There are 4 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2007 Subaru Tribecain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU TRIBECA. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXHAUST FUMES MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,747.
WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOR STOPPED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE?S SPEED SLOWED DRAMATICALLY, STEERING THE DISABLED VEHICLE BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE; A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALER. THE DEALER QUOTED AN ESTIMATE OF $2300 TO TEAR DOWN THE MOTOR TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS 29,000 MILES AND THE WARRANTY HAS EXTENDED COVERAGE TO 84,000 MILES AT A COST OF $1288. SUBARU OF AMERICA WAS CONTACTED TO EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DEALERSHIP; THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ASKED ME TO FAX MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DOCUMENTS WERE FAXED AT 2:00AM ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13, 2008. ON AUGUST 14TH I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA FOR A STATUS UPDATE ON THE VEHICLE; THE REPRESENTATIVE HANDLING MY CASE HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY SO I REQUESTED A CALL BACK THE NEXT DAY. NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT CONFORMED TO THEIR WARRANTY OBLIGATIONS, STATING NEGLECT OF OWNER MAY HAVE CAUSED THE MOTOR FAILURE. HARD FACT, A VEHICLE DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WHOSE MOTOR FAILS WITHOUT WARNING (NO SIGNALS FROM THE ONBOARD DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM-ANOTHER POSSIBLE DEFECT, OR WARNING SOUNDS FROM THE MOTOR) WITH 29,000 EQUATES TO COMPONENT OF FAILURE OF THE MOTOR OR ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE MOTOR IS NOT CEASED; IT TURNS OVER WITH THE IGNITION KEY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU B9TRIBECA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON, THEN THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A CHIP REPLACED. THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. AS OF AUGUST 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER; IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR APPROXIMATELY THIRTY DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,155.
I HAVE A SUBARU TRIBECA 7 PASSENGER. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE TOLLWAY AND A ROCK FLEW UP AND BUSTED A HOLE IN MY RADIATOR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO SUBARU, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. THERE IS AN OPENING IN THE FRONT GRILL WITHOUT ANY SLATS. THE RADIATOR HANGS LOW ENOUGH SO ANYTHING CAN FLY UP, THROUGH THIS OPENING AND PUNCTURE THE RADIATOR. I WAS TOLD BY SUBARU THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN IN 1 OUT OF 3000 CARS. I CHECKED MOST OF THE OTHER CROSSOVER SUV BY OTHER MANUFACTURES, AND THEY EITHER HAVE SLATS IN THE OPENING OR THE RADIATOR DOES NOT HANG DOWN LOW ENOUGH TO BE EXPOSED TO ANY ROAD DEBRIS. I HAD THE CAR 1 WEEK AFTER BUYING IT NEW AND HAD TO SPEND OVER $600 ON A RADIATOR. BUT, MY BIGGER CONCERN, IS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THANKFULLY, I DID NOT CRASH THE VEHICLE. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT THIS FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN. *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 25, 2026