(Yicai Global) Sept. 4 -- German car giant Volkswagen AG [FWB:VOW] and its Chinese joint ventures FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co. and SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co. will recall more than 1.81 million vehicles in China due to fuel pump safety risks effective from Dec. 25 this year, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in an online statement.

Volkswagen Automobile China Sales Co. will recall 21,000 vehicles while FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen will recall over 970,000 and 810,000, respectively. Affected models mainly include Magotans made between 2007 and 2015, Volkswagen CCs made by FAW-Volkswagen between 2009 and 2014 and Passats made by SAIC Volkswagen between 2011 and 2015.

The defect could cause engines to stall, posing safety risks. The three companies will replace the defective fuel pumps with upgraded ones at no cost.