Ford has announced its largest recall in China in four years, calling for repairs on 191,770 Focus sedans that have potential fuel leaks.
The issue was discovered when Chinese quality regulators examined the sedans, which were produced as far back as 2009, Bloomberg News reported.
The Ford Focus is the automaker's top-selling model in China and was No. 1 in its segment for the first seven months of this year.
China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced the recall on its website. Ford will provide the needed parts to make the sedans safe to drive, while the recall could be expanded if necessary, according to the AQSIQ.
The problematic vehicles have refueling hoses that can crack and possibly cause fuel leakage, a condition that can result in fires. The issue was linked to a 2012 customer satisfaction program and has now been expanded to a full recall.
In January 2012, Changan Ford started a program with its Chinese dealers to cover 161,170 Ford Focus vehicles that had the potential fuel leakage issue.
"We are now extending this to being a safety recall in order to ensure we cover off all vehicles and alleviate any potential customer concern relating to this issue," Ford China spokeswoman Claire Li said in an email to Bloomberg News.
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