Subaru Tribeca: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Subaru Tribeca: 4 model years scored from 11 NHTSA owner complaints and 25 recall campaigns. Worst year 2011, best year 2014.
Subaru Tribeca: which years to avoid
Across 4 scored model years the Subaru Tribeca ranges from 73/100 in 2011 to 83/100 in 2014 — a 10-point spread, so which year you buy matters. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Air Bags (2 of them).
Safest years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2014 (score 83). Worst: 2011 (score 73, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 83 | BUY | $5,470 | 0 | 4 |
| 2013 | 79 | BUY | $5,614 | 3 | 6 |
| 2012 | 75 | BUY | $5,755 | 4 | 7 |
| 2011 | 73 | BUY | $5,894 | 4 | 8 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Tribeca, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Subaru Tribeca
Across every Tribeca model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Power Train4 complaints across all Tribeca years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Air Bags3 complaints across all Tribeca years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
- Exterior Lighting2 complaints across all Tribeca years · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement$360–$1,380
- Engine2 complaints across all Tribeca years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System2 complaints across all Tribeca years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Visibility/Wiper1 complaints across all Tribeca years · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement$490–$1,200
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Subaru Tribeca years to buy?
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2014 at 83/100, on 0 complaints and 4 recall campaigns.
Which Subaru Tribeca years should I avoid?
The 2011 is the weakest year we score, at 73/100 (BUY), on 4 complaints and 8 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Subaru Tribeca problem?
4 of the complaints filed against the Tribeca across all its model years sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04