Ford Sales & Service Korea, the local importer and distributor of Ford vehicles, will recall certain model year Ford Explorer SUVs sold here for a problem related to the cars' suspension, the transportation ministry said Wednesday.

The recall affects 489 Explorer cars produced between Jan. 17 and May 31 of 2014, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The ministry said the toe link in the rear suspension of the vehicle may not have been welded properly, possibly causing it to break.

In such case, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, which in turn could lead to accidents, it added.

Free repair services will be available starting next Friday at Ford Sales & Service Korea service centers, and those who have already fixed the problem at their own expense could have the cost reimbursed.

Meanwhile, the ministry said GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of US automaker General Motors Co., was recalling over 8,500 small trucks and cargo vans for a defective fuse that could interrupt the fuel injection under certain conditions, causing the car to lose power.

The recall affects 4,330 Labo pickup trucks and 4,202 units of the Damas cargo van produced between Nov. 24, 2015, and Nov. 21, 2016. (Yonhap)