2006 Subaru Tribeca: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2006 Subaru Tribeca: 8 recalls, 9 owner complaints.
.jpg){kind=link}
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #12V602000 · 2012 · 633,842 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013.
Latches & locks, Body & structure Vehicle recall #16V060000 · 2016 · 77,017 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the hood unexpectedly opens while driving, it May interfere with the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.…
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V358000 · 2016 · 302,127 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V359000 · 2016 · 146,010 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V016000 · 2017 · 62,764 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: 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
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V014000 · 2017 · 53,480 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V026000 · 2017 · 69,529 vehicles
What's wrong: 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,…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017.
Electrical Vehicle recall #19V297000 · 2019 · 511 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (5): the most common themes are fails to deploy (2).
- Exterior lights (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Latches & locks (2): the most common themes are door / lock issues (2).
- Seat belts (1): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2006 Subaru Tribeca has 9 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 8 Tribeca model years for complaints (1.8× the average Tribeca year). Complaints peaked in 2013 (2 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 9 years old, at a median of 97,154 miles. Neighboring years: 2007 (4 complaints, 8 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Subaru Tribeca.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2006 Subaru Tribeca have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2006 Subaru Tribeca. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2006 Subaru Tribeca problems?
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (5), exterior lights (2), latches & locks (2).
Where can I get a 2006 Subaru Tribeca repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.