2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca Problems
- Complaints
- 9filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 3 complaints (33% of the total), followed by engine (2) and air bags (1). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 29% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 106 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine2 22%
- Air bags1 11%
- Electrical system1 11%
- Exterior lighting1 11%
- Fuel system1 11%
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “When accelerating moderately, the drivetrain/transmission shudders. The vehicle hesitates for a brief period of time and then begins to accelerate. This usually occurs between 20-40 MPH, especially when moving in stop and go traffic. Dealer has not been able to duplicate the condition and no error codes are showing in the computer. My wife does not feel confident driving the vehicle any longer as it makes it dangerous to pull into oncoming traffic. Apparently we are not the only people to experience this, but Subaru does not appear to be willing to rectify this condition. …”
NHTSA complaint #10446120, filed 2012-02, 30,410 milesEngine: “I am in the military currently stationed overseas, in italy, and we noticed that the car I bought in 2015 has been releasing gas fumes on cold morning, that will last no more than 3 minutes, noticeably when the engine is warmed up. We never noticed this happening on warm season. Strong gas smell comes in through the AC vents when the circulation is open and/or in defogger mode. No gas smell in engine bay but rather the gas smell is strong on the exhaust pipes.”
NHTSA complaint #10954309, filed 2017-02Air bags: “The contact owned a 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca. The contact stated while driving on ice, at a low speed, the contact's vehicle slid and rolled before slamming into a culvert. The contact stated that the driver's door air bag was deployed, however, no other air bags deployed. In addition, the contact stated that an unknown air bag recall repair was performed on the vehicle in 2023. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The Police and paramedics were at the scene. A Police report was filed, however, some of the information was unavailable. The contact was transported to the local hospital. …”
NHTSA complaint #11631418, filed 2024-12, 200,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
29% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 65,000 and 120,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 106 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037943Oct 5, 2026Electrical system, Other or unknown. This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.
- 11037940Sep 18, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.
- 11037930Sep 15, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.
- 11037929Sep 14, 2026Electrical system, Other or unknown. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11037927Sep 14, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
- 11036807Aug 20, 2026Electrical system. This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to…
- 11036796Aug 13, 2026Electrical system. This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)
- 11036794Aug 5, 2026Electrical system. Techtips newsletter locator index.
- 11036789Aug 1, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin
- 11034249Jun 12, 2026Other or unknown. This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.
Other model years of the Subaru B9 Tribeca
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 9 | 90,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 16 | 50,150 | 0 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2007 | 26 | 58,430 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 84 | 101,000 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Subaru B9 Tribeca model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca have?
NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 3 complaints (33% of the total), followed by engine with 2.
Has the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca reported?
Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 65,000 and 120,000 miles; 29% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.