NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls covering the 1997 Subaru Legacy. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
SuspensionJun 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V216000
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with front coil springs originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new york, new jersey, new hampshire, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont…
Risk: Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.
SuspensionMay 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V091000
Vehicle description: passenger station wagon, sedan and sport utility vehicles. Due to improper welding, fractures can occur on the support bracket of the front transverse link.
Risk: Such fractures can result in partial or complete separation of the bracket causing a failure of the lower suspension mounting, leading to a loss of vehicle control.
Vehicle Speed ControlFeb 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V035000
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The throttle shaft ball bearing on the sensor side of the throttle body assembly was not installed in certain throttle bodies.
Risk: Operation of a vehicle with a missing throttle shaft bearing can eventuallly lead to an incomplete return of the throttle valve resulting in a high idling condition.
Power TrainFeb 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V042000
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Due to poor welds, ignition keys can stick, shift levers/linkages can break and shift levers can move.
Risk: This condition can cause unexpected movement of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash or property damage.
Exterior LightingNov 1997 · NHTSA campaign 97V210000
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Insufficient clearance within the hazard warning light switch housing can cause a binding between the actuating button and the housing.
Risk: The switch could stick in an intermediate position when deactivating, resulting in the turn signals becoming inoperable.