Owners filed 4 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the exterior lighting. It has been recalled 7 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power Train
2
0
0
0
Structure › Body › Door
1
0
0
0
Electrical System
1
0
0
0
7 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module19V008000
Filed Jan 9, 2019330,120 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module19V007000
Filed Jan 9, 201943,394 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module19V009000
Filed Jan 9, 2019452,630 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module18V012000
Filed Jan 9, 201864,179 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-18.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module17V014000
Filed Jan 10, 201753,480 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch16V060000
Filed Feb 3, 201677,017 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Tribeca vehicles manufactured November 16, 2004, to January 27, 2014. Due to a possible malfunction of the hood safety system and hood lock system, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving.
Risk. If the hood unexpectedly opens while driving, it may interfere with the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will complete this recall in two phases. Phase one will involve inspection, cleaning, and lubricating the hood safety and hood lock systems. If after this is performed the hood latch does not operate properly, it will be replaced with a new current style part. Phase two will involve installing an improved hood safety system and hood lock system. Interim notification was mailed March 4, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQX-59 (phase one) and WQY-60 (phase two).
Exterior Lighting12V602000
Filed Dec 26, 2012633,842 vehiclesSubaru Of America, Inc.
Defect. Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s).
Risk. Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire.
Remedy. Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Feb 1, 202059,000 milesIN
VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL AND TEMP, ALL WERE NORMAL. PULLED AWAY AND THE ENGINE REVED UP THEN BANGED INTO GEAR. DROVE NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL MILES. THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF. DROVE THE NEXT DAY AND FOR SEVERAL DAYS WITH NO INCIDENCE. OCCURRED AGAIN WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE NEXT WEEK. ON THE SUBARU OWNERS FORUM FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THEY STATED THAT THE SUBARU DEALERS CALLED IT A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 5EAT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 59,000 MILES. DEALER SOLUTION IS A $2000 VALVE BODY. DRIVES NORMALLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES AND AT SLOWER SPEEDS. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS NO POWER IS TRANSMITTED TO THE WHEELS. UNSAFE SITUATION.
Power Train
Filed Oct 25, 201766,000 milesMA
2012 SUBARU TRIBECA- TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE KNOWN ISSUE ON SUBARU CARS FROM THAT YEAR, RECALL/EXTENDED REPAIR DOESN'T COVER MODEL. CAR STALLS WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. STARTED AS STRONG HESITATION AND PROGRESSED RAPIDLY TO UNPREDICTABLE/SUDDEN STALLING. HAPPENED AT BOTH HIGH SPEEDS ON HIGHWAY AND AT SLOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC. RESULTS IN TOTAL ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND REQUIRES TIME FOR ENGINE RESTART. HIGHLY DANGEROUS. OCCURS RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. CRASH HAZARD. FIRST ISSUE 9/28. TOTAL STALL ON MAJOR HIGHWAY 9/30. CANNOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT STALL. TWO ATTEMPTED REPAIRS BEFORE IDENTIFIED. SUBARU DEALER CONFIRMED KNOWN ISSUE FOR THAT YEAR BUT HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY REPORTED FOR THIS CAR TO HELP COVER REPAIR. REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $5000 TO REPLACE PART AND REBUILD TRANSMISSION.
Structure › Body › Door
Filed Mar 20, 201730,000 milesCA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU TRIBECA. WHILE PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO AN OIL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN OIL AND HEAD GASKET LEAK. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS FOR THE DOORS NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN AND THE FREQUENT BULB OUTAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE OIL AND HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Electrical System
Filed Feb 24, 201643,000 milesCA
SUBARU TRIBECA 2012 IS ONLY 3 YEARS AND 7 MONTH OLD. WAS PURCHASED NEW FOR $41,000 FOR BEST SAFETY FEATURES, AND FUEL ECONOMY. MY CAR NEVER WAS IN ACCIDENT, NOT DRIVEN TO THE MOUNTAINS OR HARSH WEATHER CONDITION. ONLY 43000 MILES. HAS MANY ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL, OIL LEAK, STEERING WHEEL. AFTER DRIVING, ON THE SHORT STOP (DROP OFF OR PICK UP KIDS), IN SHIFTING TO P POSITION, THE FRONT RIGHT/LEFT DOORS FREQUENTLY NOT UNLOCKED. EVEN WITH A MANUAL UNLOCK BUTTON TO THE DRIVER LEFT SIDE PANEL. SO, IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCY, IT MAY BE A PROBLEM TO GET OUT FROM THE FRONT SEAT. IN 2014 -2015 HAD ALREADY ISSUE WITH FRONT HEADLIGHTS THAT WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES THE SAME PART, AND 2 TIMES WAS REPLACED THE SAME BREAK LIGHTS. 2015 LEFT SIDE WINDOW THE MOTOR BROKE. SUBARU AUTO NATION MAZDA GARAGE CHARGED $2,473 TO REPLACE BOTH HEADGASKETS LEAKING, TIMING COVER. STEERING WHEEL HAS A BALANCE ISSUE. I REPLACED BATTERY. FRONT TIRE TREAD IS 0 NDS, BACK 5 NDS. AND I CAN'T REPLACE JUST 2 FRONT, I HAVE TO REPLACE ALL TIRES AT ONCE. HAS VERY INSUFFICIENT FUEL USAGE. ADDITIONAL STORAGE SPACE AT THE REAR OF DRIVER SEATS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IT WAS FIXED IN 2015 AND RIPPED AGAIN IN 2 WEEKS. IT'S ALWAYS BREAKS DOWN SOMETHING. I CAME TO REPLACE JUST A BATTERY AND END UP PAYING TO THE GARAGE $3,225.65
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.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Jan 9, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.