There are 4 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2006 Subaru Tribecain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD WE HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2088 AND HAVE REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD EACH YEAR OF OWNERSHIP FROM A SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. WE WINDSHIELD WILL BE WHOLE WHEN PARKED AND THE NEXT MORNING IT WILL HAVE A CRACK WHICH ORIGINATES IN THE BOTTOM CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE CHANGED GLASS COMPANIES MULTIPLE TIMES THINKING THAT IT WAS INSTALLATION ISSUES BUT THE SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. WE ARE ON WINDSHIELD #6 OF OUR OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. POOR WINDSHIELD WIPER DESIGN. WE LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE WE EXPERIENCE A LONG SNOWY WINTER AND THE WIPERS ICE UP AND CAUSES US TO STOP EVERY 5-10 MILES TO CLEAN THEM OFF. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PRACTICE WITH TRAFFIC IE: SNOWPLOWS AND SEMIS TRAVELING THE ROADS AND A PERSON STANDING BESIDE THEIR VEHICLE EXPOSED. *TR
MY SISTER, MOTHER AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOOD SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB EXPLODED IN THE CAR. SHARDS OF GLASS RAINED DOWN ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN WE GOT OUT TO CHECK WHAT HAPPENED, WE NOTICED THE ENTIRE SAFETY LATCH MECHANISM WAS ATTACHED TO THE HOOD AND WAS DANGLING THERE. IT WAS NOT RUSTED. IT SIMPLY DETACHED. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI BEHIND US. IT WAS EXTREMELY TRAUMATIZING AND I AM MENTALLY WORN FROM THIS EXPERIENCE. *TR
SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHEN THE HOOD SUDDENLY POPPED UP AND SLAMMED ON THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE PROOF OF WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS (10/9/2012 & 12/26/2012). *TR
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON THE NJ TURNPIKE SOUTHBOUND BY EXIT 2, THE HOOD ON OUR 2006 B9 TRIBECA FLEW OPEN, SHATTERED MY WINDSHIELD, DENTED MY ROOF AND BLOCKED MY VISION. IT WAS AMAZING THAT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT AND MOVE FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WITHOUT CRASHING. MY WIFE HELPED NAVIGATE US OFF THE ROAD. WE WERE OVER 2 HRS INTO OUR TRIP. THIS IS CLEARLY A FAILURE OF THE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM. I CLOSED THE HOOD THE BEST I COULD AND DROVE 11 MILES TO NEAREST SUBARU DEALER. BECAUSE WE WERE ON A FAMILY VACATION MY KIDS WERE SHAKEN UP. WE HAD TO RENT A CAR TO CONTINUE TRIP. WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM SUBARU AND FROM INSURANCE COMPANY. LATCH WAS RIPPED FROM CHASSIS, HINGES WERE RIPPED FROM CHASSIS, WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED, ROOF DENTED, HOOD DENTED, INTERIOR DAMAGE - MIRROR, LIGHTS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026