BEIJING - Swedish automaker Volvo Cars is recalling 1,303 imported S80 3.2 automobiles sold in the Chinese mainland over potential steering problems, China's quality watchdog said on Friday.

The cars being recalled were manufactured between March 8, 2006 and May 16, 2007, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said in a statement posted on its website.

Volvo Cars, owned by China's Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd, will launch the recall on August 15 to check for a potential flaw that could lead to a sudden loss of power steering.

Manufacturers will repair the recalled cars for free.