BEIJING, Dec. 30 -- A record 5.3 million vehicles were recalled across China in 2013, up 65.5 percent from a year earlier, the country's top quality supervisor said Monday.

A total of 1.96 million cars were recalled due to faults found during quality investigations by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, or 37 percent of total recalls.

China launched a recall system in 2004, and over 15 million vehicles so far have been repaired or replaced under the scheme, according to the quality watchdog.

The recall system is important in protecting consumers' interests and public safety, avoiding large-scale damage and raising the quality standards of automobiles, said the quality watchdog.