CarRecallWatchThe 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca has 7 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA.
The most-reported problem area is Exterior Lighting (2 reports).
2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca recalls
Passenger airbag inflator may explode in a crash
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles may rupture during deployment in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Certain Subaru vehicles have a passenger-side frontal airbag inflator that can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag may explode and send metal fragments into occupants
The passenger-side front airbag inflator can degrade over time from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Passenger airbag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments at occupants
The passenger-side front airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash.
Hood May Open While Driving, Blocking View
Certain Subaru Tribeca vehicles may have a problem with the hood safety system and hood lock system.
Most common 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca problems
Problem areas named in the 4 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
What owners report
VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL AND TEMP, ALL WERE NORMAL. PULLED AWAY AND THE ENGINE REVED UP THEN BANGED INTO GEAR. DROVE NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL MILES. THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF. DROVE THE NEXT DAY AND FOR SEVERAL DAYS WITH NO INCIDENCE. OCCURRED AGAIN WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE NEXT WEEK. ON THE SUBARU OWNERS FORUM FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THEY STATED THAT THE SUBARU DEALERS CALLED IT A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 5EAT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 59,000 MILES. DEALER SOLUTION IS A $2000 VALVE BODY. DRIVES NORMALLY
2012 SUBARU TRIBECA- TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE KNOWN ISSUE ON SUBARU CARS FROM THAT YEAR, RECALL/EXTENDED REPAIR DOESN'T COVER MODEL. CAR STALLS WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. STARTED AS STRONG HESITATION AND PROGRESSED RAPIDLY TO UNPREDICTABLE/SUDDEN STALLING. HAPPENED AT BOTH HIGH SPEEDS ON HIGHWAY AND AT SLOW SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC. RESULTS IN TOTAL ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND REQUIRES TIME FOR ENGINE RESTART. HIGHLY DANGEROUS. OCCURS RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. CRASH HAZARD. FIRST ISSUE 9/28. TOTAL STALL ON MAJOR HIGHWAY 9/30. CANNOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT STALL. TWO ATTEMPTED REPAIRS BEFORE IDENTIFIED. SUBARU DEALER CONFIRMED KNOWN ISSUE FOR THAT YEAR BUT HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY REP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU TRIBECA. WHILE PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO AN OIL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN OIL AND HEAD GASKET LEAK. THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS FOR THE DOORS NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN AND THE FREQUENT BULB OUTAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE OIL AND HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
SUBARU TRIBECA 2012 IS ONLY 3 YEARS AND 7 MONTH OLD. WAS PURCHASED NEW FOR $41,000 FOR BEST SAFETY FEATURES, AND FUEL ECONOMY. MY CAR NEVER WAS IN ACCIDENT, NOT DRIVEN TO THE MOUNTAINS OR HARSH WEATHER CONDITION. ONLY 43000 MILES. HAS MANY ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL, OIL LEAK, STEERING WHEEL. AFTER DRIVING, ON THE SHORT STOP (DROP OFF OR PICK UP KIDS), IN SHIFTING TO P POSITION, THE FRONT RIGHT/LEFT DOORS FREQUENTLY NOT UNLOCKED. EVEN WITH A MANUAL UNLOCK BUTTON TO THE DRIVER LEFT SIDE PANEL. SO, IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCY, IT MAY BE A PROBLEM TO GET OUT FROM THE FRONT SEAT. IN 2014 -2015 HAD ALREADY ISSUE WITH FRONT HEADLIGHTS THAT WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES THE SAME PART, AND 2 TIMES WAS REPLACED
2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca questions
Does the 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for the 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca: Passenger airbag inflator may explode in a crash; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments; Passenger airbag may explode and send metal fragments into occupants; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments at occupants. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca?
Based on 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Exterior Lighting (2), Power Train (2), Electrical System (1).
How do I check if a recall on my 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.