Ford is to reprogram software in 236,643 locally-built Focus models in China in the carmaker’s largest recall in the country.

The vehicles were made by Ford’s joint venture with Mazda and Chongqing Changan Automobile between 18 August, 2008 and 28 May this year, according to a statement on China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine’s website.

Ford said that it is recalling the vehicles after receiving around 4,000 complaints over stalling, usually when traveling at low speeds. A spokesman said that the carmaker will install new engine calibration software in the vehicles to correct the problem.