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Check a VIN

2006 Subaru Tribeca

9 owner complaints — #2 of 7 Tribeca model years, 2.3× the typical year. 8 recalls, 25 service bulletins.

9complaints · 2 crashes, 0 fires
8recalls
25manufacturer bulletins
97,155 mimedian mileage at failure

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2006 Subaru Tribeca, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

  • Air bags5
  • Latches/locks/linkages2
  • Exterior lighting2
  • Visibility/wiper1
  • Seat belts1
  • Structure1

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported

Compared with other years

’06’08’10’139’06’09’139

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

In the United Kingdom

34 cars built in 2006 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 43 more were declared off the road (SORN).

34licensed, end of 2025
44%of those still registered are on the road

Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0

In New Zealand

18 2006 cars are on the New Zealand register; 6% arrived as used imports, 89% were sold new in New Zealand.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

Recalls in Canada

4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2006 Subaru Tribeca.

2019191
18 Apr 2019
Electrical
Issue: A problem with certain replacement ignition switches may allow the key turn out of the “ON” position while driving. This could cause the engine to turn…
2017020
11 Jan 2017
Airbag
On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propella…
2016048
1 Feb 2016
Structure
On certain vehicles, the primary and secondary hood latches could fail at the same time. If this were to occur, the hood could open unexpectedly while the vehi…
2012444
27 Dec 2012
Accessories
On certain vehicles equipped with dealer-installed accessory puddle lights, a short circuit may develop causing the lights to melt and/or emit smoke. This could…

Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

19V297000 · Electrical system11 Apr 2019 · 511 vehicles

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 on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.

17V026000 · Air bags11 Jan 2017 · 69,529 vehicles

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, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

17V014000 · Air bags10 Jan 2017 · 53,480 vehicles

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 (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

17V016000 · Air bags10 Jan 2017 · 62,764 vehicles

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, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V358000 · Air bags25 May 2016 · 302,127 vehicles

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 (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V359000 · Air bags25 May 2016 · 146,010 vehicles

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, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

16V060000 · Latches/locks/linkages3 Feb 2016 · 77,017 vehicles

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.

12V602000 · Exterior lighting26 Dec 2012 · 633,842 vehicles

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 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 connector(s).

Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words

Service bulletins

What Subaru told its dealers about the 2006 Subaru Tribeca: known faults, fixes and updates.

BulletinSummary
10248224SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain Subaru vehicles listed, equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger side frontal airbag containing the propellant Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate (certain specific vehicles only).
10241801The purpose of this bulletin is to provide replacement key and immobilizer information along with an overview of the Subaru Lock Information web-site.
10235894Revision to Troubleshooting Information for VDC DTC C0071
10235882Optional Genuine Subaru Puddle Lights
10235881Preliminary Inspection and Repair Procedure for Puddle Light Campaign WQE-41
10234840Correction to Diagnostics for 5AT-Related DTCs
10233145WQE-41 Campaign ? Component Part Update
10233125New Subaru Recall Campaign: Optional Genuine Subaru Puddle Lights
10232879Replacement Key and Immobilizer info
10232535Replacement Key and Immobilizer Info
10219492This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models.
10219491This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure.
10209915This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during diagnosis and repair of the Infotainment concerns. (Applicable to all models with Harman or Denso CP1 Infotainment).
10198758This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for individual models
10198749This bulletin is to advise of SOAs revised catalytic converter recycling program shipping procedure.
10188201This bulletin announces availability of new front wheel hub assemblies incorporating bearing surfaces having increased resistance to imperfections resulting from shock loads.
10187315To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed the following cross reference list to help locate the appropriate Special Service Tool.
10186348The purpose of this bulletin is to provide replacement key and immobilizer information.
10179378Special Service Tools Cross Reference List.
10174543All Models (Vehicle Cleaning- COVID-19Best Practices)
10171084The purpose of this bulletin is to provide replacement key and immobilizer information along with an overview of the Subaru Lock Information web-site.
10161827Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain vehicles in the ranges listed below to inspect and potentially replace the ignition switch. A total of 511 U.S. vehicles will be affected by this recall.
10161824Subaru Service and Technical Support Line Newletter.
10161813To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed the following cross reference list to help locate the appropriate Special Service Tool.
10160219Owner Notification, Owners will be notified by first class mail on May 10, 2019. Owners with a valid email address on file will also be notified by email. Subaru retailers with affected vehicles will receive an affected VIN list from their Zone Office prior to owner notification. Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions Detailed service, parts, and claim information is available in the WUF-91 Product Campaign Bulletin on STIS. A copy of the owner notification is included at the end of the bulletin.

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)