Foreign automakers to start recall of 17,000 vehicles

The local units of Mercedes-Benz, Audi Volkswagen and Subaru will voluntarily recall nearly 17,000 vehicles in Korea for various problems that could result in accidents, the Transport Ministry said Thursday.

The recall - set to begin gradually from Thursday - affects a total of 16,797 vehicles belonging to 32 models made by four foreign automakers, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The ministry said 8,548 units of 24 Mercedes-Benz car models, including 2,209 E200 sedans produced from August to December 2016, were found to have seat belt and airbag issues.

Another 6,526 vehicles of four models imported and sold by Audi Volkswagen Korea, including 3,191 Q5s produced from February 2009 to December 2012, had defects in their airbag inflators, with 1,677 cars by Subaru and 46 vehicles from Daimler Trucks being recalled for the same problem, according to the ministry.

The owners of the vehicles can visit designated repair and service centers to replace the parts free of charge, the ministry said.

YONHAP