2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca has a complaint index of 67, ranking 3rd-worst among 7 model years with data, and carries a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 16 complaints, one crash, and one fire, with top problem areas in Structure & Body and Suspension, Wheels & Tires.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 67/100
- #3 of 7 B9 Tribeca years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 16
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
Top 2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body4 (25%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (25%)
- Airbags3 (19%)
- Brakes3 (19%)
- Fuel System2 (13%)
- Engine1 (6%)
- Other1 (6%)
- Steering1 (6%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Hood latches can fail and let the hood fly open at highway speed, striking and shattering the windshield.
- Rear suspension components, including a lateral link, have broken, causing the rear end to sway or fishtail and the driver to lose control.
- Brake pedal has gone unresponsive in freezing weather, traced to vacuum assist hoses, requiring repeated pumping to stop the car.
- The engine has been reported to burn oil at a high rate starting very early in the vehicle's life, with no visible leaks.
- Owners with Takata airbag recall notices reported long waits because replacement parts were unavailable.
2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2008 compared with other B9 Tribeca years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca reliable?
- NHTSA data gives it a complaint index of 67 and a Caution verdict, ranking 3rd-worst out of 7 B9 Tribeca model years. It is safer than the 2006 and 2007 model years but reports more issues than 2009 through 2012.
- What are the biggest problems with the 2008 B9 Tribeca?
- Structure & Body and Suspension, Wheels & Tires each account for 25% of complaints. Structure & Body issues center on hood latches failing and opening at speed, while suspension complaints describe rear-end swaying, in one case from a broken lateral link.
- Does the 2008 B9 Tribeca have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 0 recalls specifically logged for the 2008 model year in this data, though owners reported delays getting parts for a Takata airbag recall campaign.
- At what mileage do 2008 B9 Tribeca problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 50,150 miles. Brake complaints showed up earlier, at a median of 25,925 miles, while Structure & Body issues appeared later, at a median of 90,000 miles.
- How does the 2008 B9 Tribeca compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 67 is better than the 2006 (100, Avoid) and 2007 (83, Avoid) model years but worse than 2009 (50, Caution), 2010 (33), 2011 (17), and 2012 (0).