The 2009 Tribeca uses Subaru's 3.6L H6 (3.0L was dropped after 2008) paired with a 5-speed automatic. While more robust than the EJ25 four-cylinder, this platform still suffers from head gasket issues, chronic transmission cooler failures, and expensive internal engine problems when neglected.
Head Gasket Failure (External Leaks)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil seepage visible on bottom of engine, particularly rear cylinder banks, Coolant smell from engine bay, no visible external coolant leak, Oil consumption increases gradually over 6-12 months
Fix: Both head gaskets require replacement due to H6 horizontal layout. Engine does not need to come out, but extensive teardown required. 12-16 labor hours. Use OEM Subaru MLS gaskets; aftermarket sets fail early.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,200
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink or red fluid pooling under vehicle center-front, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement when fluid gets low, Sudden loss of drive if cooler line ruptures completely
Fix: Steel lines corrode where they pass frame crossmember. Often both lines replaced preventively. If contamination occurred, full transmission fluid flush required. 2-4 hours labor depending on damage extent.
Estimated cost: $400-900
Piston Ring Land Failure and Oil Consumption
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 800-1,200 miles), Blue smoke on cold start or hard acceleration, Misfires and rough idle as carbon builds on valves, Check engine light with P0300-series misfire codes
Fix: Piston ring lands crack from detonation or oil coking. Requires complete engine disassembly: pistons, rings, honing, sometimes full short block. Engine can stay in vehicle but 24-30 labor hours. Many shops quote engine replacement instead.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration at idle that disappears when shifted to Neutral, Visible engine rocking when throttle is blipped in Park
Fix: Rear transmission mount (crossmember mount) separates internally. Replacement straightforward but requires supporting transmission. 1.5-2.5 hours. Use OEM mount; aftermarket versions collapse within 20k miles.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Exhaust Y-Pipe and Catalytic Converter Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0420/P0430 catalyst efficiency codes, Exhaust leak sound from under engine at cold start, Corrosion holes visible on Y-pipe at flex joint or cat inlet
Fix: Exhaust system rusts from inside out due to short-trip moisture. Upstream cats fail from oil consumption contamination. Y-pipe with cats is one assembly. 3-4 hours labor. Aftermarket cats legal but may not last beyond 50k miles.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,400
Rear Wheel Bearing Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Growling or humming noise from rear that increases with speed, ABS or traction control light if bearing disintegrates, Noise changes pitch during turns
Fix: Hub assembly replacement required; bearing not serviceable separately. Straightforward but requires pressing. 2-3 hours per side. Rear bearings fail more often than front on this chassis due to load distribution.
Estimated cost: $400-650
Takata Airbag Inflator Recall (Ongoing)
Common · high severity
Symptoms: Recall notice received by mail from Subaru, Passenger airbag may deploy with excessive force due to propellant degradation
Fix: NHTSA recall 19V-800 and others. Subaru replaces passenger airbag inflator at no cost. 1-2 hours. Parts availability has been intermittent; some owners waited 12+ months for parts in 2020-2022.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall repair)
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 30k miles with Subaru ATF-HP or equivalent; cooler line failures contaminate fluid and destroy transmission if ignored
Monitor oil consumption religiously after 80k miles; catching ring land issues early may allow top-end rebuild instead of full short block
Inspect exhaust Y-pipe annually in rust-belt states; a $150 patch weld at first sign of rust prevents $2k cat replacement
Use 0W-20 synthetic oil (not 5W-30) and keep intervals at 3,750 miles if lots of short trips; oil coking accelerates piston problems
Buy only with full service records showing religious oil changes and recent head gasket work; budget $3k-5k for deferred engine/trans issues on high-mileage examples over 100k.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V012000
2018-01-09 · EA15001
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.
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.
Remedy: 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:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V013000
2018-01-09 · EA15001
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.
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.
Remedy: 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:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V014000
2018-01-09 · EA15001
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback 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.
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.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, 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 TKC-18.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V026000
2017-01-11 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-17.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V014000
2017-01-10 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 16V358000
2016-05-25 · EA15001
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.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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 · 16V060000
2016-02-03
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.
Consequence: If the hood unexpectedly opens while driving, it may interfere with the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 · 12V602000
2012-12-26
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).
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.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · 08V645000
2008-12-09
SUBARU IS RECALLING 5,130 MY 2008-2009 TRIBECA PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) G-SENSOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THIS SENSOR IS DESIGNED TO BE MOUNTED IN A FORWARD FACING DIRECTION BUT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS DURING PRODUCTION.
Consequence: IF THE SENSOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, VEHICLE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS DURING HARD BRAKING, SUDDEN TURNS OR OTHER QUICK MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO REACT IN AN UNEXPECTED MANNER OR RESULT IN UNSTABLE HANDLING. UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE VDC G-SENSOR. IF THE SENSOR IS FOUND TO BE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, NO FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED. IF THE SENSOR IS FOUND TO BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY (BACKWARDS), THE SENSOR WILL BE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED IN THE CORRECT POSITION. THE VDC SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE REPROGRAMMED TO ENSURE PROPER OPERATION. THE RECALLBEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Performance
Horsepower
256hp
Torque
247lb-ft
Wiper blades
Second generation Tribeca; rear wiper standard on all trims
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca 3.6L H6 (EZ36D) and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years.