The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that stainless steel exhaust pipe tips installed at the point of importation can stick out farther than the factory-installed tailpipes.

If the tips are hot, people could be burned on the legs.

Documents on the website say Volkswagen received complaints of burns in July and began investigating.

Dealers will inspect the cars to see if the exhaust tips are too long and replace them free of charge if necessary.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)