The 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,654,662 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS19V0070002019-01-0943,394 affected
Defect
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam,…
Consequence
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.
AIR BAGS19V0090002019-01-09452,630 affected
Defect
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New…
Consequence
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.
AIR BAGS19V0080002019-01-09330,120 affected
Defect
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…
Consequence
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.
AIR BAGS18V0120002018-01-0964,179 affected
Defect
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa,…
Consequence
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other 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 on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-18.
AIR BAGS17V0140002017-01-1053,480 affected
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,…
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.
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…
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…
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.
Complaints by component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
POWER TRAIN
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ENGINE
1
STEERING
1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1
Total complaints8
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.