The Republic's 2,500 Ford Focus owners have been advised to bring their cars to dealers for adjustment due an electrical problem, with a similar recall being issued in Britain and elsewhere.
Three out of every four Focuses, voted European Car of the Year, need urgent modifications which will affect up to 200,000 cars across Europe. The repairs will cost Ford more than £3 million worldwide.
Ford Ireland yesterday insisted the recall was precautionary. The company's customer service manager, Mr Denis McSweeney, said all registered Focus owners were advised of the recall by letter within the past fortnight.
The problems with the Focus, which was introduced in Ireland in early 1998, were discovered when engineers found a flaw in the alternator. The fault could cause the alternator to overheat, bringing electrical problems with the car's dashboard warning lights.
Owners have been asked to return their cars to one of the 60 Ford dealers in the State, which will replace the regulator component in the alternator free in less than half an hour.
"There is no danger. We are just unhappy with the service experience vis-a-vis that particular component, and rather than people being disappointed and having to return to their dealer, we are just taking the precaution to replace it now," said Mr McSweeney.
The company said the fault on the Focus, which costs between £13,000 and £17,000 depending on the model, affects only cars made between September 1998 and March this year.
Mr McSweeney apologised for the inconvenience, but said it was "in the best interest of the customer to have the work done now rather than suffering the actual disappointment of a breakdown".