SHANGHAI: China’s FAW Car Co Ltd, a partner of Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp, is recalling nearly 280,000 Mazda 6 cars due to issues with air bags that Mazda said were supplied by Japanese supplier Takata Corp.

The recall applies to Mazda 6 models produced from March 29, 2003 to December 29, 2008, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement on Friday. The quality watchdog said the recall was a supplier-related issue.

It said the airbag inflator could be damaged when the airbag opened, and shards could fly out and harm passengers. It did not name the supplier. Mazda is calling back about two million vehicles globally due to the airbag issue.