VehicleVerdict

2006 Subaru Tribeca problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 12 complaints on file for the 2006 Subaru Tribeca — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 8 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

12

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

0

Investigations

3

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2006 compare to other Tribeca years?

Tribeca NHTSA complaints by model year, 2006 highlighted20 complaints2006: 12 complaints2007: 5 complaints2008: 20 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 4 complaints2011: 2 complaints2013: 3 complaints2014: 0 complaints
Tribeca NHTSA complaints by model year, 2006 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Tribeca years to avoid →

What are the most common 2006 Subaru Tribeca problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags542%
Latches & Locks217%
Lighting217%
Seat Belts18%
Body & Structure18%
Visibility & Wipers18%

Does the 2006 Subaru Tribeca have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V297000Electrical SystemApril 11, 2019 · 511 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

Consequence

The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.

17V026000AirbagsJanuary 11, 2017 · 69,529 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-17.

17V014000AirbagsJanuary 10, 2017 · 53,480 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.

17V016000AirbagsJanuary 10, 2017 · 62,764 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2008 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), Tribeca, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-17.

16V358000AirbagsMay 25, 2016 · 302,127 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.

16V359000AirbagsMay 25, 2016 · 146,010 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This notice is only for vehicles that were not covered by 16V-358 for Zone A.

16V060000Latches & LocksFebruary 3, 2016 · 77,017 units

Defect

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Tribeca vehicles manufactured November 16, 2004, to January 27, 2014. Due to a possible malfunction of the hood safety system and hood lock system, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving.

Consequence

If the hood unexpectedly opens while driving, it may interfere with the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will complete this recall in two phases. Phase one will involve inspection, cleaning, and lubricating the hood safety and hood lock systems. If after this is performed the hood latch does not operate properly, it will be replaced with a new current style part. Phase two will involve installing an improved hood safety system and hood lock system. Interim notification was mailed March 4, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQX-59 (phase one) and WQY-60 (phase two).

12V602000LightingDecember 26, 2012 · 633,842 units

Defect

Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s).

Consequence

Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire.

Remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU TRIBECA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND CRASHED BETWEEN TWO TREES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, LEG, AND HIP INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · June 5, 2015 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU TRIBECA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE HOOD UNLATCHED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Latches & Locks · May 20, 2015

2006 SUBARU TRIBECA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PUDDLE LIGHTS RECALL NOTICE . *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL, WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/08/13

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · May 1, 2013

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU TRIBECA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS), 16V060000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE TWO DEALERS WERE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · September 19, 2016

SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD WE HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2088 AND HAVE REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD EACH YEAR OF OWNERSHIP FROM A SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. WE WINDSHIELD WILL BE WHOLE WHEN PARKED AND THE NEXT MORNING IT WILL HAVE A CRACK WHICH ORIGINATES IN THE BOTTOM CENTER OF…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · July 9, 2013

2006 Subaru Tribeca — common questions

Is the 2006 Subaru Tribeca reliable?

The record is thin — 12 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 8 recalls should be verified as completed.

What are the most common 2006 Tribeca problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (5 complaints), latches & locks (2 complaints), lighting (2 complaints).

Does the 2006 Subaru Tribeca have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2006 Subaru Tribeca. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.