BEIJING, May 16 -- China's quality watchdog announced on Friday that Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile (DPCA), a Sino-French joint venture, will start a recall of 162,913 cars from Saturday.

The recalled C-Quatre, Peugeot 307 and Peugeot 408 were produced between January 1 and September 30 in 2011, said a statement from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Unqualified multifunctional valves may crack and cause fuel to leak during driving. The DPCA will replace the flawed parts for free, the statement said.