Italian auto maker Fiat recalls 500,000 cars

MILAN: Italian auto maker Fiat said on Friday it had recalled about 500,000 of its Grande Punto and Grande Punto Abarth models in Europe because of a "possible anomaly" in the steering column.

The company said that half the vehicles recalled were in Italy and the rest elsewhere in Europe.

It added that owners were being contacted by letter, asking them to take their cars to Fiat service centers for an evaluation.

The recall was launched on information provided by Fiat dealers.