BEIJING — Shanghai General Motors (GM) has started recalling 6,451 GL8 minivans in China due to problems with the vehicles' electronic steering software, China's top quality watchdog has said.

The recall, starting on August 4, involves 2017 Buick GL8 vehicles made between June 6 and December 6, 2016, said the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in a statement on its website.

Due to a problem with the electronic steering support calibration software, the electronic steering support system could report fault code, and the system could fail under some extreme circumstances, it said.

Shanghai GM, a joint venture between General Motors Company of the United States and SAIC Motor of China, will upgrade the software to eliminate the potential safety hazard, said the statement.

Shanghai GM said it will inform owners of the involved vehicles of the recall via registered mails and its after-sale service center will contact the customers before checking and repairing the software free of charge.