Japanese automaker Subaru will call back 13,336 imported vehicles in China next year because of defective airbags that may pose safety hazards to its passengers.

The recall is scheduled to start on January 16 next year, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine. It would affect Legacy cars manufactured between February 2, 2004, and May 18, 2009; Outback vehicles made from January 28, 2004, to May 21, 2009; and Tribeca cars manufactured between June 22, 2006, and June 17, 2011.

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When the defective airbags of the affected units inflate, it may cause damage to the gas generators inside causing flying debris and posing safety risks to passengers, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The defective airbags will be replaced free of charge.

While most car makers are competing on making electric vehicles, Subaru does not feel like going with the trend, saying all-electric car models will not become a trend until the decade ends, Car Scoops reported.

"While we haven't pushed for it, by the end of this decade it's one of the things we have to look at increasing. But there's no electric car that's going to pop out in the next couple of years," Nick Senior, managing director of Subaru Australia, said.

However, Subaru is expecting a reasonable sale percentage by 2025, saying: "but we are seeing a transformation in many areas, some of this is a bit slower at the moment, but there is no doubt in 2025 a percentage of our sales are going to be from electrics, hybrids, whatever you want to speculate. So I imagine from here through to 2025 you're going to see a bit of a change."

TagsSubaru, car recall, Recall, legacy, Outback, Tribeca