There are 2 stored owner reports matching the engine leading-label group for the 2008 Subaru Tribeca in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 2 of 2 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A ROAD COVERED WITH SNOW AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF STEAM EXPELLED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEAM MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF FOR A FEW MOMENTS, RESTART AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION WITH CAUTION. UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION AND INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD HE OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EXHIBITED MASSIVE SNOW,THE BELTS AND RUBBER HOSES WERE BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WINTER MONTHS; YET, THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN IN THE SNOW DUE TO THE SNOW ENTERING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,066. UPDATED 05/11/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/11/09.*JB
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
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.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.