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Subaru B9 Tribeca Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Subaru B9 Tribeca car check

Is the Subaru B9 Tribeca reliable? We analysed 7,310 real MOT tests across 547 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 7,310 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.4%
Typical Mileage
68,370mi
Annual Mileage
6,198mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
20yrs

The Subaru B9 Tribeca is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Subaru B9 Tribeca.

Subaru B9 Tribeca Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Subaru B9 Tribeca. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Subaru B9 Tribeca MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Subaru B9 Tribeca to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

73.6%
2009
76.5%
2008
76.4%
2007
76.5%
2006

Subaru B9 Tribeca Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Subaru B9 Tribeca fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 132
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 108
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 107
position lamp(s) not working 79
Stop lamp not working 71
Registration plate lamp not working 64
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 59
coil spring broken 48

Subaru B9 Tribeca Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Subaru B9 Tribeca owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,678 mi/yr
Typical
6,198 mi/yr
Average
7,186 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,660 mi/yr

Subaru B9 Tribeca MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Subaru B9 Tribeca year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 174 73.6% 39,924 68,824 89,467
2008 2,263 76.5% 43,634 68,133 96,709
2007 2,662 76.4% 45,549 69,648 95,993
2006 2,143 76.5% 44,236 66,783 94,287

How Long Does a Subaru B9 Tribeca Last?

Based on 547 Subaru B9 Tribeca vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.3 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
20 years

Subaru B9 Tribeca Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Subaru B9 Tribeca MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
68,370 mi
75th Percentile
95,523 mi
95th Percentile
134,070 mi
Max Recorded
963,665 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Subaru B9 Tribeca

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2006

76.5% MOT pass rate from 2,143 tests

Year to avoid
2009

73.6% MOT pass rate from 174 tests

The best year to buy a used Subaru B9 Tribeca is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 76.5% across 2,143 tests. The 2009 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Subaru B9 Tribeca Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Subaru B9 Tribeca THIS CAR 76.4% 7,310 68,370 mi 20 yrs
Subaru Impreza 75.7% 915,729 83,083 mi 33 yrs
Subaru Forester 76.1% 456,470 85,220 mi 29 yrs
Subaru Legacy 72.5% 349,986 96,000 mi 35 yrs
Yamaha WR450F 81.3% 6,916 3,081 mi 25 yrs

Compared to the Subaru Impreza (75.7% pass rate) and the Subaru Forester (76.1% pass rate), the Subaru B9 Tribeca outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Subaru B9 Tribeca?

The Subaru B9 Tribeca has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.4% across 7,310 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Subaru B9 Tribeca are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (132 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (108), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (107). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Subaru B9 Tribeca owner drives around 6,198 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Subaru B9 Tribeca models stay on UK roads for around 20 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Subaru B9 Tribeca — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Subaru B9 Tribeca reliable?
Based on 7,310 MOT tests, the Subaru B9 Tribeca has a 76.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Subaru B9 Tribeca?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Subaru B9 Tribeca do per year?
The typical Subaru B9 Tribeca does around 6,198 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Subaru B9 Tribeca last?
Most Subaru B9 Tribeca models stay on UK roads for around 20 years based on our analysis of 547 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Subaru B9 Tribeca?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Subaru B9 Tribeca?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Subaru B9 Tribeca is 2006 with a 76.5% pass rate across 2,143 tests.