The BMW booth?at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. [File Photo / Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING -- BMW-Brilliance Automotive Ltd, a joint venture between Brilliance China Automotive and German luxury carmaker BMW, is to recall more than 140,000 cars in China due to defects in their steering systems, China's top quality watchdog said Monday.

On Sept 23, BMW-Brilliance will start to recall 143,215 5-series cars manufactured between Aug 24, 2009 and Aug 31, 2012, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement.

The company will offer free replacement of defective powerline plugs in the electric power steering system that may cause safety risks, according to the statement.

BMW-Brilliance is headquartered in Shenyang of Liaoning province, with a branch company in Beijing.