Shanghai GM recalls 27,168 Buick Regals

General Motors Corp., the world’s largest automaker, announced Tuesday its Shanghai venture was recalling 27,168 Buick Regal sedans for brake repairs.

Under extreme conditions, a hose to the brake could become disconnected, making stopping the car more difficult, Shanghai General Motors Co., a joint venture 50-50 owned by General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (Group), said in a statement.

The faulty brakes were on the Buick Regal 2.0 produced between Dec. 17, 2002 and Sept. 28, 2004 and the defect had caused three minor accidents but no injuries, the company said.

The recall did not apply to other versions of the Regal because they had a different product design, it added.

The company did not disclose how much the recall would cost, but analysts estimated the price of fixing the defect at about 500 yuan (US$60) per vehicle.

GM’s move follows a growing list of recalls by other foreign automakers since the Chinese Government imposed vehicle recall rules for the first time Oct. 1 to enhance quality control in the world’s fastest-growing auto market.

DaimlerChrysler AG has recalled 12,988 Mercedes-Benz cars exported to China to fix faulty hydraulic pipes and air conditioners, and PSA Peugeot Citroen’s joint venture, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co., recalled some of its Picasso models.

Changan Suzuki Automobile Co., a joint venture between Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. and Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp., also recalled 157,480 Alto model cars.