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Subaru TribecaModel year report

2009 Subaru Tribeca Problems

Complaints
5filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
52,010miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
9campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 3.6L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 16 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca. The part named most often is brakes, with 3 complaints (60% of the total), followed by electrical system (1) and electronic stability control (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 52,010 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns and 48 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 16 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.

Example complaints

Brakes: “I was going around a bend and the brake pedal locked. I was unable to utilize the brakes. Due to this brake failure, I drove up on a hillside and smashed into a telephone pole. Feel that this is a mechanical defect in the car which caused the accident as the brake pedal was locked into place. The car had no known mechanical issues and was inspected in july 2014.”

NHTSA complaint #10670882, filed 2015-01, 52,000 miles

Electrical system: “Driving car and it jolted, shift gear lights went out and all lights came on dash board, att-oil temp, cruise control, check engine light, and slippery when wet light, car lost power down to 2-5 miles per hour. Thought it was transmission had it looked at twice by capitol transmission in hartford, they found nothing wrong with the transmission. Then the lights went away drove it again for a week it jolted again and lights back on again. …”

NHTSA complaint #10643812, filed 2014-10, 118,000 miles

Body and structure: “While driving my car I rested my left foot on the footrest of the drivers side floor and the heel of my shoe went right thru the floor of my 2008 Subaru Tribeca. I had to take my foot out of the shoe to get the shoe unstuck . I thank god I was not driving on the expressway and could pull over when it happened. When I took the shoe out I could see a black wire in the background area. I know this is not normal or safe and I would like to know if it has happened before and how I can get this repaired.”

NHTSA complaint #10596519, filed 2014-06, 107,800 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 52,000 and 107,800 miles.

0%0–1020%10–250%25–5040%50–750%75–10040%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 52,010 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

20122014220152
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Tribeca · sedan AWDnot rated5 / 5——4 · 16.4% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Subaru Tribeca version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Tribeca AWD3.6L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162118$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 9 recalls for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca → · Check a 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. 48 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 48 bulletins →

Other model years of the Subaru Tribeca

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2009552,0109—18—Not enough data
20081470,0009—18—Not enough data
2006997,1548———Not enough data

All Subaru Tribeca model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Subaru Tribeca have?

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Subaru Tribeca is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 3 complaints (60% of the total), followed by electrical system with 1.

Has the 2009 Subaru Tribeca been recalled?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Subaru Tribeca get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Subaru Tribeca (Tribeca AWD, 3.6L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Subaru Tribeca reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 52,010 miles and the middle half falls between 52,000 and 107,800 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.