2010 Subaru Tribeca Review

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Air bags:passenger side frontal

Recall Number: 

19V009000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

TKC-19

Manufactured from: 

2009-02-23 to 2014-05-30

Number of vehicles affected: 

452630

Defect Description: 

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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 explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Defect Consequence: 

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.

Air bags:passenger side frontal

Recall Number: 

19V008000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

TKB-19

Manufactured from: 

2009-06-30 to 2011-07-20

Number of vehicles affected: 

330120

Defect Description: 

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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 passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Defect Consequence: 

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.

Air bags:passenger side frontal

Recall Number: 

19V007000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

TKA-19

Manufactured from: 

2009-07-04 to 2014-01-31

Number of vehicles affected: 

43394

Defect Description: 

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles 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 used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Defect Consequence: 

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.

Air bags:passenger side frontal

Recall Number: 

18V013000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

TKB-18

Manufactured from: 

2008-05-01 to 2010-05-07

Number of vehicles affected: 

93209

Defect Description: 

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles 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 passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Defect Consequence: 

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-18.

Air bags:passenger side frontal

Recall Number: 

18V012000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

TKA-18

Manufactured from: 

2008-05-09 to 2013-05-21

Number of vehicles affected: 

64179

Defect Description: 

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles 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 used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Defect Consequence: 

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-18.

Air bags:passenger side frontal

Recall Number: 

17V014000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

TKA-17

Manufactured from: 

2008-01-11 to 2012-05-16

Number of vehicles affected: 

53480

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.

Air bags:passenger side frontal

Recall Number: 

16V358000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

TKA-16

Manufactured from: 

2004-12-22 to 2011-08-16

Number of vehicles affected: 

159274

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.

Structure:body:hood

Recall Number: 

16V060000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

WQX-59 and

Manufactured from: 

2004-11-16 to 2014-01-27

Number of vehicles affected: 

77000

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

If the hood unexpectedly opens while driving, it may interfere with the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will complete this recall in two phases. Phase one will involve inspection, cleaning, and lubricating the hood safety and hood lock systems. If after this is performed the hood latch does not operate properly, it will be replaced with a new current style part. Phase two will involve installing an improved hood safety system and hood lock system. Interim notification was mailed March 4, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQX-59 (phase one) and WQY-60 (phase two).

Exterior lighting

Recall Number: 

12V602000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

WQE-41

Number of vehicles affected: 

633842

Defect Description: 

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 53,999 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).

Defect Consequence: 

Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire.

Corrective Action: 

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during February 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.

Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Recall Number: 

10V108000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

WVO-25

Manufactured from: 

2009-09-04 to 2010-03-08

Number of vehicles affected: 

1585

Defect Description: 

SUBARU HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TRIBECA PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 8, 2010. THE DOOR LATCH CABLES LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOORS WERE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED DURING PRODUCTION. AS A RESULT, A CABLE CAN CATCH IN THE DOOR GLASS REGULATOR WHEN A WINDOW IS OPENED OR CLOSED. SHOULD THAT OCCUR, IT MAY UNLATCH THE DOOR, CAUSING IT TO COME OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN RAISING OR LOWERING THE WINDOW.

Defect Consequence: 

IF A DOOR WERE TO UNLATCH, IT COULD OPEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CREATING A RISK THAT AN OCCUPANT COULD BE EJECTED AS WELL AS A RISK THAT THE DRIVER MAY BECOME DISTRACTED, LEADING TO A CRASH. THIS CONDITION MAY ALSO RESULT IN THE FAILURE OF A DOOR LATCH TO OPERATE, IN WHICH CASE OCCUPANTS WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.

Corrective Action: 

SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS AND WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES BY REPOSITIONING AND SECURING THE LATCH CABLE IN BOTH FRONT DOORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783) MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BETWEEN 8:30 AM AND 7:00 PM EST AND FRIDAY BETWEEN 10:30 AM AND 5:00 PM EST.