Research · complaint index

Subaru Tribeca years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say

We compared 6 model years of the Subaru Tribeca by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2008 stands out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.

01 —Complaint index

Complaints per year on the road

1.0 = typical year for this model
View as table
Model yearComplaints per year since release
20082
20091
20100
20110
20120
20130
YearComplaintsPer year on roadIndexRecallsCrashesSignal
2013300.560Fewest complaints
2012400.670Typical
2011400.581Typical
2010801.0100Typical
20091411.792Typical
20083023.491Most complaints
  • 20133 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
  • 20124 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
  • 20114 complaints · 8 recallsTypical
  • 20108 complaints · 10 recallsTypical
  • 200914 complaints · 9 recallsTypical
  • 200830 complaints · 9 recallsMost complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Nov 12, 2026

Fewest complaints for their age: 2013.

02 —FAQ

About this comparison

What Subaru Tribeca years have the most complaints?

Adjusted for years on the road, 2008 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 6 model years compared.

Is this a reliability rating?

No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.

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