2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
On the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca, the failure owners report most often is other body or interior problem, and the reports cluster around 105,000 miles. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 102,500 miles. Overall it scores 61 out of 100, high risk for a 2006.
High risk for a 2006 — 316th riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. 118 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model.
What breaks on the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
Owners have reported 26 named failure modes on the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca, and the three most-reported carry 42% of everything filed.
Other body or interior problem leads with 25 reports, about 0.6 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 77k to 120,000 miles.
Airbag inflator rupture follows with 16 reports, median 130,000 miles.
Other visibility problem follows with 8 reports, usually reported between 100k to 145,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into body (25), airbag (17) and electrical (15).
The mileage the reports cluster at
85 of the reports on the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 102,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 21% by 50,000 miles, 41% by 100,000 miles and 88% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 2 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 100,000 and 110,000 miles, which alone holds 16% of the dated reports.
19% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 26. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 2 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 5 mention a crash, 13 a fire and 5 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.92, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, airbag inflator rupture at $0–$0, other visibility problem at $150–$1,400 and headlight failure or clouding at $150–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
8% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other body or interior problem | body | 25 | 24 | 77k | 105k | 120k | 0.6 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 16 | 3 | — | 130k | — | 0.4 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 8 | 8 | 100k | 121k | 147k | 0.2 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 7 | 4 | — | 80k | — | 0.2 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 6 | 4 | — | 102k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 6 | 5 | — | 103k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 4 | 4 | — | 106k | — | 0.1 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 4 | 3 | — | 220k | — | 0.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 150k | — | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 15k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 3 | 2 | — | 106k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 3 | 1 | — | 10k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 4k | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 2 | 2 | — | 115k | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 56k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 82k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 2 | 2 | — | 143k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 79k | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 100k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 113k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 15k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 15k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Unclassified problem | other | 9 | 5 | — | 111k | — | 0.2 | — | Moderate |
This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca draws about 2.8 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 77th percentile of complaint rates among 2006 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. This year had no usable recall paperwork, so the fleet-size estimate is the median of other years of the same model.
The working figure is 42,256 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2006 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other body or interior problem
2006 b9 tribeca subaru purchased 9/2/05. Approx 3 months later began to hear rattling sound in area of front dashboard. On feb 2, 2006 vehicle taken to dealership for routine service and also asked them to identify and repair the cause of the rattle. Informed on feb 3, 2006, problem was "major" , fire wall was cracked, and pictures were being sent to subaru north america for review. On feb 7th advised that problem with vehicle occurred in production, causing issue with the pitching stopper, and supporting bolts and rivets, which allowed engine movement resulting in cracks in fire wall. On feb 9th advised that further investigation of the problem revealed the problem did not occur in production but rather in the transportation of the vehicle from the indiana plant to the dealership . Was told that during transportation of the vehicle, because of the way it was tethered when it was shipped, it resulted in a series of bolt failures. I'm told that subaru has identified all vehicles that were part of this shipment, but was not told what action, if any, they will take about other vehicles. *jb
Noise heard, thumping, in front end of vehicle beginning on or about 7/2006. Reported to dealership. Dealer replaced struts in attempt to resolve problem (10/2006) no change in problem. Per subaru tsb - dealer attempted repair to cracks in firewall by welding (11/10/206). Problem still exists. Awaiting resolution by subaru. *nm
Airbag inflator rupture
Takata recall infleter on ,my subaru tribeca its a problem I have to go grosery chopping with my family I put my family back in the and my chopping bag on the passenger sit to be safe in case of a accident you know!!!!
Takata recall infleter on ,my subaru tribeca its a problem I have to go grosery chopping with my family I put my family back in the and my chopping bag on the passenger sit to be safe in case of a accident you know!!!!
Other visibility problem
While driving 65mph on the nj turnpike southbound by exit 2, the hood on our 2006 b9 tribeca flew open, shattered my windshield, dented my roof and blocked my vision. It was amazing that I was able to keep the car straight and move from the left lane to the right shoulder without crashing. My wife helped navigate us off the road. We were over 2 hrs into our trip. This is clearly a failure of the hood latch mechanism. I closed the hood the best I could and drove 11 miles to nearest subaru dealer. Because we were on a family vacation my kids were shaken up. We had to rent a car to continue trip. Waiting to hear back from subaru and from insurance company. Latch was ripped from chassis, hinges were ripped from chassis, windshield was shattered, roof dented, hood dented, interior damage - mirror, lights. *tr
My sister, mother and I were driving on the highway doing 65 MPH when all of a sudden the hood slammed into the windshield. It sounded like a bomb exploded in the car. Shards of glass rained down on the interior of the car. We were able to pull over to the shoulder. When we got out to check what happened, we noticed the entire safety latch mechanism was attached to the hood and was dangling there. It was not rusted. It simply detached. We could have been killed driving on the highway with a semi behind us. It was extremely traumatizing and I am mentally worn from this experience. *tr
How it ranks in the 2006 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2006 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2006 — 316th riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 3 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2006 comes out best at 61 and 2008 worst at 62, with 2006 itself at 61.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2006, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2006–2012 generation specifically, 2006 is the strongest year at 61 and 2008 the weakest at 62.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2006-2012 generation, 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca scores best at 61 and 2008 Subaru B9 Tribeca worst at 62.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other body or interior problem from about 77k and other visibility problem from about 100k.
On a 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other body or interior problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
Where these figures stop being useful
118 owner reports; fleet size borrowed from other years of the same model. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 118 reports, 85 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 72% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca?
The most-reported failures are other body or interior problem (25 reports, median 105,000 miles), airbag inflator rupture (16 reports, median 130,000 miles) and other visibility problem (8 reports, median 120,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca problems start?
Other body or interior problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 105,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 75,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 102,500 miles.
Is the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca reliable?
It scores 61 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 316th riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2006 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Subaru B9 Tribeca is best?
Within the 2006–2012 generation, 2006 scores best at 61 out of 100 and 2008 worst at 62. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed