BEIJING - China's top quality watchdog said Tuesday that global printer maker Epson will recall 169,452 ink jet printers in the Chinese mainland starting on Wednesday.

Sixteen models will be part of the recall, including ME-10. They were produced between Sept 12, 2011 and June 6, 2013, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement.

The recall is mainly due to design flaws in the power system protection that could result in carbonizing and electric conduction at power input sockets under abnormal voltage. In some cases, the problem may even lead to self-ignition, posing risks to safety, the statement said.

Epson China will provide free repair services to the defective products and undertake overall examinations on them, the statement said.

The recall will be carried out by Epson China Co, Ltd.