Subaru B9 Tribeca 2008
Model B9 Tribeca made in 2008 by Subaru got 34 consumer complains as well as 2 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to electronic stability control and engine and engine cooling. Technical service bulletines regarding tires.
Model 2008
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIRES | |||||
| SB-05-50-10R | 02/03/2011 | 10037968 | Ready | 06/08/2011 | |
| SB-05-50-10R | 02/03/2011 | 10037968 | Subaru: there is a steering wheel vibration at highway speeds due to an imporper wheel balance. *rm | 06/08/2011 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL | |||
| 09/26/2007 | 1700 | 1 | 07/19/2007 |
| I was driving 70 mph on the right most northbound lane of i-75 at mile marker 452 in florida. the road had become wet from recent rain. the rear of my car suddenly started fishtailing to the right. the fishtail evolved into full-blown counterclockwise spins which took the car all the way to the guardrail in the middle shoulder. the impact resulted in the car being totaled. i believe a defect with the abs, electronic stability control system or the all wheel drive caused the accident. the road was perfectly straight, and i didn't apply the brakes or make any sudden steering changes. i reported the incident to subaru and asked for an investigation of the wrecked car. despite three letters and a complete report, the company refused to inspect the car. *tr | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 05/14/2008 | 1600 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||
| 11/15/2008 | 35 | 1 | |
| We are writing you out of desperation as we recently purchased a 2008 subaru tribeca from center subaru that we cannot use for family use because the vehicle makes us ill when we are in it. to give you some background, we noticed upon test driving the vehicle that it produced a pressure sensation in our ears while driving, but we attributed it to the weather conditions that day as it was raining and we often experience allergies on rainy days. we brought this feeling we were having to the attention of the salesman and sales manager at center subaru and they both said they had never heard of this before and that it might be caused by the wrapping on the new vehicle. so convinced this was not something that could possibly be brought on by a vehicle, we purchased the vehicle and that was the beginning of our problems. upon driving the vehicle the first week of owning it our ears continued to worsen leaving us with a constant pressure feeling reducing our ability to hear and function properly. we both needed to get some relief from this feeling so we visited our doctor who examined both our nose and ears and said that our ears were indeed blocked and we were suffering from eustachian tube dysfunction brought on by an allergic reaction from something we had inhaled. he prescribed us both nasal sprays to help clear the congestion out of the ears and told us that the only way the nasal spray would truly help us was if we avoided contact with the allergen. for myself the problem has subsided as i have stayed out of the vehicle since purchasing it, but for my husband he is still suffering as he has had to drive this vehicle to and from work since we only have two vehicles in our household. this thus proving that the vehicle is the source of the allergen. dealer & subaru are not helping can you please help us? *tr | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES | |||
| 01/09/2013 | 50150 | ||
| Backing out of garage during cold weather below freezing, stepped on brake pedal and no response from the brake system. was unable to stop car until i pumped brakes frantically many times. left car out during below freezing weather 2 more times, same problem--no brakes. vacuum assist for brakes would not work in below freezing weather. took car to subaru dealer, all 3 vacuum hose brakes replaced. dealer states that each hose has a check valve in it for the vacuum system. fortunately we discovered this problem at a very low rate of speed. no vacuum assist for the brakes makes this car virtually unstoppable at almost any speed. what if it would have been on a mountain road?? death would be eminent. i feel this should be under recall before someone is killed or maimed. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK | |||
| 09/26/2007 | 1700 | 1 | 07/19/2007 |
| I was driving 70 mph on the right most northbound lane of i-75 at mile marker 452 in florida. the road had become wet from recent rain. the rear of my car suddenly started fishtailing to the right. the fishtail evolved into full-blown counterclockwise spins which took the car all the way to the guardrail in the middle shoulder. the impact resulted in the car being totaled. i believe a defect with the abs, electronic stability control system or the all wheel drive caused the accident. the road was perfectly straight, and i didn't apply the brakes or make any sudden steering changes. i reported the incident to subaru and asked for an investigation of the wrecked car. despite three letters and a complete report, the company refused to inspect the car. *tr | |||
| STEERING | |||
| 06/15/2012 | 100800 | ||
| It was around 8:00pm. i was driving in light traffic around 25 mph heading west on alondra bl crossing downey ave in the city of paramount, when all of a sudden i heard screeching and the rear of the car started swaying side to side. i stepped on the breaks and the rear end of the car started turning to the left going in to the left lane. cars on the left lane had to slam on the breaks to avoid colliding with me. i was able to slowly pull over to the side of the road. i called a mechanic, after inspecting the car he informed me that the suspension control arm on the rear driver side broke. he also said it could have been a lot worst if i was going faster, i can only imagine what the consequences could have been if i was driving on the freeway. i googled recall 20250xa060 (part number). i don't speak portuguese but it looks to me like that part has been recalled in brazil. | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 12/25/2012 | 50000 | 1 | |
| I was driving my 2008 subaru tribeca with my family in the car on i-70 east near baltimore in the middle lane when the hood of the car opened smashing into the windshield. both the hood and the windshield were damaged. the incident happened 35 minutes after the start of the trip. there were no bumps on the road and no other vehicles were involved in the incident. the hood was last opened by a subaru mechanic during an oil change about 2 months prior to the incident. no similar problems occurred prior to the incident. there was no indication that the hood was not properly closed. furthermore, the second safety latch didn't appear to have worked even if the first gave way. subaru was contacted and i was told this was an insurance issue as they claimed there were no recalls (even though i insisted that no recalls was no indication that this was not either a manufacturing or a design defect. *tr | |||
| 12/25/2012 | 50000 | ||
| I was driving my 2008 subaru tribeca with my family in the car on i-70 east near baltimore in the middle lane when the hood of the car opened smashing into the windshielf. both the hood and the windshield were damaged. the incident happened 35 minutes after the start of the trip. there were no bumps on the road and no other vehicles were involved in the incident. the hood was last opened by a subaru mechanic during an oil change about 2 months prior to the incident. no similar problems occured prior to the incident. there was no indication that the hood was not properly closed. furthermore, the second safety latch didn't appear to have worked even if the first gave way. subaru was contacted and i was told this was an insurance issue as they claimed there were no recalls (even though i insisted that no recalls was no indication that this was not either a manufacturing or a design defect. | |||
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 06/30/2012 | 51300 | 1 | |
| This accident occurs in queretaro, mx. i was driven in a secondary road and suddenly my subaru tribeca 2008 turned right and for a while i lose the control. after few seconds i could drive my car forward and stopped it outroad. the specialized analysis determined that the left lateral link was broken. this lateral link was replaced in march 2012 because another accident in which the rear left suspension was broken and all pieces that compound the rear suspension were replaced too. the agency is waiting for a new laterar link and i'm worried about the quality of the piece. fortunately this accident don't produce fatal victims. but it could... *tr | |||
| 06/30/2012 | 51300 | ||
| This accident occurs in queretaro, mx. i was driven in a secondary road and suddenly my subaru tribeca 2008 turned rigth and for a while i lose the control. after few seconds i could drive my car forward and stoped it outroad. the specialiced analisys determined tha the left lateral link was broken. this lateral link was replaced in march 2012 because another accident in wich the rear left suspension was broken and all pieces that compound the rear suspension were replaced too. the agency is waitting for a new laterar link and i'm worried about the quality of tha piece. fortunately this accident don't produce fatal victims. but it could... | |||
| 06/15/2012 | 100800 | ||
| It was around 8:00pm. i was driving in light traffic around 25 mph heading west on alondra bl crossing downey ave in the city of paramount, when all of a sudden i heard screeching and the rear of the car started swaying side to side. i stepped on the breaks and the rear end of the car started turning to the left going in to the left lane. cars on the left lane had to slam on the breaks to avoid colliding with me. i was able to slowly pull over to the side of the road. i called a mechanic, after inspecting the car he informed me that the suspension control arm on the rear driver side broke. he also said it could have been a lot worst if i was going faster, i can only imagine what the consequences could have been if i was driving on the freeway. i googled recall 20250xa060 (part number). i don't speak portuguese but it looks to me like that part has been recalled in brazil. | |||
| 01/20/2008 | 3600 | 1 | 11/09/2007 |
| The vehicle is a 2008 subaru tribeca limited 5-passenger with remote start. the vehicle was purchase at a primary subaru dealer in our local area, as a demo with 1,500 miles on it (manager at the dealer was driving it at the time). the vehicle at first didn't make any noticeable noises or vibrations (seemed factory new, flawless). after a month of normal driving a noise from the passenger side suspension components or undercarriage area would make a rumbling or low squeaking/rubbing. shortly after, i made it clear on our 4,500 mile oil change service that this issue was present and was affecting me as a consumer to enjoy my new car. the problem was originally overlooked by all the persons i had asked to take a look at it (dealer manager, used car specialist and shop mechanic) after a second attempt of leaving the vehicle at the dealership for 2 days, they discovered the issue i was trying to explain to be the problem and came back saying the following. that a new(with zero miles) tribeca with similar trim and package would make the same noise as my vehicle as well as another used tribeca that was on the lot that the manager was driving as another demo model for the dealership. the noise would occur at any speed and especially when the body of the car would move or shift weight and the suspension components were demanded. times at which the noise would occur were the following: speed bumps, taking turns, backing up, pulling away from an intersection on a green light with or without aggressiveness. at the time, nothing was done to eliminate the noise or the cause and source of the issue, other than lubricate the strut. however, when it rains, due to the moisture which causes the dampness in the part(s) making the noise for some time until it dries up again. *tr | |||
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | |||
| 12/25/2012 | 50000 | ||
| I was driving my 2008 subaru tribeca with my family in the car on i-70 east near baltimore in the middle lane when the hood of the car opened smashing into the windshielf. both the hood and the windshield were damaged. the incident happened 35 minutes after the start of the trip. there were no bumps on the road and no other vehicles were involved in the incident. the hood was last opened by a subaru mechanic during an oil change about 2 months prior to the incident. no similar problems occured prior to the incident. there was no indication that the hood was not properly closed. furthermore, the second safety latch didn't appear to have worked even if the first gave way. subaru was contacted and i was told this was an insurance issue as they claimed there were no recalls (even though i insisted that no recalls was no indication that this was not either a manufacturing or a design defect. | |||
| WHEELS | |||
| 06/15/2012 | 100800 | ||
| It was around 8:00pm. i was driving in light traffic around 25 mph heading west on alondra bl crossing downey ave in the city of paramount, when all of a sudden i heard screeching and the rear of the car started swaying side to side. i stepped on the breaks and the rear end of the car started turning to the left going in to the left lane. cars on the left lane had to slam on the breaks to avoid colliding with me. i was able to slowly pull over to the side of the road. i called a mechanic, after inspecting the car he informed me that the suspension control arm on the rear driver side broke. he also said it could have been a lot worst if i was going faster, i can only imagine what the consequences could have been if i was driving on the freeway. i googled recall 20250xa060 (part number). i don't speak portuguese but it looks to me like that part has been recalled in brazil. | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA | CONCORDVILLE | 19331 | CONCORDVILLE SUBARU | 6104598900 |