There are 5 stored owner reports matching the visibility & wipers leading-label group for the 2004 Subaru Outback in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 5 of 5 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)STARTED CAR TO DEFROST WINDOWS AND WARM UP BEFORE LEAVING HOME. CAR WARMED UP FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES,WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE TO LEAVE THE INSIDE DOOR OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE WHICH WAS SPREADING,I THREW MY COFFEE ON THE FLAMES SHUT OFF THE CAR OBTAINED WATER AND DOUSED OUT THE FIRE WHICH CONTINUED TO BURN AROUND THE WINDOW/DOOR SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED BY FLATBED TO THE ONEONTA,N.Y. SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER REPAIR. I BELIEVE THAT USED PARTS ARE BEING OBTAINED FOR THE REPAIR WHERE POSSIBLE. THE COST CONTINUES TO MOUNT INCLUDING MILEAGE FOR A RENTAL/NOW LOANER CAR AND MY DEDUCTIBLE. MY CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR IS POOR AND MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN IS HIGH. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE SAFE. THE CAR IS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
CONSUMER STATES, "THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK WHEN USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DEICER". THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AT NO CHARGE. WITHIN A YEAR OR MORE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AGAIN IN THE SAME PLACE. AFTER THE CONSUMER USED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DEICER AGAIN. *JB
CRACKED WINDSHIELD. *JB
ON A VERY COLD DAY THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER TURNING ON THE DEFROSTER. NO CRACKS WERE PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD. *NLM
I PURCHASED MY 2ND FORESTER, A 2004 IN OCT. 2003. I HAVE COMPLAINED FROM THE BEGINNING ABOUT THE DIALS ON THE DASH. THE BACKGROUND IS BLACK AND IT IS RECESSED INTO THE DASH. WHEN THE SUN IS LOW IN THE SKY LIKE MORNING OR EVENING IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK YOUR SPEED OR SET A CRUISE CONTROL. YOU HAVE TO REALLY STARE AT THE DIAL AND WAIT FOR IT TO COME INTO VIEW TO SEE IT WHICH IS VERY HAZZARDEST. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS? *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.