RoadVitals

2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Dec 18, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca, most frequently naming the engine, powertrain (other) and electrical categories. 97 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine218.2%
  • Powertrain (other)218.2%
  • Electrical19.1%
  • Fuel system19.1%
  • Exterior lighting19.1%
  • Transmission19.1%
  • Airbags19.1%
  • Visibility19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Dec 18, 2024
Crash reported1 injury reported

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. The contact sustained bruises, scratches, and body pain. The vehicle was condemned to total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID
11631418
Incident
Dec 15, 2024
Mileage
200,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 29, 2018

HEADLAMPS BURN OUT AND CAUSE SHORTING ON OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS LIKE BLOWER FAN, WINDOWS AND ETC. I CHANGE HEADLAMPS EVERY 1-2 MONTHS SOMETIMES SOONER, AND NOW I'M FORCED TO CHANGE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT ARE EFFECTED BY THIS SHORTING ISSUE!!!!!! I'M TOLD THAT SUBARU HAD AN DEFECT WITH THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES!!!

NHTSA ID
11163962
Incident
Dec 11, 2018
Mileage
90,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 10, 2018

PROBLEM 1. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY CAR LOST POWER, STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE GAS GUAGE WAS ON A 1/4 OF TAN OF GASOLINE, MILES GUAGE READ 100 MILES. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANKS GOD, I NEAR THE NEXT EXIT. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART MY CAR AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTE AND WENT TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. THIS HAVE HAPPEN TO ME TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SO I TRY NOT LET THE GAS GUAGE FALL BELOW 1/4 TANK BECAUSE THE SENSOR ARE NOT REGISTER CORRECT. I HAVE TAKE MY CAR TO SUBARU DEALER IN JACKSON, MS 3 TIMES THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. I TRAVEL THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DAILY TO WORK, USUALLY DRIVE IN THE OUTER LEFT OR RIGHT LANE SO IF MY CAR CUT OFF I WILL BE ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD NOT AT RAN OVER. I TOOK VIDEO PICTURE OF THE GUAGE READING TO SHOW TO THE SUBARU DEALER ON MY CELL PHONE. PROBLEM 2. TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ THE CAR IS RUNNING HOT WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING AT STOP LIGHT. THE GAUGE RANDOMLY MOVES UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TAKE MY CAR TO SUBARU OF JACKSON TWICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY KEEP MAY CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK COULD NOT GET IT TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACE MY RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUES. SINCE SUBARU CAN NOT FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. PROBLEM 3: LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR LIGHT RANDOMLY FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING THEN STAYS ON. I HAVE HAD THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECK SEVERAL TIMES. PRESSURE IS FINE ON ALL TIRES. .

NHTSA ID
11150703
Incident
Jun 27, 2018
Mileage
152,587 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 18, 2018

UPON ENTERING HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING TO ACHIEVE THE PRESCRIBED 65MPH, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING, UNCOMMANDED, EVEN WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 85MPH FOR MILES, (I WAS PUMPING BRAKES AND FRANTICALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO AND WHAT WAS GOING ON). I WAS ABLE TO FIND AN EXIT RAMP AND HAD THE THOUGHT I COULD PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEREBY SUCCESSFULLY SLOW THE CAR TO A STOP. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV IN NEUTRAL, AND AFTER THE CAR STOPPED AND I PUT IT IN PARK, THE CAR CONTINUED TO REV AND BEGAN TO SHUDDER UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE POWER.

NHTSA ID
11063587
Incident
Jan 18, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 13, 2017

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 ID
10954309
Incident
Jan 2, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 2015

THERE IS A LARGE SHUDDER AT SLOW ACCELERATION. THE PROBLEM WAS SLIGHT TO BEGIN WITH HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. DEALER HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS NO GOOD, HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT REPLACE FOR FREE SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THROUGH MY INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT SUBARU DID A DESIGN CHANGE IN EARLY 2009 TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, SUBARU HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR ALL DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTERS IT HAS INSTALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10693069
Incident
Oct 31, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 26, 2012

WINDSHIELD CRACKING FOR NO REASON. APPROX 4 CLEAN, THROUGH AND THROUGH, CRACKS NOW. ALL ROUGHLY 8' LONG. NO CHIPS AND/OR ROCK DINGS. WOKE UP TWO MORNINGS AGO, CAR GARAGED, AND THERE WAS A NEW CRACK AFTER IT SAT IDLE IN A GARAGE ALL NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490145
Incident
Jun 13, 2012
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 1, 2012

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. OWNERS OF 2008 AND 2009 TRIBECA'S FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT "NOTHING IS WRONG" WHEN THE VEHICLES ARE LOOKED AT BY SUBARU TECHNICIANS. I WONDER IS SUBARU IS HAVING THEIR DEALERS COVER UP THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10446120
Incident
Oct 24, 2011
Mileage
30,410 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SubaruNet Annoucement (E

This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.

01-167-08R

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

SubaruNet Announcement (R

POWER TRAIN

This announcement provides information on the remanufactured CVT transmission program.

07-240-26R

This Service Information Bulletin was developed to provide interim guidance for vehicles exhibiting DTC B2A20.

01-167-08R

This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.

05-97-26

STEERING; WHEELS

This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Subaru B9 Tribeca by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012470
2011200
2010400
2009Viewing900
2008160044.9
2007260036.7
2006840040.4

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.