# 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca - Head gaskets every two years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** subaru\ **Created:** [May 4, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542 "2021-05-04T01:43:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MikeJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@MikeJo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeJo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/1 "2021-05-04T01:43:22Z")
Replaced head gasket in 2019 and had to replace it again less than 2 years later. Is this common for this make and model? ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/2 "2021-05-05T00:12:43Z")
It’s been known to happen but it doesn’t appear to be common. [2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Faulty Head Gasket: 1 Complaints](https://www.carcomplaints.com/Subaru/B9_Tribeca/2006/engine/faulty_head_gasket.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/3 "2021-05-05T17:08:36Z")
Any time I hear “Head Gasket” and “Subaru” I think Jenny and Forest. They just go well together, but in a sad way. ---
**Author:** ![jdmere](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jdmere/32/3002_2.png) [@jdmere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jdmere)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/4 "2021-05-05T17:10:25Z")
Not common at all. Usually the replacement head gaskets are more durable than the originals. Were your mechanics familiar with Subarus? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/5 "2021-05-05T17:14:37Z")
With their six-cylinder engine, head gasket failure is almost unheard of. I had a 2002 six-cylinder Outback, and never had any problems relating to head gaskets–or anything else for that matter–during the 10 years that I owned it. My 2011 six-cylinder Outback has been similarly problem-free. I have to wonder about the head gaskets that your mechanic used, and I also have to wonder if he torqued the heads correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/6 "2021-05-05T17:48:46Z")
I had a boat that I had to replace head gaskets often, it had a defect in the top of cylinder wall that caused premature failure. It was 20 years old when it started, a boat is easier than a car! ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/7 "2021-05-05T17:51:46Z")
> [@MikeJo](#): > > Is this common for this make and model? Yes! ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/9/e/9e7fe7410c9875786059cba88e8d11cdfb6bebcb.png) Tester ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 7:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/8 "2021-05-05T19:02:40Z")
If the job is properly done they should not fail. So who did the work? ---
**Author:** ![thegreendrag0n](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thegreendrag0n/32/9265_2.png) [@thegreendrag0n](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thegreendrag0n)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-subaru-b9-tribeca-head-gaskets-every-two-years/176542/9 "2021-05-05T19:04:31Z")
from what I read before, under one of “voluntary service campaigns” Subaru was paying dealers before for “cheapo-replacement”, where surfaces were not properly prepared and warpage was not checked/corrected, resulting in relatively quick re-occurrence still, 6-cyliners were always considered to be problem-free, so the fact it failed the first time is quite strange what is the prior car history in regards to mileage, overheating, etc… ?