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2009 Subaru Tribeca problems

The most common problem on the 2009 Subaru Tribeca is brakes. It has 1.3 times the complaints of a typical Tribeca model year.

Typical year1.3x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
5
Recalls
9
Service bulletins
48
Worst area
Brakes

The worst 2009 Subaru Tribeca problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Brakes
    3
  • Body
    1
  • Driver assistance
    1
  • Electrical
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Brakes
    3
  • Body
    1
  • Driver assistance
    1
  • Electrical
    1

Recalls 9

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2018 · 64,179 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 18V012000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2018 · 93,209 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback 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 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 TKB-18.

Recall number 18V013000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2018 · 72,150 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback 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 will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, 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 TKC-18.

Recall number 18V014000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 11, 2017 · 69,529 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally 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 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 passenger front 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 TKB-17.

Recall number 17V026000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 10, 2017 · 53,480 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 17V014000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported May 25, 2016 · 302,127 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in 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, or "Zone A." These vehicles may be 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 their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑856‑488‑8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1‑800‑955‑9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.

Recall number 16V358000 · Recall details

Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latchReported February 3, 2016 · 77,017 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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).

Recall number 16V060000 · Recall details

Exterior lightingReported December 26, 2012 · 633,842 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 12V602000 · Recall details

Electronic stability control (ESC)Reported December 9, 2008 · 5,130 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru is recalling 5,130 my 2008-2009 tribeca passenger vehicles. The vehicle dynamic control (vdc) g-sensor was improperly installed. This sensor is designed to be mounted in a forward facing direction but may have been installed backwards during production.
Risk
If the sensor was improperly installed, vehicle handling characteristics during hard braking, sudden turns or other quick maneuvers could cause the vehicle to react in an unexpected manner or result in unstable handling. Under extreme conditions, the driver could lose control of the vehicle and a crash could occur.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the position of the vdc g-sensor. If the sensor is found to be installed correctly, no further action is needed. If the sensor is found to be installed incorrectly (backwards), the sensor will be removed and reinstalled in the correct position. The vdc system will also be reprogrammed to ensure proper operation. The recallbegan on december 19, 2008. Owners may contact subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783.

Recall number 08V645000 · Recall details

See all 9 recalls for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca

Technical service bulletins for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca 48

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 48 bulletins for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca

What 2009 Subaru Tribeca owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Feb 16, 2015 · Brakes · 52,010 miles · PA

The car was started in the driveway on a very cold day. The brake pedal was initially able to be pressed, but then became rock hard and could not be pushed down. After 10 minutes of letting the car warm up, the brake pedal was able to be pressed, but then seized up again 1 minute later. This could cause a crash if it occurred on the highway.

Filed Jan 8, 2015 · Brakes · 52,000 miles · PA · crash

I was going around a bend and the brake pedal locked. I was unable to utilize the brakes. Due to this brake failure, I drove up on a hillside and smashed into a telephone pole. Feel that this is a mechanical defect in the car which caused the accident as the brake pedal was locked into place. The car had no known mechanical issues and was inspected in july 2014.

Filed Oct 10, 2014 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 118,000 miles · CT

Driving car and it jolted, shift gear lights went out and all lights came on dash board, att-oil temp, cruise control, check engine light, and slippery when wet light, car lost power down to 2-5 miles per hour. Thought it was transmission had it looked at twice by capitol transmission in hartford, they found nothing wrong with the transmission. Then the lights went away drove it again for a week it jolted again and lights back on again. Took it to gabe's tyre (cousin) he replaced the oil pressure gage thinking it was that since they had another issue with a subaru similar with my issue, and that did not correct the problem with my car. He suggested I take to the dealership. Could not drive to the canton subaru too far so drove it to premier subaru in watertown, ct. They have had my car since sept. 9th. They have spoken with subaru of america to help them try to figure out the issue with the electrical short, they have replaced the 2 different big expensive parts costing me $2, 300 after subaru kicked in $500 to help defray the cost because original cost was $2950. I picked up car last night drove it less than 3 miles and it jolted again in the middle of a busy road almost causing an accident and all lights came back on. I noticed the shift gear lights were never fixed. Drove car back up to dealership this morning let them know that the car is not fixed and also told them about the gear shift lights were not fixed which was in my original complaint about the car, also in my first complaint was that I have been replacing headlight bulbs since I bought the car every 3-6 months a headlight would go out. I had the heat on this morning and noticed it was scorching hot only on 75 degrees should not feel like a sauna. I don't know if this has ever happened to another subaru car I have not been able to find any recalls on line for this. Need your help!

Filed Jun 5, 2014 · Body · 107,800 miles · NY

While driving my car I rested my left foot on the "footrest" of the drivers side floor and the heel of my shoe went right thru the floor of my 2008 subaru tribeca. I had to take my foot out of the shoe to get the shoe "unstuck". I thank god I was not driving on the expressway and could pull over when it happened. When I took the shoe out I could see a black wire in the background area. I know this is not normal or safe and I would like to know if it has happened before and how I can get this repaired.

Filed Mar 26, 2012 · Brakes · 15,000 miles · MN

#1 the VIN # is correct. #2 the brake travel is to excessive for proper response time. This has been noted when the vehicle was purchased with 15000 miles. Lither suburu in white bear lake mn was requested to check this out for another service maintenance. They would not check it because it was not under recall such as the 2011 legacy model. Since my wife drives the vehicle she is not knowledgeable as to the distance the foot pedal should travel. I have spent years in automotive and heavy equipment as a service engineer so I feel qualified to say that this is a safety deficiency. I had another engineer drive it to verify my conclusion.

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Questions about the 2009 Subaru Tribeca

Is the 2009 Subaru Tribeca reliable?

Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2009 Subaru Tribeca, 1.3 times a typical Tribeca model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2009 Subaru Tribeca?

Brakes, with 3 complaints. Next is body (1).

How many recalls does the 2009 Subaru Tribeca have?

9 recalls, covering air bags, latches/locks/linkages and exterior lighting.

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