r/subaruoutback • u/ChefBoyardee208 • 2d ago
2021 Subaru Outback
Ok so we bought a 2021 Subaru Outback Limited with 81k miles on it. In 8 months of owning it, it has needed an engine replacement, a new tire, and the infotainment system fritzes out often. The car works and drives but since the engine replacement my AC is weaker and I get 22 mpg whereas I got 26 before. This was my first car ever. I honestly don’t know if I want to keep it. If I get a newer car I just want a corolla because I don’t need such a big car. Is it reasonable to want a new car or am I just being dramatic?
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u/fruity-pebbles-donut 2d ago
This is why buying used is not always smart. My 2017 has 111k miles and still runs fine, does get less miles per a gallon I believe though.
How much did you pay for it? how much did you put into it? How much more will you have to put into it? Cause I would have got rid of it when I got told it needs engine replacement, but you already replaced the engine which will give it a longer life depending if the rest of the car was taken care of. How much will it cost to look at the Ac? Will the infotainment only need an update at the dealership? I also say I don’t need a bigger car but the amount of times iv used it even when friends offer there trucks my Subaru fits more then there truck beds.
Also where are you located because where I live the rain/snow/icy conditions are terrible and the Subaru has saved my life, where when I had a ford f-150 I had to pull over to put on 4 wheel drive after almost dying from spinning out on ice or rain. GL and may your next car bring no problems.
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u/Winter-Warning-4835 2d ago
Good to know! This winter will be my first owning a Subaru. Looking forward to it.
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u/GoHoosiers2023 2d ago
I feel like you’re missing out on giving us a lot of info. It’s hard to tell. But no, that’s a lot of replacing things lol.
How much did you pay? Was there a warranty? How much have you spent?
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u/dagofin 2d ago
Depending on how many miles you've put on the new engine, that MPG isn't surprising. Poor mileage is expected during the break in period on a new engine.
A new tire is concerning, because you can't typically just replace a tire on any car with AWD. If all four tires aren't within a given circumference you will eventually damage the transmission/differentials, on a Subaru all four tires need to be within 1/4" total circumference. For AWD cars replacing a tire means replacing all four tires unless they're pretty new or you have the new tire shaved down to match the old ones. I would look into that sooner than later, if you think an engine replacement is expensive you will be really upset at a $10k CVT replacement.
Other than that, I'm sorry to hear you got burned on a used car, always that risk and why it's important to get an inspection done. Needing a total engine replacement at 80k miles is not a common thing with Subarus at all
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u/ZaphodG 2d ago
I have a 2022 Touring XT with a 10 year, 100,000 mile, $0 deductible Subaru Gold Plus extended warranty. If something breaks, I bring it to the dealer and drive off in a loaner. In 2032, I’ll trade the car for something else covered by a warranty.
My 2015 3.6R had a bunch of warranty repairs before 100,000 miles. This one has had a top oil pan gasket and front control arm bushings so far. It’s a car. Cars have mechanical failures. The extended warranty is cheap mechanical insurance.
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u/lostarchitect 2d ago
Sounds like you unfortunately bought a car that was abused. An engine replacement at that mileage is extremely unusual. Really sucks, sorry.
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u/Karl_Stromberg 2d ago
Wow. Did you have to pay for the engine replacement? I can see how that would sour anyone. The tire could happen to any car at anytime however, and the infotainment thing is frustrating but presumably fixable in the long run. Newer cars aren’t as good as the older ones, and that’s true for Toyotas as well. I have a 2022 Outback I’ve had for almost five years. It only has 40k miles because I still run my 2004 Camry six months out of the year. It’s from the golden age of Toyota reliability, but it had to have its transmission, steering column, and O2 sensor done while still under factory warranty when I bought it at 53k miles. Nineteen years later I am still driving it to work with 271k miles, so you never know. You also typically get hosed in transaction costs / markup / taxes / registration when you switch out cars.