Shanghai General Motors Co is recalling more than 1.2 million Buick Excelle vehicles and more than 240,000 Chevrolet Sails due to fuel system defects, the country's quality watchdog announced on Friday.

The recall involves 1.218 million Buick Excelles produced between Jan 17, 2006, and Dec 2, 2012, and 243,297 Chevrolet Sail vehicles (model years 2010-2012) manufactured between April 9, 2009, and Oct 8, 2011, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said in a news statement.

Due to technical flaws, the support structure of the two models’ fuel pumps may develop cracks after long use, which could lead to gasoline leaks in extreme circumstances, the quality watchdog said.

The automaker will replace the flawed auto parts in the recalled models for free.

The recall will be enacted starting Dec 30. Owners of the vehicles should consult the automaker's consumer hotlines for more information.