— A Subaru Tribeca hood lawsuit has been filed alleging the 2006 Tribeca SUVs have defective hoods that open while driving.
Plaintiff Marion Hadley claims she was driving her 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca 65 mph when the hood suddenly and without warning flew open. Hadley says the hood slammed into the windshield, sending glass all over her and dislodging the rear-view mirror. Hadley was able to pull to the side of the road where other drivers came to her aid.
The hood lawsuit alleges the broken hood caused extensive damage to the Tribeca and Hadley would have never been driving the SUV if Subaru would have told consumers about the alleged defect.
According to the lawsuit, there could possibly be 18,000 model year 2006 Tribeca SUVs affected by the alleged hood defect, although the plaintiff claims more models could be included.
Based on complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, other owners had the same hood experience as Hadley.
"The primary vehicle hood latch failed as did the hood safety latch. The hood flew completely up, instantaneously shattering the windshield and completely restricting visibility while traveling at full highway speed. The interior hood safety latch mounting screws were completely ripped from the hood leaving the safety latch mechanism dangling in the engine compartment. The hood was damaged, the roof dented, the map lights were damaged and shards of glass litter the passenger compartment." - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca owner / Florence, Indiana
"Hood flew up while driving on RT9 South in oldbridge, NJ @ 45 mph. Repairs bill was around $5000. It happened to me back in 2009, and just today in 2013 I was about to add some windshield washer, so I opened my hood, and it popped up completely, and that secondary lock did not hold it again! it could have been another accident if it had happened on the running car. This is a problem that doesn't go away with repairs." - 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca owner / South Amboy, New Jersey
The hood lawsuit alleges Subaru has failed to cover repair costs for an alleged defect that put owners at risk of injury or death, repairs that can cost thousands of dollars.
According to the plaintiff, Subaru has known about the hood problems because the 2007 Tribeca hood was manufactured with bolts instead of the plastic clips used in the 2006 model.
The Subaru Tribeca hood lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey - Hadley v. Subaru of America, Inc.
The plaintiff is represented by Cuneo Gilbert and LaDuca.
