BEIJING - China's top quality regulator warned Friday of safety risks due to design flaws in the brake master cylinders of the imported Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles produced by Japanese automaker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

The problem, which involved 7,133 imported vehicles on the Chinese mainland, could potentially result in traffic accidents as it prolongs cars' stopping distance, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement on its website.

The statement added the flaw has led to accidents shortly after the problematic vehicles were put on the market.

The Legacy automobiles were produced from Sept 21 to Nov 15, while the Outbacks were produced from Nov 29 to Dec 19, the statement said.

The government agency warned owners of the flawed vehicles to delay using them until the problem is fixed after contact with dealers.