BEIJING - FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Chinese automaker FAW Group and Germany's Volkswagen Group, will recall more than 270,000 cars in China due to an airbag defect starting Wednesday.

The recall involves 4,692 imported A4 Allroad models and 265,943 domestically produced A4L units manufactured between May 25, 2012 and Oct. 22, 2014, according to a statement from China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

AQSIQ said the recall is warranted because of a software problem affecting the airbag's control panel, which could lead to the front airbag deploying improperly or failing to deploy in case of a side impact.

FAW-VW will update the software to fix the safety hazards for recalled cars for free.