BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- More than 5,000 Toyota Vios sedans will be recalled in China since Jan. 31, 2019 over defective airbags, according to China's market regulator.

Filed by Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co., the recall will involve 5,032 supercompact vehicles manufactured between Oct. 23, 2002 and April 15, 2003, the State Administration of Market Regulation said in a statement.

The vehicles' front passenger airbags, produced by Japanese manufacturer Takata, have defective inflators that could fracture and send potentially fatal shrapnel into passengers when airbags are deployed, said the administration.

The company will replace the defective airbags free of charge.