Subaru B9 Tribeca Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Subaru B9 Tribeca model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2011 drew the fewest (2) and the 2006 the most (84).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2010 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2012 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 7 | Exterior lighting | — | — |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 | Power train | — | — |
| 2008 Among the most complaints |
16 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2007 Among the most complaints |
26 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 18 |
| 2006 Among the most complaints |
84 | 0 | Structure | — | 18 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Subaru B9 Tribeca years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca: 84 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 27 (32%); Air bags 18 (21%); Electrical system 13 (15%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 8 fires, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 101,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca: 26 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 8 (31%); Air bags 6 (23%); Structure 5 (19%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 58,430 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca: 16 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 3 (19%); Service brakes 3 (19%); Structure 3 (19%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 50,150 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Subaru B9 Tribeca years with the fewest complaints
2011 Subaru B9 Tribeca: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (50%); Electrical system 1 (50%); Power train 1 (50%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2010 Subaru B9 Tribeca: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 2 (50%); Air bags 1 (25%); Service brakes 1 (25%).
Reports mention 1 fire. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Exterior lighting 2 (50%); Power train 2 (50%); Electrical system 1 (25%).
7 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Subaru B9 Tribeca owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50,150 |
| 2007 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 58,430 |
| 2006 | 84 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 101,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Subaru B9 Tribeca recalls
- Accessory Puddle Light may Short-circuit (2012 model year; 633,842 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2012; 12V602000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2012 model year; 452,630 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2019; 19V009000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2012 model year; 330,120 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2019; 19V008000)
- Hood May Open Unexpectedly (2012 model year; 77,017 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2016; 16V060000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2012 model year; 64,179 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2018; 18V012000)
All 7 Subaru B9 Tribeca recall campaigns · Subaru B9 Tribeca problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Subaru B9 Tribeca years FAQ
Which Subaru B9 Tribeca year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2011 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Subaru B9 Tribeca years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2006, 2007 and 2008 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the structure. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Subaru B9 Tribeca problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the structure (37 of 145 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Subaru B9 Tribeca have?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering the Subaru B9 Tribeca. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Subaru B9 Tribeca recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.