Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

8 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
1

Most reports here involve transmission slipping.

transmission slipping 1
A recent report: THE CVT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ITEM. MY TRANSMISSIONS SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING SINCE AROUND 143,000 MILES. HAD A NEW OEM TORQUE CONVERTOR INSTALLED. WHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE…
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THE CVT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ITEM. MY TRANSMISSIONS SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING SINCE AROUND 143,000 MILES. HAD A NEW OEM TORQUE CONVERTOR INSTALLED. WHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER BANGS AT AROUND 20MPH AT SLOW ACCELERATION/DECELERATION. MOST ANY SPEED AT A CRUISING DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE THE ENGINE LUGGING HARD. I'VE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AS THE RPMS INCREASE TO NEAR 2,000 RPMS BEFORE THE CAR WILL START MOVING. THERE'S A VIBRATION THAT FEELS LIKE ITS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. AT TIMES I HAVE TO USE THE PADDLE SHIFTER TO DOWNSHIFT OR UPSHIFT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION ADJUST AS NEEDED TO MAKE IT UP HILLS OR TO ACCELERATE AND TO DROP FROM HIGH RPMS A CRUISING TO PROPER RPMS. THIS 2010 CVT IS A DISASTER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AT THE LEAST. SUBARU SAYS THERE'S NO FIX BUT IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BEING WIDESPREAD. REALLY? ONGOING SINCE 143,000 MILES AND CURRENTLY AT 157,300 MILES.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10955108 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 2fire 1
A recent report: MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SUDDENLY SMELLED SMOKE SO SHE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND IT WAS COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR. LUCKILY TWO GUYS DRIVING BUY STOPPED AND…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SUDDENLY SMELLED SMOKE SO SHE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND IT WAS COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR. LUCKILY TWO GUYS DRIVING BUY STOPPED AND HAPPEN TO WORK FOR HONDA AND THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER THEN THE POLICE AND TOE TRUCK CAME AND TOOK THE CAR AWAY. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS COMPLETELY RUINED AS WELL AS MY 2 KIDS CAR SEATS AND THE WHOLE INTERIOR IN THE CAR FROM THE FIRE AND EXTINGUISHER AS WELL AS OTHER INTERIOR OF THE CAR THAT WAS AFFECTED. PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE CAME TO CHECK THE CAR SINCE SUBARU OF AMERICA DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE BLAME WITHOUT THE INSURANCE COMING AND PLACING THE BLAME ON THEM FIRST THIS IS DEFINITELY SUBARUS FAULT AND THE CAR MUST HAVE FAULTY WIRING OR A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10610780 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
1

Most reports here involve corrosion.

corrosion 1
A recent report: DROPPED OFF CAR FOR 45K MILE SERVICE AND WHILE ROTATING THE TIRES WAS WARNED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WORN AND RUSTED AND PADS WORN AT 95%. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IF…
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DROPPED OFF CAR FOR 45K MILE SERVICE AND WHILE ROTATING THE TIRES WAS WARNED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY WORN AND RUSTED AND PADS WORN AT 95%. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IF THE ROTORS WERE TO BE CUT, THEY WOULD FALL BELOW ACCEPTABLE SAFETY TOLERANCE. AS SUCH, THEY WERE REPLACED AND THOUGH WE HAD THE 7YR/70K MILE "GOLD PLUS" EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE ROTORS WERE NOT COVERED (OF COURSE) UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE TRIBECA IS OUR FIRST SUBARU HOWEVER, NOT OUR FIRST NEW CAR. WE HAVE A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH 98K MILES AND HAS THE ORIGINAL FRONT ROTORS AS DID OUR HONDA CR-V, CHEVY BLAZER AND FORD EXPLORER. ALL HAD ORIGINAL FRONT ROTORS WELL INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE 90-110K MILES. GOOD THING THAT THE SERVICE TECH CAUGHT THE PREMATURE RUST ON THE ROTORS AS THEY BOTH APPEARED TO BE CLOSE TO SEPARATING FROM THE CARRIERS. MY WIFE IS BEGINNING TO HAVE TRUST ISSUES WITH THE CAR NOW. *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10706305 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
2

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 2
A recent report: WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HOOD OF THE 2010 SUBARU TRIBECA OPENED AND CAME BACK FAR ENOUGH TO BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED ALMOST CAUSING A…
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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HOOD OF THE 2010 SUBARU TRIBECA OPENED AND CAME BACK FAR ENOUGH TO BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. POLICE WAS CALLED TO FILE A REPORT. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10681361 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
1

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: TAKATA RECALL

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11051765 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 8 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2010 and 2017, roughly 1 a year, which is fewer than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.