China's quality watchdog said Friday that SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co. began on Wednesday to recall 22,457 vehicles in China to fix problems that could pose safety risks.

The recall affects Chevrolet Spark cars manufactured between Dec. 20, 2010 and May 11, 2011, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement on its website.

The auto maker said some components may come off the rear wheels of affected cars, posing threat to the safety of passengers.

The statement said that car owners can contact the auto maker via two hotlines, and the manufacturer will repair the faulty components free of charge.

The auto maker is a joint venture between General Motors, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co.