ATTENTION:
GENERAL MANAGER
PARTS MANAGER
CLAIMS PERSONNEL
SERVICE MANAGER

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IMPORTANT - All
Service Personnel
Should Read and
Initial in the boxes
provided, right.

SERVICE BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY: 2010-2013 Legacy and Outback Models
SUBJECT:

NUMBER: 07-72-13

unroof Does Not Open or Close Properly
S
Popping or Slamming Sound When Glass Lowers
Prior To Opening

DATE: 01-29-13

INTRODUCTION
This Bulletin provides diagnosis and repair procedures to address a customer concern of the sunroof
not opening or closing properly. It will also address a “popping” or “slamming” sound from the glass
panel when it lowers prior to retracting. This Bulletin supersedes TSBs 12-122-10R, 12-124-10R and
12-135-12.
COUNTERMEASURE IN PRODUCTION
Revised sunroof cable assemblies were incorporated into production starting with the following VINs:
MODEL

STARTING VIN NUMBER

Legacy

D*021522

Outback

D*251099

PART INFORMATION
The “Cable Repair Kit” consists of a revised lid bracket and sunroof operating cable assembly.
PART DESCRIPTION

NEW PART NUMBER

INTERCHANGEABILITY

Repair Kit Cable RH
Cable Assy RH
Repair Kit Cable LH
Cable Assy LH
Rail Assembly

65449AJ00A

New to Old ONLY

OLD PART NUMBER
65441AJ00A, B, D

65449AJ01A
65420AJ00D

New to Old ONLY
New to Old ONLY

65441AJ01A, B, D
65420AJ00A, B, C, D

While the rail (sunroof frame) assembly remains virtually unchanged, significant revisions have been
made to the cable assemblies (lid brackets) to increase their durability, rigidity and ease of operation
as shown in the photos below.
Continued...
CAUTION: VEHICLE SERVICING PERFORMED BY UNTRAINED PERSONS COULD
RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THOSE PERSONS OR TO OTHERS.
Subaru Service Bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians ONLY. They
are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur in some vehicles, or
to provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of the vehicle. Properly
trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how
to do the job correctly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that this
Service Bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition.

Bulletin Number: 07-72-13; Date: 01/29/13

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. IS
“ISO 14001 COMPLIANT”
The international standard for excellence
in Environmental Management Systems.
Please recycle or dispose of automotive
products in a manner that is friendly to our
environment and in accordance with all
local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Page 1

Original Cable Bracket

Revised Cable Bracket

Revised and re-positioned

Original

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-72-13; Date: 01/29/13

Page 2

SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION
• Verify the customer’s concern(s) as reported.
• Inspect the sunroof side rails and wedge cap areas closely for damage. If any damage is
confirmed, remove the sunroof assembly from the vehicle following the procedure in the
applicable Service Manual. No further inspection is required. Replacement of both cable
assemblies and the rail assembly will be required to repair the vehicle.
• If the sunroof makes a sound when it is opening but no damage as outlined above is found:
ᴏᴏ Close the sunroof completely.
ᴏᴏ Confirm that the glass panel extends above the roofline by 1mm or less as shown by
“L” in the illustration below.
ᴏᴏ If the glass panel is not within the specified 1mm of flush, open the sunshade, remove
the trim covers then loosen the four glass panel mounting bolts. Shim the glass panel
assembly as necessary to achieve the desired measurement.

(1) Roof Panel
(2) Glass Panel Weather Strip
•

Open the sunroof to the point where the rear edge of the glass is fully dropped down, just before it
retracts under the roof panel.
ᴏᴏ Determine the center point of the back edge of the glass panel by measuring from the
outside edges in toward the middle from each side.
ᴏᴏ Measure the distance between the top outside edge of the roof opening flange and the
glass panel as shown in the photo below.

Center point
The standard values are 21.7 mm for Legacy, and 21.9 mm for Outback.
Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-72-13; Date: 01/29/13

Page 3

If the measurement is correct, inspect the gap from side to side and make sure it is even (one side
is not higher or lower than the other). The photo below shows an Outback sunroof with the left
(driver’s) side of the glass panel much higher (narrow gap) than the right.

Rear Edge of Roof Opening

Wide Gap

Narrow Gap

In this case, although the sunroof on this vehicle is operational, the corners of the rectangular
openings in the side rails have become deformed (bent) as shown in the photos below. This keeps
the lid bracket shoe from dropping into the rectangular opening in the side rail as it should.
Instead, when the glass panel retracts, the lid bracket shoe rides on top of the side rail instead of
inside the channel causing the condition shown in the photo above. Again, if any deformation
of the rail or the wedge cap is confirmed, replacement of the rail assembly along with both cable
assemblies is required.

Wedge Cap

Bent Corner

Continued...
Bulletin Number: 07-72-13; Date: 01/29/13

Page 4

•

Order the necessary replacement parts as per the chart on Page 1.

•

Record radio station presets (and navigation system favorites if applicable).

•

Disconnect the battery.
IMPORTANT: Before starting disassembly of the vehicle’s interior, take the time to read
through and understand all the instructions outlined in the applicable Service Manual for removal
of the trim panels and replacement of the sunroof components. Pay close attention to the
precautions for removal and re-use of the varying types of retaining clips (i.e. one-time use of the
top “B” pillar upper trim clips and “A” pillar trim tether clips per the August, 2012 issue of TIPS).
NOTE: Do not flex the headliner trim panel any more than necessary during removal and
installation to avoid damage to the interior fabric. Cleanliness is also very important. Locate
a clean area to temporarily store the headliner and protect it from dirt and damage.

•

Transfer the sunshade to the new frame assembly.

•

Fit the new cable assemblies to the frame then re-install the sunroof assembly.

•

Reconnect the battery.

•

Perform the sunroof motor initialization procedure outlined in the applicable Service Manual.

•

Confirm proper operation of the sunroof’s tilt, open, and close functions along with the autoreverse safety feature.

•

Take time to make sure all trim panels are reinstalled properly.

•

Wipe off any dirt, grease or smudges with a clean cloth.

•

Reset the radio station presets (and navigation system favorites if applicable).

WARRANTY / CLAIM INFORMATION
For vehicles within the Basic New Car Limited Warranty period, this repair may be claimed using the
following information:
LABOR DESCRIPTION

LABOR
OPERATION #

Sunroof Frame R&R

B914-906

Sunroof Frame Assembly, Replace

C914-913

Sunroof Water and/or Water Leak Testing
& Diagnosis

C914-001

Bulletin Number: 07-72-13; Date: 01/29/13

FAIL
CODE

XFT-87

LEGACY
LABOR
TIME

OUTBACK
LABOR
TIME

1.9

2

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.5

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