Aston Martin recalls 17,000 cars

An Aston Martin Rapide at a motor show in 2009. Photograph: Miguel Villagran/Getty Images

Aston Martin is recalling most of its sports cars built since late 2007 after discovering a problem with a part supplied by a Chinese subcontractor.

It is recalling 17,590 cars, including all of its left-hand-drive models built since November 2007 and all right-hand-drive models built since May 2012. The Vanquish is not affected.

It found that a Chinese subcontractor that moulds accelerator pedal arms used "counterfeit plastic material", meaning they may break, according to documents filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall replaces another announced last May and expanded in October.

Aston Martin, which is owned by Kuwaiti and private equity investors, said there had been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue and the financial impact was small.