Common Problems with the
2022–2023 Subaru Outback Mk6 (BT)

A sticking thermo control valve can trigger multiple dashboard warning lights and poor heater output even though the engine otherwise drives normally. Lamps and electrical faults are the most common MOT failure area on the Outback.

Early BT cars can suffer laggy or freezing infotainment, which is particularly frustrating because so many climate and vehicle functions are routed through the main display. Dashboard warning lights and electrical faults dominate the Outback's MOT failure record.

Owners report batteries going flat or dying well before the usual four-to-five-year mark, sometimes linked to parasitic drain from keyless entry or infotainment modules staying awake. Battery condition and electrical faults are recorded MOT checks on this model.

Knocks and clunks from the front or rear suspension over bumps and potholes are a common complaint, usually traced to worn control arm bushes, strut top mounts or links. Suspension is the second most common MOT failure area on the Outback.

EyeSight-equipped BT cars use a stereo camera pair mounted on the windscreen. Any windscreen replacement or knock to the camera mount needs dealer or specialist recalibration, or the lane-keep and pre-collision braking features stop working properly. This adds cost on top of the glass itself and is an easy-to-miss expense for buyers.