FaultScore

Subaru B9 Tribeca airbag problems

30 of the 214 complaints filed about the Subaru B9 Tribeca are about the airbag system — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.

30

Complaints

14%

Share of all complaints

4

Crashes

1

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

2006 B9 Tribeca 18 60.0%

Median failure at 95,952 miles

2007 B9 Tribeca 6 20.0%

Median failure at 130,000 miles

2008 B9 Tribeca 3 10.0%

Median failure at 200,000 miles

Median failure at 100,000 miles

Median failure at 50 miles

What owners said

2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca at 200,000 miles Weston, WV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owned a 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca. The contact stated while driving on ice, at a low speed, the contact's vehicle slid and rolled before slamming into a culvert. The contact stated that the driver's door air bag was deployed, however, no other air bags deployed. In addition, the contact stated that an unknown air bag recall repair was performed on the vehicle in 2023. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The Police and paramedics were at the scene. A Police report was filed, however, some of the information was unavailable. The contact was transported to the local hospital. The contact sustained bruises, scratches, and body pain. The vehicle was condemned to total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11631418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca Lowman, ID Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

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!

NHTSA complaint #11423161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca Omaha, NE

AIR BAGS

THE LATCH ON THE FRONT HOOD IS BROKEN IT WILL NOT CLOSE AND WHEN I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING TO WORK I FEEL LIKE THE HOOD IS GOING TO FLY OPEN. ALSO THE GAS DOOR LATCH IS BROKEN AS WELL IT WILL NOT OPEN WHEN YOU PULL THE GAS DOOR LATCH. I WAS TOLD BY CREDIT KARMA THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG ARE BOTH DEFECTIVE IN MOTION ON CITY AND HIGHWAY STREET

NHTSA complaint #11184706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Springfield, VT

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER I HAD MY PASSENGER AIR BAG REPLACED , NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THIS AND IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL IT IS AN INTERNAL SHORT SO THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE WHOLE AIRBAG FOR 860 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR

NHTSA complaint #11122269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Corpus Christi, TX

AIR BAGS

I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS NOTICES TO HAVE MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG REPLACED. ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE MADE APPOINTMENTS WITH THE LOCAL CORPUS CHRISTI SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE THIS REMEDIED. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THEY TELL ME THAT THE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. THE LATEST NOTICE DATED 8/17 TELLS ME THAT. "PARTS ARE AVAILABLE", HOWEVER THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY ARE NOT. I KEEP GETTING THE RUNAROUND AND IN THE MEANTIME I CANNOT HAVE A PASSENGER SIT IN MY FRONT SEAT AND I DON'T FEEL SAVE DRIVING IT.

NHTSA complaint #11066794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Subaru B9 Tribeca at 100,000 miles Hebbronviile, TX

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11051765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Edwards, CO

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V016000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. VISTA SUBARU OF SILVERTHORNE, COLORADO (171 9TH ST, 80498) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #11032683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca at 130,000 miles Jamaica Plain, MA

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #11018635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca at 130,000 miles Passaic, NJ

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL INFLETER ON ,MY SUBARU TRIBECA ITS A PROBLEM I HAVE TO GO GROSERY CHOPPING WITH MY FAMILY I PUT MY FAMILY BACK IN THE AND MY CHOPPING BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIT TO BE SAFE IN CASE OF A ACCIDENT YOU KNOW!!!!

NHTSA complaint #11015276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca at 101,905 miles Miami, FL Fire

AIR BAGS

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I CAN'T EMPHASIZE RIGHT NOW HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM IN SUBARU'S CUSTOMER SERVICE IN BOTH THE USA AND IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA. I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA. I HAVE YET TO CONTACT CORPORATE IN JAPAN, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. UNFORTUNATELY, BOTH PARTIES ON THE SIDES OF SUBARU IN PANAMA (SUBARU DEL CANAL S.A.) AND SUBARU IN THE USA (1-800-782-2783) HAVE BEEN MORE WORRIED ABOUT COSTS THAN PROMOTING SUBARU'S STANDARD OF SAFETY WHICH IS WHY I INVESTED IN THE SUBARU IN THE FIRST PLACE, BEING AN EXPECTANT FATHER AT THE TIME. AROUND JULY OF 2010 MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A SECOND HAND 2006 B9 TRIBECA FROM A DEALER IN PHOENIX, AZ. WE ENJOYED THE VEHICLE SO MUCH, THAT WE DECIDED TO BRING IT WITH US ON OUR MOVE BACK TO PANAMA. I GUESS THIS IS WHERE SUBARU'S COMMITMENT TO SAFETY DRAWS THE LINE. EVERYONE I HAVE SO FAR SPOKEN TO HAS BASICALLY TOLD ME WELL SINCE YOU DIDN'T BUY THE CAR HERE WE CAN'T HELP YOU, OR, SINCE YOU ARE NO LONGER HERE, WE CAN'T PAY FOR IT. I AM SITTING HERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW YOUR DESIGN FLAWS, ARE MY FAULT JUST BECAUSE I MOVED THE CAR FROM ONE SUBARU MARKET, TO ANOTHER. THE RECALLS IN QUESTION ARE: WQE41, WQY60, AND TKA16. MY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR ABOUT TO LEAVE MY RESIDENCE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR PUDDLE LIGHTS BOTH FAILED. THE FRONT ONE WAS SMOKING HEAVILY AND THE REAR ONE WAS ON FIRE. MY WIFE IMMEDIATELY GRABBED THE HOSE AND STARTED SPRAYING THE REAR ONE WHILE I GRABBED A 10MM WRENCH AND DISCONNECTED THE LEAD TO THE CAR BATTERY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRIM ON THE UNDERSIDE HAS PLASTIC MELTED WITH A BIG GAPING HOLE AND THERE ARE BURN MARKS ON THE PAINT AND PLASTIC ON BOTH PUDDLE LIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #10984872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Reno, NV

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVED INITIAL RECALL NOTICE JULY 2016. I HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER NOTIFICATION. I WAS AT MY LOCAL DEALER ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE AND CHECKED WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK ON THE TAKATA RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY. THE RECALL SAID SUBARU WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. MY LOCAL DEALER (WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR) IS LITHIA RENO SUBARU #38.

NHTSA complaint #10967365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca ST Cloud, FL

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10965743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Overland Park, KS

AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V060000 (STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10955133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Chicago, IL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10945794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca Monroe Township, NJ

AIR BAGS

"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 .

NHTSA complaint #10945518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca Santa Rosa, CA

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10935655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Livingston, NJ

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL- THE SUBARU WEB SITE STATES THERE IS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. MY DEALER OFFER TO GIVE ME A LOANER CAR, BUT MY CHILDREN MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THIS LOANER CAR. I CALL NATIONAL SUBARU AND MY DEALER AND I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT INSTALLED BUT TAKATA HAS NOT DELIVERED THE PART TO MY DEALER TO BE INSTALLED. CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN THE DISTRUBTER WILL BE RELEASING THE AIR BAGS TO LYNNES SUBARU IN BLOOMFIELD NJ.

NHTSA complaint #10935371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Sayville, NY

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL- I AM LOOKING AT THIS SITE AND SEE SOME COMPLAINANTS THAT OWN THE 2006 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA STATING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF A RECALL ON THEIR AIRBAGS, BUT NO PARTS AVAILABLE. NEWS ARTICLE DATED 12/12/16 STATES 29 MILLION CARS UNDER RECALL AND EXPECTED TO GROW TO 42 MILLION RECALLS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION ON MY SUBARU?

NHTSA complaint #10934616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca Burmingham, AL

AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10929653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Moscow, WA

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR WAS EXPORTED TO RUSSIA. SUBARU MOTOR RUSSIA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS RECALL FOR TRIBECA MODEL (IMPREZA IS HEARD TO BE RECALLED). THEIR REPLY IS THAT THERE IS NO AIRBAG RECALL FOR MY VIN [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10919750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Subaru B9 Tribeca problems