BEIJING -- Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has announced a recall of close to 10,000 cars to replace the potentially faulty battery pack, according to the country's top quality watchdog.

The recall, which started on April 29, covers 9,663 Tang DM vehicles manufactured between Sept 2, 2021 and March 14, 2022, according to a statement from the State Administration for Market Regulation.

The recalled vehicles may be equipped with an uneven mounting surface of the venting valve in the power pack tray due to manufacturing reasons, posing a risk of water ingress, the automaker said in a statement to the administration.

This could cause an electrical circuit failure in the power battery system, and in extreme cases, risks thermal runaway of the power battery, posing a safety hazard, the statement added.

It said authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicles and replace the battery pack free of charge if it has suffered from leakage or the mounting surface of the venting valve is uneven.