Short answer
Among Subaru Tribeca model years through 2024, 2014 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (4) and 2010 has the most (10). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Subaru Tribeca: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 9 (2006–2014)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 17
- Fewest recalls
- 2014 (4)
- Most recalls
- 2010 (10)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (46)
Subaru Tribeca Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2013 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages, Power train |
| 2012 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2011 | 8 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2010 | 10 | Not rated | Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages, Exterior lighting |
| 2009 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Exterior lighting |
| 2008 | 9 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2007 | 8 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2006 | 8 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20144 recalls
- 20136 recalls
- 20127 recalls
- 20118 recalls
- 201010 recalls
- 20099 recalls
- 20089 recalls
- 20078 recalls
- 20068 recalls
Subaru Tribeca: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Subaru Tribeca recalls are air bags (46), latches/locks/linkages (10), exterior lighting (7), electrical system (3) and electronic stability control (esc) (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Subaru Tribeca Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Subaru Tribeca?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2014 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 4 each.
Which Subaru Tribeca model years have the most recalls?
2010 has the most, with 10 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Tribeca", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy