The 2002 Subaru Legacy has 5 recalls, the most serious involving multiple issues that can cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly or the driver to lose control: a faulty park mechanism, a throttle that can stick open, and brakes that can refuse to release in freezing temperatures.
Two separate recalls address the same underlying problem with the automatic transmission's park mechanism. A defective parking rod or its spring retainer can prevent the transmission from fully locking into park, allowing the vehicle to roll freely when left unattended, even on a slight slope. This applies whether or not the parking brake is set, though using the parking brake reduces the rollaway risk.
On the throttle side, the cruise control cable can slip off its track on the control lever and catch on a tab, holding the throttle open even after the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal. The engine continues to pull the vehicle forward with no way to reduce power through normal pedal input alone.
The brake concern is specific to cold weather. In temperatures at or below freezing, the brake master cylinder can malfunction in a way that keeps the brakes partially or fully applied even after the driver releases the pedal. This can create unexpected drag, uneven braking, and in some cases a sudden pull or stop the driver is not anticipating.
