Most common 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca problems
Share of the 9 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Subaru B9 Tribeca complaints by model year
Best B9 Tribeca years: 2012, 2009. Years to avoid: 2006, 2007. Compare all years →
What 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
There is a large shudder at slow acceleration. The problem was slight to begin with however, the problem continues to get worse. Dealer has confirmed that the torque converter is no good, however they will not replace for free since the vehicle is out of warranty. Through my investigation, I found that Subaru did a design change in early 2009 to correct this problem. Unfortunately, Subaru has not issued a recall for all defective torque converters it has installed.
When accelerating moderately, the drivetrain/transmission shudders. The vehicle hesitates for a brief period of time and then begins to accelerate. This usually occurs between 20-40 MPH, especially when moving in stop and go traffic. Dealer has not been able to duplicate the condition and no "error codes" are showing in the computer. My wife does not feel confident driving the vehicle any longer as it makes it dangerous to pull into oncoming traffic. Apparently we are not the only people to experience this, but Subaru does not appear to be willing to rectify this condition. Owners of 2008 and 2009 Tribeca's frequently complain about this issue, but "nothing is wrong" when the vehicles are looked at by Subaru technicians. I wonder is Subaru is having their dealers cover up this issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca a good car?
Based on 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 B9 Tribeca rates better than average: 47% fewer complaints than a typical year of the B9 Tribeca at the same age. It is one of the best B9 Tribeca years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca?
The transmission & drivetrain — 3 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (2) and windows, wipers & sunroof (1).
How many recalls does the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Subaru B9 Tribeca?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006 and 2007. See the full Subaru B9 Tribeca years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Subaru B9 Tribeca problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 29% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.