Subaru B9 Tribeca Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 135 consumer complaints across the 4 model years of the Subaru B9 Tribeca (2006–2009) that have at least 5 complaints. 2006 has the most, with 84. Across all years, the part named most often is body and structure (35 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All B9 Tribeca model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 9 | 90,000 | 0 | 106 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 16 | 50,150 | 0 | 108 | — | Falling |
| 2007 | 26 | 58,430 | 0 | 110 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 84 | 101,000 | 0 | 119 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Body and structure35 25%
- Air bags28 20%
- Electrical system22 16%
- Exterior lighting14 10%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)12 8.6%
- Brakes11 7.9%
- Other or unknown9 6.4%
- Latches, locks and linkages9 6.4%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2009: “Headlamps burn out and cause shorting on other electrical components like blower fan, windows and etc. I change headlamps every 1-2 months sometimes sooner, and now I'm forced to change the electrical components that are effected by this shorting issue!!!!!! I'm told that Subaru had an defect with this issue from other countries!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11163962, filed 2018-12, 90,000 miles2006: “Hood latch open going 70 miles per hour going south on i74 south of indianapolis indiana. Drove to airport to pick up my daughter. On way name hood smashed winshield without warning. Mirror hit me in the face was able to stop vehicle. Did damage to hood broke winshield and did a little inside damage inside. Map lights”
NHTSA complaint #10968244, filed 2017-03, 160,900 miles2007: “Car has fuel fumes very strong smelling in car. I look on this as a safety problem for me and the kids travelling in my car. But I guess people has to die first before any action is taken like the boeing airlines. The car is overheating and tgey cannot tell you why it is doing it.”
NHTSA complaint #11205104, filed 2019-05, 100,000 milesOther Subaru models
9,776 complaintsSubaru Forester
6,527 complaintsSubaru Legacy
3,182 complaintsSubaru Impreza
2,649 complaintsSubaru Crosstrek
1,191 complaintsSubaru Ascent
1,038 complaintsSubaru WRX
969 complaintsSubaru SVX
279 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology