2011 Subaru Tribeca
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2011 models.

- Class
- Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV AWD Base/Limited/Optimum
- Engines
- 3.6L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 18 combined · 16 city / 21 hwy
- Length
- 189.8 in
- Curb weight
- 4,257 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 8 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Few owner complaints2 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 110 for similar models.
Watch out for
- 8 recallsMore than similar models (about 4). Confirm repairs with the VIN.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 25 similar 2011 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2011 Subaru Tribeca is a SUV - offered with a 3.6L 6-cyl engine and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 190 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 108-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,257 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 18 MPG combined (16 city / 21 highway), 5% worse than the 2011 SUV - average of 18.9 MPG, for an estimated $3,700 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 8 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2011
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2010 Tribeca — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2010; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2010 Tribeca →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV AWD Base/Limited/Optimum | 189.8 in | 74.4 in | 66.5 in | 108.3 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 4,257 lb | 54/46 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tribeca AWD | 3.6L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 21 / 18 | -5% | $3,700 | 494 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2011 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2011 Subaru Tribeca.
Similar 2011 SUV -s
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Subaru Tribeca (this car) | 18 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser | 15 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2011 Toyota 4Runner | 19 MPG | Not rated | 10 |
| 2011 Ford Explorer | 20 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2011 Toyota Highlander | 28 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 18 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe | 23 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
Recalls (8)
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jan 9, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V007000 · 43,394 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- 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 · Jan 9, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V009000 · 452,630 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- 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 · Jan 9, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V008000 · 330,120 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- 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 · Jan 9, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V012000 · 64,179 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- 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.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jan 10, 2017
NHTSA campaign 17V014000 · 53,480 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- 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 · May 25, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V358000 · 302,127 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- 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.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch · Feb 3, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V060000 · 77,017 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- If the hood unexpectedly opens while driving, it may interfere with the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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. 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 · Dec 26, 2012
NHTSA campaign 12V602000 · 633,842 vehicles
- Problem
- 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).
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Not every 2011 Subaru Tribeca is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2011 Subaru Tribeca buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 8 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 1 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2011 Subaru Tribeca. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Tribeca years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Tribeca | 18 | 189.8 in | Not rated | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 Tribeca | 18 | 189.8 in | Not rated | 6 | 3 |
| 2012 Tribeca | 18 | 189.8 in | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 Tribeca | 18 | 189.8 in | Not rated | 10 | 2 |
| 2009 Tribeca | 18 | 189.8 in | Not rated | 8 | 2 |
| 2008 Tribeca | 18 | 189.8 in | Not rated | 8 | 10 |
| 2007 Tribeca | 18 | – | Not rated | 8 | 3 |
| 2006 Tribeca | 18 | – | Not rated | 8 | 5 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Subaru. How we calculate this →