Aston Martin issues recall over throttle fault

British luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin announced it was recalling 17,590 of its sports cars after a Chinese sub-supplier that moulds its throttle pedals was alleged to have used counterfeit plastic.

The firm yesterday reassured customers that they had not received any reports of accidents due to the defect, which was found in left-hand drive cars built between November 2007 and December 2013 and right-hand drive vehicles made between May 2012 and December 2013.

"Although there has been no report of any accidents or injuries involving the throttle pedal, Aston Martin's commitment to customer safety is paramount, which is why the company is taking this action," said a spokeswoman.

"The recall work takes up to an hour to complete and will be carried out with no charge to the customer."

According to documents filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the company found that subcontractor Shenzhen Kexiang Mould Tool Co Limited, which moulds accelerator pedal arms, was using counterfeit plastic material.

The manufacturer, the favoured brand of fictional spy James Bond, said the driver would have been unable to maintain or increase engine speed if the pedal arm broke, increasing the risk of a crash.

The new Vanquish models are not affected.