Imports of two Isuzu vehicles were banned Wednesday after safety defects were found in the designs.

The State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine said vehicles by the Japanese auto-maker that use chassis models CXH50S and CXH50T have design flaws and hidden safety hazards. The decision was made after an investigation on the two models conducted in the provinces of Hunan and Guangdong.

The administration refused to make public any more information regarding the actual models that may pose a danger to the public, but according to the website of Isuzu dealers, the two affected chassis models are used on large construction trucks.

Tests showed the vehicles had problems in their drive system and have a 57 percent chance of developing steering problems.

Officials with the administration said the probe was instigated by accidents involving vehicles with both types of chassis.

A manager with Isuzu's Shanghai-based agent said yesterday only a small percentage of the company's vehicles sold in the mainland use those chassis.

"Most Isuzu vehicles sold to mainland consumers use another chassis which do not have any hidden safety dangers," said the manager surnamed Yan.

He said the company's headquarters in Japan is discussing the problem with the state administration now and will come up with a proper way to deal with the matter. He did not know whether the vehicles with problems would be recalled or just maintained.

Starting Wednesday, quality supervision departments around the country were ordered to stop giving passes to the two types of Isuzu vehicles. The administration also reminded consumers who are using the two types of vehicles to have them examined.

(China Daily February 26, 2004)