2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

16Owner complaints

Model-year median: 9

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 16 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Air Bags: 3 reports
Structure: 3 reports
Suspension: 3 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline: 2 reports
Latches/locks/linkages: 2 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all B9 Tribeca years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags

3 Structure

3 Suspension

3 Fuel System, Gasoline

2 Latches/locks/linkages

All reported categories

Service Brakes

2 Tires

2 Electronic Stability Control (esc)

1 Engine And Engine Cooling

1 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1 Steering

1 Unknown Or Other

1 Wheels

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 11 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

2 reports

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Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2022

Service Brakes

Read full complaint

After starting the vehicle in sub freezing temperatures the brakes would not work. After applying extreme pressure it was found that the brake would operate but without any power assist. The error "er bb" was displayed on the instrument panel. After applying the brakes several times, the power assist started working and braking was normal again. This condition has repeated several times after the vehicle sits in sub freezing temperatures for a period of time. I believe this may be caused by a frozen check valve in the vacuum line to the brake booster.

NHTSA ODI #11496016

50,150 miles · Jan 22, 2013

Service Brakes

Read full complaint

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493805

Recall campaigns

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.