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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Subaru TRIBECA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

14 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

82,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 14 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues214.3%
Braking behavior17.1%
Steering behavior17.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
6
Exterior Lighting
2
Steering
2
Electrical System
1
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Engine
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Latches/Locks/Linkages
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags6
Exterior Lighting2
Steering2
Electrical System1
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Engine1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Air Bags: 6; Exterior Lighting: 2; Steering: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009
1
2010
1
2013
1
2014
1
2016
4
2017
4
2018
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20101
20131
20141
20164
20174
20182

2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11100802 · 2018-06-10 (June 10, 2018)

WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO PARK MY CAR, NOTICE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE SEAT IS. I LOOKED UP FOR ANY RECALLS AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY CAR 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA FOR EXTERIOR PUDDLE LIGHT THAT MAY CAUSE SMOKE OR FIRE IF THE WIRING IS EXPOSED TO CERTAIN MOISTURE. I ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER IN THE RECALL AND IT'S NOT LISTED. COULD MY CAR STILL HAVE THIS RECALL?

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11100802 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11101199 · 2018-06-11 (June 11, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE PUDDLE LIGHT HAD OVERHEATED AND WAS BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT…

Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101199 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10568359 · 2014-03-11 (March 11, 2014)

WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DIPS BELOW 20 DEGREES F, THE BRAKES FAIL TO WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES NOW IN THE YEAR 2014. THIS HAS HAPPENED EACH TIME MY CAR HAS SAT OUT IN THE COLD TEMPERATURES (<20 DEGREES) FOR 8 HOURS (WHILE AT WORK). WHEN PULLING OUT OF MY SPACE IN THE OUTDOOR PARKING GARAGE, MY BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES HARD AND I AM UNABLE TO DEPRESS IT. MY CAR WILL NOT STOP. APPLYING HARD PRESSURE SLOWS IT DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON DRY PAVEMENT. I ONCE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED ONCE AFTER I WAS O…

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568359 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10491510 · 2013-01-05 (January 5, 2013)

THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE WEIRD NOISES THEN WE LOST POWER STEERING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 980,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10491510 at NHTSA ↗