VOLKSWAGEN AG said yesterday it is not considering a recall of vehicles to fix a defective direct-shift gearbox despite the Chinese quality inspection authority urging it to launch a thorough investigation into potential risks.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a recent statement that it has contacted the German carmaker after receiving consumer complaints about unusual noises, vibrations and transmission problems in the gearbox of Volkswagen vehicles.

In response to the complaints, Volkswagen submitted technology specifications to the watchdog on March 1 and provided free technology upgrading to the seven-speed gearbox of its vehicles to solve the problem involving about 500,000 vehicles sold in China.

The company insisted the problem poses no threat to vehicle safety. But the watchdog officials considered the current solution may not fully address the defect and it ordered Volkswagen to take effective measures to solve the issue.

Ma Jinghua, spokeswoman of Volkswagen China, yesterday told Shanghai Daily that the carmaker is working with the quality authority to address the problem. "The current technology upgrade works effectively to solve the problem so that no recall plan has been considered yet," Ma said.

The watchdog said in the statement that it is investigating the problem with some professional institutes and if it confirmed there is a flaw in the gearbox, it will press Volkswagen to recall according to regulations.

On Monday afternoon, lawyer Jiang Suhua from Beijing Yingke Law Firm submitted a petition to the watchdog on behalf of 372 VW car owners, demanding a recall over the gearbox flaw.