AI DamageSubaru Tribeca: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Subaru Tribeca across 7 model years: 41 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 37% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 12% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 12% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 10% of all complaints
- 6 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 5% of all complaints
- 8 Engine 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 15 complaints (37% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 5 complaints (12% of all).
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (10% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 4 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2006–2007
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2008–2014
- automatic, 5-speed 2006–2014
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 41 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained back, leg, and hip injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
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.
The air bags failed to deploy and the driver side seat belt did not tighten upon impact. As a result, the contact's body lunged forward and his head struck the steering wheel. A police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled.
Alt temp light continues to come on the care will have a funny shift then a strong jerk, speed can only go under 20 mph and then the alt temp light comes on along with the check engine light and curise control lights.
Subaru of america class action law suit hello I own a 2013 subaru tribeca with vin [xxx] that has recently lost all the engine oil and no warning light illuminated alerting me the vehicle was low or had no oil.
While the vehicle was parked, the contact observed smoke coming from the front driver's side of the vehicle. There were no flames visible. The fire department was called to the scene, but was unable to determine the source of the failure.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.