Model year guide

2013 Subaru Tribeca

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2013 Subaru Tribeca is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 9 on record.

2013 Subaru Tribeca — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2013 Subaru Tribeca at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints3
Combined18 mpg
Typical price$20,514

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2013 Subaru Tribeca recalls 6

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V007000 · manufacturer #TKA-19 · 09/01/2019

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 …

Fix: 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:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V008000 · manufacturer #TKB-19 · 09/01/2019

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, Vi…

Fix: 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:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V009000 · manufacturer #TKC-19 · 09/01/2019

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, a…

Fix: 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:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V012000 · manufacturer #TKA-18 · 09/01/2018

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 wit…

Fix: 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.

Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch NHTSA Campaign #16V060000 · manufacturer #WQX-59 and WQY-60 · 03/02/2016

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.

Fix: 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.…

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #13V336000 · manufacturer #WQJ-46 · 01/08/2013

Subaru of America is recalling certain model year 2014 Legacy 3.6R and Outback 3.6R and 2013 Tribeca vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through June 28, 2013 and equipped with 5-speed automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the parking rod may come loose inside the automatic transmission.

Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. The recall began during August 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall number is WQJ-46.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2013 Subaru Tribeca common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2013 Subaru Tribeca safety ratings

Rollover★★★★★

Rollover risk: 16.4% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2013 Subaru Tribeca SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2013 Subaru Tribeca MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway21 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,700
EPA size classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
TransmissionAutomatic (S5)
Engine start-stopYes
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$6,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

What's a 2013 Subaru Tribeca worth?

Low
$11,000
Typical price
$20,514
High
$25,800

From 7 comparable 2013 Subaru Tribeca listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2013 Subaru Tribeca costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,500
Depreciation (5 yrs)$11,500
Total$30,000
Per mile$0.40

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($20,514) with the same model 5 model-years older ($8,990), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
189.8 in
Width
74.4 in
Height
66.5 in
Wheelbase
108.3 in
Curb weight
4,220 lb
Front track
62.6 in
Rear track
61.8 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2013 Subaru Tribeca. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 176

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 176.

This announcement provides information on a new software update for the Midtronics Dss and DCA machines.

Bulletin SubaruNet Announcement (M · Electrical System · Oct 2026

This bulletin provides paint code information for 2027 model year vehicles.

Bulletin 13-109-26 · Sep 2026

This announcement provides an update to all 2027 model year Subaru warranty coverages for wear items and adjustments.

Bulletin SubaruNet Announcement (C · Sep 2026

This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

Bulletin 15-333-25R · Electrical System · Sep 2026

This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.

Bulletin 15-304-22R · Electrical System · Sep 2026

This Service Information Bulletin outlines a systematic procedure for diagnosing parasitic draw (dark/standby current) in vehicles experiencing battery drain when the ignition is off, leading to no-start conditions or frequent jump-starts.This is an revised ve…

Bulletin 15-308-23R · Electrical System · Aug 2026

This Bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic but essential information during diagnosis of Infotainment concerns. (This is an revised version of the original bulletin.)

Bulletin 15-304-22R · Electrical System · Aug 2026

Techtips newsletter locator index.

Bulletin Article Locator · Electrical System · Aug 2026

This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a description of the proper exchange procedure. This is an revised version of the original bulletin

Bulletin 15-333-25R · Electrical System · Aug 2026

This announcement is requesting retailer staff to retain the EyeSight protective hood covers from Generation 4 EyeSight cameras.

Bulletin SubaruNet Annoucement (E · Jun 2026

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the TRIBECA AWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 4

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2013 Subaru Tribeca. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Label

Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" appear in English only, when they should be listed as "Tires/Pneus", "Rims/Jantes", "Front/Avant" and "Rear/Arriere". Canadian regulations require this information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safet…

Transport Canada #2024546 · Aug 2024

Electrical

Issue: A problem with certain replacement ignition switches may allow the key turn out of the “ON” position while driving. This could cause the engine to turn off suddenly. It could also cause the airbag system not to work properly in a crash. Note: This is a voluntary service campaign that is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. This prob…

Transport Canada #2019191 · Apr 2019

Airbag

Issue: On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage t…

Transport Canada #2019013 · Jan 2019

Structure

On certain vehicles, the primary and secondary hood latches could fail at the same time. If this were to occur, the hood could open unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven. This could compromise the driver's ability to see the road and its users, as well as cause damage to the windshield. These issues could result in a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correct…

Transport Canada #2016048 · Feb 2016

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Subaru Tribeca

The Subaru Tribeca is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Subaru for model years 2005-2014. Released in some markets, including Canada, as the Subaru B9 Tribeca, the name derived from the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. Built on the Subaru Legacy platform and sold in five- and seven-seat configurations, the Tribeca was intended to be sold alongside a slightly revised version known as the Saab 9-6X. Saab, at the time a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), abandoned the 9-6X program just prior to its release subsequent to GM's 2005 divestiture of its 20 percent stake in FHI.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2013 Subaru Tribeca trims & engines on record

Trims
3.6R Limited · 7 Pass Limited w/NAVI&DVD · 7 Pass Limited
Engines
3.6L

2013 Subaru Tribeca vehicles on record

Other Subaru Tribeca model years

2013 Subaru Tribeca — frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Subaru Tribeca have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Subaru Tribeca. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Subaru Tribeca?

Across all 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, engine, air bags.

What is the 2013 Subaru Tribeca safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2013 Subaru Tribeca crash-test ratings of rollover 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2013 Subaru Tribeca get?

The 2013 Subaru Tribeca has a U.S. EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined (16 city / 21 highway).

How much is a 2013 Subaru Tribeca worth?

Comparable 2013 Subaru Tribeca listings run roughly $11,000–$25,800, typically around $20,514 (from 7 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.