The 1997 Subaru Legacy has 8 recalls, the most serious being a front suspension bracket that can crack and partially or fully separate, causing loss of vehicle control.
Recalls 3 and 4 describe the same issue: on vehicles with automatic transmissions, the shift lever assembly can fail due to weak welds, causing the ignition key to stick, the shift linkage to break, or the lever to move on its own, which can result in unexpected vehicle movement. The throttle body on certain vehicles is missing a shaft bearing, which can eventually prevent the throttle valve from returning fully and leave the engine idling too high. On the electrical side, the alternator can lose its ability to charge the battery; the warning light will alert the driver, but ignoring it can lead to a loss of power to essential systems. Two related recalls address the hazard warning switch, which can bind in its housing and either stay on unintentionally or disable the turn signals when switched off.