The recall, involving 435 imported cars produced from Feb. 15, 2013 to Nov. 11, 2014, will start on Nov. 20, more than two months behind schedule, it said citing the company.

The vehicles will be pulled from the market due to defects in the engine cooling system, which could lead to leaks of coolant and a risk of engine fire, it said.

While the scale of the recall is small compared with other incidents, the issue is the latest misstep in China by the No. 2 U.S. automaker.

In August, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said Ford would recall 37,734 Explorer SUVs due to steering wheel dust cover problems.

According to the Xinhua report, the company said owners should contact dealers as soon as the recall starts to have the component replaced.

(Reporting by Josephine Mason and Stella Qiu; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)