Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Subaru Tribeca problems

Owners filed 3 complaints about the 2013 Subaru Tribeca with NHTSA between Oct 2017 and May 2026. The most-cited component is power train (1).

Complaints
3
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train1
  2. Engine1
  3. Air bags1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20171
20180
20191
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

1 report1 related recall
“ALT TEMP LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON THE CARE WILL HAVE A FUNNY SHIFT THEN A STRONG JERK, SPEED CAN ONLY GO UNDER 20 MPH AND THEN THE ALT TEMP LIGHT COMES ON ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CURISE CONTROL LIGHTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2026Power trainODI 11738386

Engine

1 report
“SUBARU OF AMERICA CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT HELLO I OWN A 2013 SUBARU TRIBECA WITH VIN [XXX] THAT HAS RECENTLY LOST ALL THE ENGINE OIL AND NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALERTING ME THE VEHICLE WAS LOW OR HAD NO OIL. THIS VEHICLE WAS JUST IN THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENT FROM 1/301/9-2/5/19 FOR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND A REPORTED BELT BREAK AT HIGHWAY RATE OF SPEED REQUIRING IT TO BE TOWED. SUBSEQUENTLY IN 2/25/19, I NOTICED MY CAR MAKING A "KNOCKING" NOISE AND SOMEONE ASKED IF I HAD CHECKED THE OIL AND I HAD NOT BECAUSE 1. IT WAS JUST IN FOR SERVICE WITH A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION BY A SUBARU CERTIFIED TECH NOTING THEY HAD TOPPED MY OIL AND SECONDARILY BECAUSE I HAD NO WARMING LIGHTS TO ALERT ME OF SUCH INCIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LEAK IN MY GARAGE OR PARKING SPOT AT WORK. I PROCEEDED TO ADD 5 QUARTS OF OIL UNTIL IT WAS ABLE TO BE REGISTERED ON THE DIP STICK. I LATER LOST POWER AND REQUIRED TO BE TOWED INTO THE SUBARU DEALER-LOU FUSZ ST. PETERS, MISSOURI (636-397-2012). I HAVE BEEN CONVERSING WITH SUBARU AMERICA AND ST PETERS SERVICE MANAGER REGARDING THIS MATTER AND THEY ARE WILLING TO OFFER A FRIENDS AND FAMILY INCENTIVE OF 1500. I FOUND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2019EngineODI 11185480

Air bags

1 report4 related recalls
“TAKATA RECALL”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2017Air bagsODI 11040744
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.