SEOUL -- South Korean authorities said Tuesday that they have slapped Toyota Motor with an 817 million won ($728,000) fine for deceptively advertising the safety rating of a sport utility vehicle.

According to the Fair Trade Commission, Toyota Motor Korea in its catalog touted the RAV4's top safety rating from an American nonprofit group, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, even though the 2015 and 2016 models sold here did not include a shock absorber bracket offered in U.S. versions.

Toyota Motor Korea's deceptive advertising prevented consumers from making fully informed decisions in violation of the law, the FTC said.

The catalog did warn that specifications of the actual vehicles might differ. But the FTC concluded that the disclaimer, in fine print, was insufficient and not immediately understandable to consumers.

The preliminary fine could be revised in light of such factors as earnings. Toyota denies intentionally concealing differences between vehicles and says the Korean unit will weigh its options after reviewing the decision.