Auto enterprises recalled a record-high 5.5 million defective cars from the Chinese market, an increase of 17 percent compared with the same period last year, China's top quality authority announced on Monday.

In October 2004, China started to implement the recalling management system that covers defective car products.

Since then, the total number of cars recalled by enterprises exceeded 25 million, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said.

Major causes for recalling cars in the past 11 years include engine problems, safety bags, seat-belts, and electrical systems.

Chen Yuzhong, director of the administration's defective product management center, said that unlike other consumption products such as toys or electrical home appliances, most of the defective cars recalled were repaired rather than returned to the manufacturers.

"In general car owners have been cooperative with recalls as more than 80 percent of cars summoned by enterprises have been recalled," Chen said.