2010 Subaru Tribeca Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Subaru Tribeca, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical250.0%
- Body & structure125.0%
- Powertrain (other)125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU TRIBECA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMOTE AUTOMATIC STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT A FAILURE WAS NOT PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS E-MAILED BUT HAD NOT RESPONDED YET TO THE CONTACTS INQUIRY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WITH THE REMOTE CAR STARTER THE CAR DOES NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED ALLOWING THE CAR TO BE PUT INTO GEAR WITH OUT THE IGNITION IN ON POSITION. CAR IS THEN ABLE TO BE DRIVEN WITH OUT KEYS IN ON POSITION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HOOD OF THE 2010 SUBARU TRIBECA OPENED AND CAME BACK FAR ENOUGH TO BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. POLICE WAS CALLED TO FILE A REPORT. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CVT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ITEM. MY TRANSMISSIONS SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING SINCE AROUND 143,000 MILES. HAD A NEW OEM TORQUE CONVERTOR INSTALLED. WHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER BANGS AT AROUND 20MPH AT SLOW ACCELERATION/DECELERATION. MOST ANY SPEED AT A CRUISING DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE THE ENGINE LUGGING HARD. I'VE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AS THE RPMS INCREASE TO NEAR 2,000 RPMS BEFORE THE CAR WILL START MOVING. THERE'S A VIBRATION THAT FEELS LIKE ITS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. AT TIMES I HAVE TO USE THE PADDLE SHIFTER TO DOWNSHIFT OR UPSHIFT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION ADJUST AS NEEDED TO MAKE IT UP HILLS OR TO ACCELERATE AND TO DROP FROM HIGH RPMS A CRUISING TO PROPER RPMS. THIS 2010 CVT IS A DISASTER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AT THE LEAST. SUBARU SAYS THERE'S NO FIX BUT IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BEING WIDESPREAD. REALLY? ONGOING SINCE 143,000 MILES AND CURRENTLY AT 157,300 MILES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .