Mitsubishi Motors Ireland says it has initiated a recall campaign for a number of Mitsubishi Galant cars which were sold here.
The recall follows an international controversy over a 30-year cover-up of Mitsubishi vehicle defects.
In a statement, Mitsubishi Motors Ireland says that only 580 Galant models made between March 1st, 1994, and August 31st, 1995, are affected out of 620,000 units in Japan, 122,000 units in Europe and an unspecified number of units in the US which have been subjected to recall.
The company says the Galant recall refers to a baffle plate in the fuel tank, but adds that it has not had complaints of any difficulties experienced with the five- to seven-year-old vehicles to date. Customers will be notified of the recall by post, outlining the relevant procedures.
The controversy refers to an admission by Japan's fourth-largest car-maker that it had concealed customer complaints for more than 30 years.
Mitsubishi Motors will recall a million cars and may face criminal charges after admitting on Tuesday that it systematically covered up vehicle defects since 1969. "Illegal acts have taken place for a long time," the company's president, Mr Katsuhiko Kawasoe, said. "We deeply apologise for the immense anxiety we have caused our customers."
Mitsubishi Motors' share price dropped on the announcement.
Mitsubishi has been struggling to salvage its reputation since last month, when it emerged that half of its customer complaints were not being reported to the transport ministry. Employees marked such complaints with the letter H - the first letter of the Japanese word for secret - and covertly carried out repairs.
When the scandal broke, executives said this practice had been going on for only eight years. They recalled 514,000 vehicles with problems ranging from dangerous brake fittings to ill-fitting petrol caps.
In admitting the deep-rooted nature of the problem yesterday, Mitsubishi expanded the recall including the Minicab, Lancer, Galant, Eterna, Emeraude, Diamante, Delica and six Fuso truck models. Mitsubishi has admitted it will have to repair 800,000 vehicles in Japan, 50,000 in North America and 150,000 in Europe and other markets at a cost of $67.3 million.
The transport ministry, which discovered lockers full of hidden complaints at the headquarters, is expected to impose financial penalties by the end of next month. "It is regrettable that Mitsubishi concealed the complaints," the Transport Minister, Mr Hajime Morita, said.
"This is something that should not have taken place, considering users' safety. I get the impression executives may have been aware."
Executives will have their salaries cut as a result of the scandal.
Mitsubishi Motors Ireland was not available for comment late last night.