Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Subaru Tribeca
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Subaru Tribeca has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 14 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V297000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V026000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V014000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V016000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V359000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V358000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V060000 Hood May Open Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V602000 Accessory Puddle Light may Short-circuit NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V645000 ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SENSOR NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 6 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 2 complaints
- Steering 2 complaints
- Structure 2 complaints
- Electrical System 1 complaint
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Of the 14 complaints on file, 2 report a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,300–$8,700AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Subaru Tribeca has multiple recalls, including significant issues with airbag inflators and hood latches, contributing to safety concerns. Additionally, complaints about airbags underscore potential safety risks. While some components remain relatively reliable, the vehicle's overall dependability is overshadowed by consistent issues in key areas like electrical systems and vehicle stability control.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbag inflator | 90,000–110,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | common |
| ignition switch | 80,000–100,000 miles | $400–$750 | common |
| hood latch | 70,000–90,000 miles | $150–$300 | occasional |
| VDC sensor | 50,000–70,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid service
- Coolant system check
- Battery inspection and replacement
- Timing belt change
- Tire rotation and alignment
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light
- Hood vibration
- Engine misfire
- Brake pedal vibration
- Stability control warning
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Subaru Tribeca at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.