As of June 16, a total of 2,443 Kia Carnival vehicles with defective axletrees will be recalled in China, the country's market watchdog said Friday.

The latest report released by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said that the problematic vehicles manufactured from June 24 to Oct. 29 in 2004 were found to have inferior covers on their rare wheels.

When water penetrates into the cover, lubricators do not function well. The outer bearings of wheels are gradually corroded. If drivers don't become aware of the problem and keep driving, the vehicles may rock, said the report.

The company has mailed emergency notices to vehicle owners and asked them to send their cars to nearby sales outlets. It also promised to overhaul the vehicles and fix the problem for free.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2005)