Subaru Tribeca problems
The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV made from 2005 to 2014. Released in some markets, including Canada, as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the car derives its name from the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. Built on the Subaru Legacy platform and sold in five- and seven-seat configurations, the Tribeca was intended to be sold alongside a slightly revised version known as the Saab 9-6X. Saab, at the time a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), abandoned the 9-6X program just prior to its release subsequent to GM's 2005 divestiture of its 20 percent stake in FHI.
Inspired by the B9X concept car, the Tribeca's original design was criticized at launch and subsequently revised in 2007 for the 2008 model year, and the model name was shortened to simply Tribeca in all markets.
Although not sold in Japan, North American markets received the Tribeca in 2005 for the 2006 model year, and it was introduced to Australasia and Europe in late 2006. In addition to these markets, the Tribeca was also sold in South America, South Africa, China, the Middle East, and parts of Southeast Asia.
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Subaru Tribeca model years
Common Subaru Tribeca problems
The Subaru Tribeca, produced from 2005 to 2014, has been known for several common problems that have affected its owners. These issues include:
- Power locks: Some Subaru Tribeca SUVs have experienced power locks that do not activate properly, causing the door to lock while opening a window and then not unlocking when the car is put into Park.
- Puddle lights: The welcome puddle lights, activated by the remote, can stop working after a year or two due to poor design that allows water to collect in the side mirror, corrode electrical connections, and melt the housing.
- Front brake rotors: Drivers of the 2010 Subaru Tribeca have reported significant rust on front brake rotors after just 45,000 miles on the road.
- Door flying open: A limited number of 2010 Tribeca owners have experienced their door flying open while the car is in motion due to incorrectly run power cables for the windows in the front doors, causing the locking mechanism to get caught in the cable.
- Suspension squeak: Some 2008 Subaru Tribeca owners have reported a strange squeak in the suspension, most noticeable during wet weather.
- Manual keyed ignition: Some of the earliest vehicles manufactured as a Tribeca included a manual keyed ignition that some customers discovered allowed their car to shut off while in motion due to the weight of their key ring or their knee causing the key to switch to the accessory position, cutting power to the engine.
These problems have contributed to the Subaru Tribeca's reputation for having various issues, which ultimately led to its discontinuation.
Is a Subaru Tribeca reliable?
The Subaru Tribeca Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 18th out of 26 for midsize SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $563 which means it has average ownership costs.
What year to avoid Subaru Tribeca?
Years to Avoid
- 2009. ...
- 2008. ...
- 2013. ...
- 2010.
Is a Subaru Tribeca expensive to maintain?
Subaru Tribeca Repair & Maintenance Costs
The annual maintenance cost of a Subaru Tribeca is $563.
Why was Tribeca discontinued?
On October 18, 2013, Autoblog, Jalopnik, and Cars.com all confirmed that Subaru informed its dealers that production on the Tribeca would end in January 2014 due to slow sales. Subaru sold just under 77,000 Tribecas total in the United States, making it one of the worst-selling vehicles in the US in 2011 and 2012.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Subaru Tribeca years
We have researched Subaru problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Subaru Tribeca cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Subaru Tribeca model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Subaru Tribeca model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Subaru Tribeca years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Subaru Tribeca car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Subaru Tribeca , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Air bags problems
- Structure problems
- Electrical system problems
- Exterior lighting problems
- Service brakes problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Subaru Tribeca vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Tribeca model years
A total of 11 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Tribeca model years
There were a total of 13 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Tribeca model years
There were a total of 8 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 182 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Subaru Tribeca . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Subaru Tribeca vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Subaru Tribeca 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-07
- Date Complaint: 2024-01-23
- VIN: 4S4WX85C164
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: I have had 3 Subarus in the last 2 years. All 3-a 2006 Subaru Tribeca B9, a 2007 Subaru Tribeca B9, and a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek have had electrical and lighting problems. They all have burnt out headlights, interior lights and fog lights, have loose wiring that has affected the computer and navigation system. 2 of them lost all lighting. The Subaru Crosstrek burnt out all the lights in one incident and the 2007 Subaru Tribeca B9 had an alternator problem that fried all the lights at one time as well as the navigation system. They all have more lights lit on the dash than there should be.
Subaru Tribeca 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2022-12-04
- Date Complaint: 2022-12-05
- VIN: 4S4WX98D184
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: After starting the vehicle in sub freezing temperatures the brakes would not work. After applying extreme pressure it was found that the brake would operate but without any power assist. The error "er bb" was displayed on the instrument panel. After applying the brakes several times, the power assist started working and braking was normal again. This condition has repeated several times after the vehicle sits in sub freezing temperatures for a period of time. I believe this may be caused by a frozen check valve in the vacuum line to the brake booster.
Subaru Tribeca 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2019-03-07
- Date Complaint: 2022-03-07
- VIN: 4S4WX92D684
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: 255/55R18 After 2 weeks of driving on new tires my tire light would not turn off. I have taken my vehicle back to dealer to repair issue multiple times only to have the same thing happen. After 1 year of driving on this tire the sidewalls are cracked to the point the DOT# is illegible. Tires should last longer than 7500 miles and 1 year. I have attempted to have the place of business I made the purchase from fix the issue with no luck. They said if the tire is not on the "Recall" list they would do nothing.
Subaru Tribeca 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-28
- Date Complaint: 2022-03-04
- VIN: 4S4WX97DX84
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the front hood erroneously opened and slammed into the front windshield causing the windshield to shatter. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V060000 (Structure, Latches/Locks/Linkages). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,507.
Subaru Tribeca 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-20
- Date Complaint: 2021-07-02
- VIN: 4S4WX83C664
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and was unable to be restarted. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 280,000.
Subaru Tribeca 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2021-07-01
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 4S4WX83D174
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: Sudden Unintended Acceleration: While driving up the inclining driveway to my Dr. office for my Covid vaccine, all of a sudden, my car accelerated as if someone stomped on my gas pedal! Had I not turned right into the parking lot, I would have crashed, head-on into a stone retaining wall. I pushed on the brakes to slow down and stop as I was steering my car into a parking space. This was a terrifying experience for which I had zero control. My car continued to propel forward and surge with such power that it plowed into a “safely parking Boulder” which rolled down the hill. This caused my car to go airborne off a steep embankment, sideswiped a tree (airborne), landed on another part of the driveway and continued to propel forward and part way back up the hill! All this occurred while my foot was on the brake pedal! It is a miracle that I am alive and that I didn’t injure or kill someone in the process. I was wearing my seatbelt and my dog were in the car. They appear to me ok. However, neither of the airbags deployed! I am again grateful to be alive. My car was totaled, but I would not feel safe even if it were repaired. I survived this time, but maybe not the next time. I definitely want this documented for safety purposes! Thank you!
Subaru Tribeca 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2021-04-26
- Date Complaint: 2021-04-27
- VIN: 4S4WX85D574
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: WE WERE SOLD A CAR THAT HAD THE ODOMETER MILES SETBACK 101,000 MILES BACK. MOVED FROM 211,000 TO 110,000. REFUSING TO TAKE BACK THE CAR.
Subaru Tribeca 2011
- Date Of Incident: 2020-10-17
- Date Complaint: 2020-11-17
- VIN: 4S4WX9GD4B4
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: WHEN ACCELERATING AND VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS THE ENGINE SPINS AND MAKES A POPPING SOUND JOLTING CAR FORWARD. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND POPPING INTO GEAR ABRUPTLY.
Subaru Tribeca 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2020-07-11
- Date Complaint: 2020-09-01
- VIN: 4S4WX82C864
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Subaru Tribeca 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2020-07-13
- Date Complaint: 2020-07-24
- VIN: 4S4WX85C764
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
- Summary: JUST PURCHASED
Subaru Tribeca 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2020-03-02
- Date Complaint: 2020-03-04
- VIN: 4S4WX82C964
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IMA CITY STREET AND VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED OFF. TRIED TO TURN ON THE CAR AGAIN AND IT RAN BUT ONCE AGAIN UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED OFF.
Subaru Tribeca 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2019-12-15
- Date Complaint: 2020-02-09
- VIN: 4S4WX82D074
- Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: RECENTLY, MY VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A RUSTED FUEL FILLER NECK. THE RUSTING IS TOWARD TO "TOP", WELL AWAY FROM ROAD SALT AND WATER. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSING FUEL FUMES TO ESCAPE, INCLUDING DIRECTLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IN MY CASE, A FULL TANK OF FUEL CAUSES THE INTERIOR FUMES TO BE SO STRONG THAT THE CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. A SEARCH FOR A REPLACEMENT FILLER NECK SHOWED THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER, LEADING ONE TO SUSPECT THAT THE PROBLEM IS COMMON.
Subaru Tribeca 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-13
- Date Complaint: 2020-02-01
- VIN: 4S4WX9GD8C4
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL AND TEMP, ALL WERE NORMAL. PULLED AWAY AND THE ENGINE REVED UP THEN BANGED INTO GEAR. DROVE NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL MILES. THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF. DROVE THE NEXT DAY AND FOR SEVERAL DAYS WITH NO INCIDENCE. OCCURRED AGAIN WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE NEXT WEEK. ON THE SUBARU OWNERS FORUM FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THEY STATED THAT THE SUBARU DEALERS CALLED IT A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 5EAT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 59,000 MILES. DEALER SOLUTION IS A $2000 VALVE BODY. DRIVES NORMALLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES AND AT SLOWER SPEEDS. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS NO POWER IS TRANSMITTED TO THE WHEELS. UNSAFE SITUATION.
Subaru Tribeca 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2019-09-29
- Date Complaint: 2019-09-30
- VIN: 4S4WX83C664
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
- Summary: MY WHOLE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. CLIMATE CONTROL RAIDIO HEATED SEATS ANYTHING ELECTRIC.
Subaru Tribeca 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2019-06-10
- Date Complaint: 2019-06-17
- VIN: 4S4WX85C864
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: HOOD RELEASE CABLE IS BAD AND WILL COMPLETELY BREAK IF NOT REPAIRED SOON! IF THIS BREAKS, IT WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OPEN THE HOOD.
Latest 5 recalls Subaru Tribeca
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 65 recalls for different components of the Subaru Tribeca.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Subaru Tribeca 2007
- Report Received Date: 2019-04-11
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
- Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
- Model: Subaru Tribeca 2006
- Report Received Date: 2019-04-11
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
- Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
- Model: Subaru Tribeca 2008
- Report Received Date: 2019-04-11
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
- Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
- Model: Subaru Tribeca 2013
- Report Received Date: 2019-01-09
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.
- Model: Subaru Tribeca 2013
- Report Received Date: 2019-01-09
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.
Latest negative Subaru Tribeca car reviews
Latest positive Subaru Tribeca car reviews
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Vehicle year: 2011
I'm so glad to hear that you've had such a positive experience with your car! It sounds like it's been a reliable and fun vehicle for you. Even after 200km+, it's still running like a champ! The fact that it's invincible in the snow is a huge plus, especially living in Toronto, Canada. It's great to hear that you also have a Subaru Legacy, which is another fantastic car. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
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Vehicle year: 2011
The car performs well in upstate NY snow. Although the steering is corrective and the accelerator cuts out when the wheels spin, it may not compare to the lightweight Forester on snowy roads when it comes to straight line braking. Overall, it's a good car for snowy conditions.
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Vehicle year: 2012
Congratulations on your new purchase! Your 2011 Subaru Tribeca Premium with 100k miles sounds like a great find. It's clear that the previous owner took good care of it, which is always a plus. The Subaru's AWD System is definitely a standout feature, providing both style and safety. I'm glad to hear that you find it comfortable and spacious, even with the third row. While the gas mileage may not be the best, it's understandable given the powerful 6 cylinder engine and continuous AWD. In terms of style, I agree that the Tribeca is far more pleasant than its competitors. It's always interesting to see different opinions on cars, but I'm glad that you're enjoying your mid-size crossover. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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Vehicle year: 2011
I'm so glad I bought my Tribeca Limited! It's such a pleasure to drive and I always get a lot of stares while driving it. The Boxer engine provides great passing power, although I do get a bit nervous sometimes when driving it because I worry about distracted drivers. My wife actually test drove the car and we had a close call with a young girl on her phone who tried to cut in front of us. Despite that, I still absolutely love my Subaru!
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Vehicle year: 2012
I'm so glad you're considering the Tribeca! It's a great choice for families who need a seven passenger vehicle with a perfect safety rating from both the federal government and IIHS. The Tribeca is easy to drive and handles well on city streets, freeways, and winding mountain roads. The engine power and acceleration are more than adequate, although it's certainly no sports car. The ride quality is good on rough pavement, and the interior is comfortable on long trips. The climate controls are easy to use, and the second row seat is wide enough to actually hold three people in reasonable comfort. Overall, I think you'll be very happy with the Tribeca. It's hard to find another vehicle that offers so many features at such a great price!
Are you having problems with your Subaru Tribeca?
Monty Gusikowski 2025-02-21
Vehicle year: 2009
The car has some great features, such as a spacious cargo area and a design that my wife loves. However, the third row seating may not be very useful for larger passengers and the car's mileage is poor. Additionally, replacing the headlights can be difficult due to the tight space. While the car's struts may not hold up well in cold weather, it is unclear if this is a common issue. On the other hand, there are some more serious concerns with the car, such as its tendency to consume oil and the risk of engine failure. Another owner experienced engine failure at 150K miles. The dual exhaust design may not be practical for a car with limited power, and replacing the catalytic converter and other emissions components can be expensive. It is important to note that this car may not pass emissions tests in some cities. Despite these issues, my wife loves the car and I respect her opinion.
Luciano Heathcote 2025-02-18
Vehicle year: 2008
I have owned the car for 40 months now and I can honestly say that my experience has not been the best. While there are some things I like about it, such as the purchase price (including factory incentives) being $6,000 under MSRP, plenty of nice standard features, and the size and cargo capacity with the seats folded, there are also some things that I dislike. These include the fuel economy, small fuel tank, cheap and non-durable plastic cargo area material, and forward blind spots caused by thick posts. Additionally, I have had to take it back to the dealer too many times for issues like rough transmission shifting, replacement of brake master cylinder, and frequently blown headlight bulbs. As a result, I am not sure if I would buy another Tribeca or even another Subaru.
Kaden Goodwin 2025-02-16
Vehicle year: 2009
I recently traded in my 2009 Tribeca Limited after owning it for 2 and a half years. While there were some positives, I found that the negatives outweighed them. One major issue was the fuel economy, as I was only getting 15 mpg around town in good weather and 12-13 mpg in winter. Even on the highway, I struggled to get 21 mpg, and with a small 16-gallon fuel tank, I found myself constantly refilling. Additionally, the navigation system was weak and easily outperformed by a $300 Garmin. I also had to replace the headlight bulbs three times and brake bulbs twice in just 2 and a half years, which was frustrating. However, the car did perform well in the snow, especially with Hakapelitta snow tires, and the remote key unlock worked well after four clicks to open all doors.
Nicholaus Volkman 2025-02-15
Vehicle year: 2009
Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with my car that I purchased back in April of '08. I've driven it for 27k miles now and I must say, the mileage is not bad for an SUV, despite the small gas tank. However, I did notice some loose pieces in the interior of the car which was a bit disappointing. Additionally, I found the rear hatch to be a bit inconvenient when packing as it doesn't seem to strategically close. I also wish I could control the rear blower from the front as my kids can't reach it. On the bright side, the car looks great and the handling and engine are top-notch (although Subaru wants me to change the tranny fluid already)! I do think the interior quality could be improved, especially since the prices are quite high. Lastly, I agree with another post that scanning the radio from the steering wheel would be a great feature. Thanks for listening!
Daren Lowe 2025-01-26
Vehicle year: 2010
I recently traded in my 2009 Tribeca Limited after owning it for 2 and a half years. While there were some positives, I found that the negatives outweighed them. One major issue was the fuel economy, as I was only getting 15 mpg around town in good weather and 12-13 mpg in winter. Even on the highway, I struggled to get 21 mpg, and with a small 16-gallon fuel tank, I found myself constantly refilling. Additionally, the navigation system was weak and easily outperformed by a $300 Garmin. I also had to replace the headlight bulbs three times and brake bulbs twice in just 2 and a half years, which was frustrating. However, the car did perform well in the snow, especially with Hakapelitta snow tires, and the remote key unlock worked well after four clicks to open all doors.