2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca

Routine

Owners filed 26 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags5
101
Fuel/Propulsion System3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Steering2
000
Power Train2
000
Electrical System2
010
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2024100,000 milesNC

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.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 1, 2021ID

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!

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 27, 2021CA

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 9, 2020116,000 milesNJ

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.

Electrical System
Filed May 1, 2019100,000 milesPA

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 30, 2017117,000 milesPA

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.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 21, 2017130,000 milesMA

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.

Air Bags
Filed Mar 13, 2017FL

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.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 16, 2017NJ

"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

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Dec 16, 2016CA

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.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 19, 2016IL

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.

Power Train
Filed Jul 14, 2015130,000 milesNY

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

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 8, 2015145 milesVA

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.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 8, 201570,000 milesCA

FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT CONSTANTLY. *TR

Steering
Filed Feb 6, 201390,595 milesVA

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

Steering
Filed Jan 7, 201358,430 milesDC

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

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 23, 201275,000 milesWA

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

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 29, 201057,000 milesTN

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 16, 200829,000 milesCA

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

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed May 5, 200818,900 milesNY

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

20 of 26 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20124700Routine
20112000Routine
20104010Routine
20099000Routine
200816010Routine
2007 — this page26020Routine
200684080Routine

Compare every B9 Tribeca year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.