2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was running but continued to randomly shutdown. While at a stop light, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V297000 (Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined the failure was due to the ignition. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there was no recall coverage for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11627529

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

Mileage

100,000 mi

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!

NHTSA ID

11423161

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11414205

Incident

Apr 26, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11307977

Incident

Dec 15, 2019

Mileage

116,000 mi

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 ID

11205104

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

SERIOUS, HEALTH HAZARD AND A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM ARISE WITH MY SMELLING GASOLINE IN THE INTERIOR OF CAR. IT HAPPENS WHEN TANK IS FULL AND AS SOON AS IT DROPS TO ABOUT 3/4 IT STOPS, IMAGINE THE TANK IS FULL AND THE FUMES ARE SATURATED IN THE CAR. THE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING.EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL WHEN ON LINE A LARGE POPULATION OF PEOPLE HAS THE PROBLEM. OR DOES A COUPLE CARS HAVE TO EXPLODE WITH THE GASOLINE ISSUE BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. THANKS AS LONG AS THE TANK IS FULL IT SMELLS WHETHER IT IS PARKED OR MOVING. WOULD BE AFRAID TO GO ON HIGHWAY FOR FEAR OF EXPLOSION.

NHTSA ID

11057701

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE HOOD OPENED UNEXPECTEDLY AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED A FEW TIMES, BUT THE LINE WAS BUSY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V016000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V060000 (STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11018635

Incident

Aug 20, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER INFLATOR. THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10965743

Incident

Jun 30, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE OPTIONS. ONE BEING THE PASSENGER SEAT CAN BE ADJUSTED FOR MY HANDICAP PASSENGER. SINCE JULY 2016 I HAVE NOT BEEN USING THIS FEATURE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING HAZARDOUS IF IT WAS TO INFLATE. BUT MY HANDICAP PASSENGER FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE CAR'S BACKSEAT.. MAY CAN BE DONE TO HAVE THIS BE PUT ON A PRIORITY LIST. THIS CAR ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPAIR FOR THE OTHER RECALL INVOLVING THE HOOD LOCK AND CATCH. LUCKILY THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT FATAL. BUT I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR 2 MONTHS. SO, THIS IS MY COMPLAINT . *TR

NHTSA ID

10945518

Incident

Jul 7, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V060000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE) AND 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10935655

Incident

Jul 4, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V060000 (LATCHES/LOCKS AND LINKAGES, STRUCTURE). THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10897190

Incident

Aug 19, 2016

WHILE DRIVING WE SMELT SOMETHING BURNING, I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT UNDER THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THERE. I WENT UNDER AND SAW THAT THERE WAS LIQUID COVERING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, I WIPED DOWN AS MUCH AS I COULD AND DROVE TO MY MECHANIC. HE PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT AND WE TRACED TO WHERE TO LIQUID WAS COMING FROM. IT WENT TO THE FRONT LEFT AXLE BOOT, IT WAS RUPTURED CAUSING GREASE TO BE THROWN ON THE HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING THE SMOKE. THIS COULD HAVE EVOLVED INTO A FIRE IF I HAD NOT IMMEDIATELY STOPPED DRIVING AND WIPED DOWN THE CONVERTER. WE HAD TO CHANGE THE COMPLETE AXLE AND BOOT ASSEMBLY. UPDATE 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 11/16/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10733871

Incident

Jun 25, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 SUBARU TRIBECA B9 TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH WHEN THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SHATTERED MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE MAJOR INTERSTATE. I COULD NOT SEE AT ALL. I WAS IN ONE OF THE MIDDLE LANES AND NEARLY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH AN 18-WHEELER THAT WAS BEHIND ME AND HAD TO LOCK UP HIS BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ME. I SEE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS ITEM. I HAVE BEEN A HUGE SUBARU FAN FOR MANY YEARS AND THIS IS THE 3RD....AND LAST ONE....FOR ME.

NHTSA ID

10732734

Incident

Jul 8, 2015

Mileage

145 mi

FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT CONSTANTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671042

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT ~55 MPH, HEARD A METALLIC NOISE, THREE INDICATORS WENT ON, SMELL BURNT RUBBER. A STEERING WHEEL STOPPED OPERATING PROPERLY AND WOULD TURN ONLY WHEN APPLYING MUCH EFFORT. LUCKY TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND BE ABLE TO GRADUALLY PULL OFF WITHOUT CAUSING AN INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT HIGH SPEEDS AND HEAVY TRUCKS ON THE ROAD. WAS ABLE TO REACH TO THE NEAREST SUBARU SERVICE. THE PROBLEM: PULLEYS, DRIVE BELTS, TENSIONERS BROKE DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. DUE TO THE VEHICLE ENGINEERING DESIGN, THIS PROBLEM CAUSES NON-RESPONSIVENESS OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAS ~90K MILES AND HAS BEEN OPERATED IN A CITY CONDITIONS. TECHNICIAN SAID THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED WITH OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS MODEL; THESE PARTS ARE NOT NORMALLY INSPECTED DURING REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THUS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO BE DETECTED. THUS, THE PARTS THAT BROKE HAVE LIMITED LIFESPAN WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. CONTACTED SUBARU -- THEY SAY IT IS BEYOND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY OF 3 YRS / 36 TH.MILES AND THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ANY PART IS UNKNOWN. DOES IT MEAN THE SUBARU'S SAFETY PLEDGE IS ALSO VALID FOR THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10496624

Incident

Jan 21, 2013

Mileage

90,595 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 07 SUBARU TRIBECA ON A BUSY CITY STREET, AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN MULTIPLE RED LIGHTS CAME UP AND I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS NOT LOCKED, BUT IT REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO MOVE IT EVEN A FEW INCHED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. IT WAS EXTREEMELY STRESSFUL TO BE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY AVENUE WITHOUT ANY CONTROL OVER YOUR VECHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP CAME UP WITH THE FOLLOWING LIST OF BROKEN PARTS: BELT TENSIONER, IDLER PULLEY, 2 BOLTS AND AN AC BRACKET. THE TOTAL BILL FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR WAS $780. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS ONLY, NEVER TOOK IT OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WITH 58K MILES ON IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH AN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CAR PARTS COULD HAPPEN OTHER THEN THAT IT IS FAULTY. IS SUBARU CONSIDERING A RECALL FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED PARTS? THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491639

Incident

Jan 2, 2013

Mileage

58,430 mi

WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR IT CONSTANTLY LOSES ACCELERATION. IT WILL HAVE NO POWER THEN LURCH FORWARD AND REV. IT IDLES, LURCHES, AND THEN HAS NO ACCELERATION. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE SWAY BAR BEARINGS TWICE IN THIS CAR AS WELL AS 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE DEAL STILL CANT FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN WITH THE SERVICE CODES. THIS CAR IS A DANGER AND A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467105

Incident

May 25, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU TRIBECA. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE DASHBOARD COMPONENTS BRIEFLY ILLUMINATED AND FAILED. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONFIRM WHY OR WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS BEING HANDLED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ID

10340561

Incident

Jun 24, 2010

Mileage

57,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR STOPPED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE?S SPEED SLOWED DRAMATICALLY, STEERING THE DISABLED VEHICLE BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE; A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALER. THE DEALER QUOTED AN ESTIMATE OF $2300 TO TEAR DOWN THE MOTOR TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS 29,000 MILES AND THE WARRANTY HAS EXTENDED COVERAGE TO 84,000 MILES AT A COST OF $1288. SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS CONTACTED TO EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DEALERSHIP; THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ASKED ME TO FAX MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DOCUMENTS WERE FAXED AT 2:00AM ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13, 2008. ON AUGUST 14TH I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR A STATUS UPDATE ON THE VEHICLE; THE REPRESENTATIVE HANDLING MY CASE HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY SO I REQUESTED A CALL BACK THE NEXT DAY. NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT CONFORMED TO THEIR WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS, STATING NEGLECT OF OWNER MAY HAVE CAUSED THE MOTOR FAILURE. HARD FACT, A VEHICLE DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHOSE MOTOR FAILS WITHOUT WARNING (NO SIGNALS FROM THE ONBOARD DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM-ANOTHER POSSIBLE DEFECT, OR WARNING SOUNDS FROM THE MOTOR) WITH 29,000 EQUATES TO COMPONENT OF FAILURE OF THE MOTOR OR ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE MOTOR IS NOT CEASED; IT TURNS OVER WITH THE IGNITION KEY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238515

Incident

Aug 12, 2008

Mileage

29,000 mi

ON APRIL 24, 2008, WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 AND THEN ON THE MASS PIKE THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION TWICE (GAS PEDDLE HAD NO ACCELERATION). THE CAR (SUBARU TRIBECA 2007) DID REGAIN POWER WITHIN SOME SECONDS BOTH TIMES, WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREETS OF BROOKLINE, MA (BEACON STREET) LATER THAT AFTERNOON THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START. CONTACTED SUBARU ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE (CAR UNDER NEW CAR WARRANTY). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THEIR NEAREST DEALER IN BELMONT, MA AND ARRIVED THERE AT 5:00 PM ON 4/24. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER BEING WORKED ON (IT IS CLAIMED) SINCE THAT TIME (5/24 TO TODAY 5/5/08 AND WHILE THE DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE CAR. THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226695

Incident

Apr 24, 2008

Mileage

18,900 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. HE STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL TRUNK LATCH WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,400.

NHTSA ID

10215772

Incident

Jan 17, 2008

Mileage

12,400 mi

2007 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER STILL CANNOT DIAGNOSE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE DONATED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER.*JB

NHTSA ID

10208388

Incident

Nov 1, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU WRX (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY ABUSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED BECAUSE THE 2007 WRX TRANSMISSION HAS 50 LESS HORSE POWER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,200.

NHTSA ID

10206924

Incident

Oct 21, 2007

Mileage

11,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU B9TRIBECA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON, THEN THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CHIP REPLACED. THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. AS OF AUGUST 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER; IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR APPROXIMATELY THIRTY DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,155.

NHTSA ID

10199415

Incident

May 19, 2007

Mileage

25 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE QUICKLY SURGED FORWARD. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED AN EMBANKMENT AND SPED DOWN A STREET. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,000. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10196847

Incident

Jul 17, 2007

Mileage

7,000 mi