. Solterra owners report crash-linked sudden acceleration at parking speed. The XT6 has more recalls and complaints, but its worst failures are milder.

How Do the Cadillac XT6 and Subaru Solterra Generations Compare?

Used shoppers are looking at first-generation cars, which the data lists for model years 2020 through 2025. A second generation is expected for 2028, so nothing newer than the current design is coming soon. The weakest years were 2020 and 2022, which points you toward the years in between or after. The 2025 and 2026 cars score best, but they have had the least time on the road, so their short complaint lists say little yet. Treat them as promising, not proven.

Verdict

The Cadillac XT6 is more reliable than the Subaru Solterra, scoring 73/100 vs 71/100.

A slight edge goes to the Cadillac XT6, and both models stand well on reliability. Severity decides it. Solterra owners describe sudden, forceful acceleration at parking speed, with crashes tied to it, and the complaint rate per car sold is far higher. The XT6 piles up more recalls and complaints, but that reflects more years on sale. Its worst reports are stalls, rolling forward in reverse, and silent rear parking alerts.

Key Differences

  1. 1Cadillac XT6 has 47.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold
  2. 2Subaru Solterra has 8 fewer total recalls
  3. 3Cadillac XT6 scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

2Cadillac XT6
—
1Subaru Solterra
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Cadillac XT6 vs Subaru Solterra: Which Is More Reliable?

Cadillac XT6 vs Subaru Solterra at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricCadillac XT6Subaru Solterra
Reliability Score73/10071/100
Years Tracked73
Total Recalls146
Complaints per 10k Sold0.948.5
Year Wins1 (1 tied)1 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Cadillac XT6 and Subaru Solterra?

Unwanted motion is the Solterra's defining problem. Owners report the car lunging forward at low speed, with two crash-linked reports in the electrical category and one more in vehicle speed control, where a car hit a house without automatic braking. Adaptive cruise control also speeds up toward traffic in rain or mist. The XT6 fails in more mechanical ways: rolling forward after shifting into reverse, sudden loss of power, failed fuel pump control modules, and camera screens cutting to black. Its one crash-linked area is back over prevention, where rear parking alerts stayed silent.

Cadillac XT6 vs Subaru Solterra common problem areas comparison
ComponentCadillac XT6Subaru Solterra
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM0.1Very Low11.3Above Avg
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE—None4.5Average
UNKNOWN OR OTHER0.1Very Low3.4Average
SERVICE BRAKES—None3.4Average
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL—None3.4Average
LANE DEPARTURE—None2.3Low
SUSPENSION—None2.3Low
STRUCTURE—None2.3Low
POWER TRAIN0.2Very Low—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION0.1Very Low—None
ENGINE—None—None
FUEL SYSTEM—None—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM—None—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Cadillac XT6 vs Subaru Solterra Reliability Compare by Year?

Cadillac XT6 vs Subaru Solterra year-by-year reliability scores
YearCadillac XT6Subaru SolterraEdge
202574/1001R / 8C74/1002R / 4CTie
202473/1002R / 14C74/1002R / 14CSubaru Solterra
202373/1002R / 13C65/1002R / 25CCadillac XT6

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Cadillac XT6 scored 73/100 and the 2024 Subaru Solterra scored 74/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Cadillac XT6 vs the Subaru Solterra?

Pick the XT6 if you want the lower-risk choice. Its failures are real, such as a fuel pump control module that leaves the car stalled and towed, but they are not tied to sudden acceleration. Confirm that recall work is done, since owners say dealers could not get a powertrain recall part. Test the backup camera and rear parking alerts before you buy. Weakest years are 2020 and 2022, so start with later cars, and treat 2025 and 2026 as unproven because they have had less time to collect complaints. Pick the Solterra if you specifically want an electric SUV and accept the risks. Ask whether all recall work is complete, and test the driver-assist systems and DC fast charging, which owners say slows near freezing. Of the three model years, 2023 and 2024 rank weakest, and 2025 looks strongest partly because it is newest. Walk away from any car that shows a "System Malfunction" message, and avoid driving through standing water, which owners say tore off fender liners.

Cadillac XT6 vs Subaru Solterra: Common Questions

Is the Subaru Solterra more reliable than the Cadillac XT6?
No. The XT6 has a slight edge, though both stand well. The Solterra has crash-linked reports of sudden acceleration at low speed and a car hitting a house with no automatic braking. The XT6 has more recalls and total complaints, but its crash-linked area is limited to silent rear parking alerts.
Which has more recalls, the Solterra or the XT6?
The XT6 has more, with 14 recalls across 7 model years. The Solterra has 6 across its 3 model years. The XT6 has been on sale far longer, so it has had more time to collect them. Check any specific car's recall status before buying.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Solterra or the XT6?
The data only gives a repair-cost estimate for the XT6, at $783 a year. No comparable figure exists for the Solterra, so a fair cost comparison is not possible. One XT6 owner paid $973 to replace a video processing module that would not accept reprogramming.
Does the Subaru Solterra have unintended acceleration problems?
Owners report it. Complaints describe sudden, forceful acceleration at parking speed, with two crash-linked reports in the electrical category and one more in vehicle speed control. One report cites a "System Malfunction" message and no ability to brake or steer. Ask about recall work and test the car carefully.
What goes wrong most often on the Cadillac XT6?
Power train complaints are the largest group, followed by electrical faults. Some power train reports describe rolling forward after shifting into reverse or a sudden loss of power, though many only concern waiting for recall parts. Camera screens that cut to black make up most electrical complaints.

Decided between Cadillac XT6 and Subaru Solterra? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Cadillac XT6 and Subaru Solterra

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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