China FAW Car Co., Ltd., maker of some Mazda models in China, will recall 42,732 Mazda 6 sedans starting on July 20 due to an airbag problem, according to China's top quality watchdog.

Affected cars were manufactured between March 29, 2003 and April 30, 2004, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said in the circular.

Due to production faults, the airbag for front passenger seat may fail to work in the case of collision, as pressure inside the airbag inflator may rise to an abnormal level and the metal container may break into pieces, which may lead to air leaks and even fire in extreme cases, the AQSIQ said.

The company will check the affected vehicles and replace the defective parts free of charge.