2008 Subaru B9 TRIBECA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
50,150 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 16 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 18.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Air Bags: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Suspension: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Tires: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 5 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10215460 · 2008-01-20 (January 20, 2008)
I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE RIGHT MOST NORTHBOUND LANE OF I-75 AT MILE MARKER 452 IN FLORIDA. THE ROAD HAD BECOME WET FROM RECENT RAIN. THE REAR OF MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED FISHTAILING TO THE RIGHT. THE FISHTAIL EVOLVED INTO FULL-BLOWN COUNTERCLOCKWISE SPINS WHICH TOOK THE CAR ALL THE WAY TO THE GUARDRAIL IN THE MIDDLE SHOULDER. THE IMPACT RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING TOTALED. I BELIEVE A DEFECT WITH THE ABS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM OR THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. THE ROAD WAS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT, AND I DIDN'T APPLY T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217781 · 2008-02-12 (February 12, 2008)
THE VEHICLE IS A 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA LIMITED 5-PASSENGER WITH REMOTE START. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE AT A PRIMARY SUBARU DEALER IN OUR LOCAL AREA, AS A DEMO WITH 1,500 MILES ON IT (MANAGER AT THE DEALER WAS DRIVING IT AT THE TIME). THE VEHICLE AT FIRST DIDN'T MAKE ANY NOTICEABLE NOISES OR VIBRATIONS (SEEMED FACTORY NEW, FLAWLESS). AFTER A MONTH OF NORMAL DRIVING A NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS OR UNDERCARRIAGE AREA WOULD MAKE A RUMBLING OR LOW SQUEAKING/RUBBING. SHORTLY AFTER, I MADE IT CLEAR ON OUR 4,500 MILE OIL CHAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242362 · 2008-09-15 (September 15, 2008)
I HAVE A 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA. BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND NOW HAS APPX. 7500 MILES ON IT. FROM ABOUT THE 1,600 MILE MARK ON THE VEHICLE, IT HAS BEEN BURNING 1 QT. OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES. ENGINE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO LEAKS UNDER THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250404 · 2008-12-01 (December 1, 2008)
WE ARE WRITING YOU OUT OF DESPERATION AS WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA FROM CENTER SUBARU THAT WE CANNOT USE FOR FAMILY USE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE MAKES US ILL WHEN WE ARE IN IT. TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND, WE NOTICED UPON TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE THAT IT PRODUCED A PRESSURE SENSATION IN OUR EARS WHILE DRIVING, BUT WE ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT DAY AS IT WAS RAINING AND WE OFTEN EXPERIENCE ALLERGIES ON RAINY DAYS. WE BROUGHT THIS FEELING WE WERE HAVING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SALESMAN AND SALES MANAGER AT CEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462031 · 2012-06-18 (June 18, 2012)
IT WAS AROUND 8:00PM. I WAS DRIVING IN LIGHT TRAFFIC AROUND 25 MPH HEADING WEST ON ALONDRA BL CROSSING DOWNEY AVE IN THE CITY OF PARAMOUNT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD SCREECHING AND THE REAR OF THE CAR STARTED SWAYING SIDE TO SIDE. I STEPPED ON THE BREAKS AND THE REAR END OF THE CAR STARTED TURNING TO THE LEFT GOING IN TO THE LEFT LANE. CARS ON THE LEFT LANE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH ME. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED A MECHANIC, AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR HE INFORMED ME THAT THE SUSPENS…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464831 · 2012-07-10 (July 10, 2012)
THIS ACCIDENT OCCURS IN QUERETARO, MX. I WAS DRIVEN IN A SECONDARY ROAD AND SUDDENLY MY SUBARU TRIBECA 2008 TURNED RIGHT AND FOR A WHILE I LOSE THE CONTROL. AFTER FEW SECONDS I COULD DRIVE MY CAR FORWARD AND STOPPED IT OUTROAD. THE SPECIALIZED ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT LATERAL LINK WAS BROKEN. THIS LATERAL LINK WAS REPLACED IN MARCH 2012 BECAUSE ANOTHER ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE REAR LEFT SUSPENSION WAS BROKEN AND ALL PIECES THAT COMPOUND THE REAR SUSPENSION WERE REPLACED TOO. THE AGENCY IS WAITING FOR A NEW LATERAR LINK AND I'M WO…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490097 · 2012-12-26 (December 26, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR ON I-70 EAST NEAR BALTIMORE IN THE MIDDLE LANE WHEN THE HOOD OF THE CAR OPENED SMASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH THE HOOD AND THE WINDSHIELD WERE DAMAGED. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED 35 MINUTES AFTER THE START OF THE TRIP. THERE WERE NO BUMPS ON THE ROAD AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT. THE HOOD WAS LAST OPENED BY A SUBARU MECHANIC DURING AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. NO SIMILAR PROBLEMS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10493805 · 2013-01-22 (January 22, 2013)
BACKING OUT OF GARAGE DURING COLD WEATHER BELOW FREEZING, STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM. WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAR UNTIL I PUMPED BRAKES FRANTICALLY MANY TIMES. LEFT CAR OUT DURING BELOW FREEZING WEATHER 2 MORE TIMES, SAME PROBLEM--NO BRAKES. VACUUM ASSIST FOR BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK IN BELOW FREEZING WEATHER. TOOK CAR TO SUBARU DEALER, ALL 3 VACUUM HOSE BRAKES REPLACED. DEALER STATES THAT EACH HOSE HAS A CHECK VALVE IN IT FOR THE VACUUM SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY WE DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493805 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.