A new airbag safety risk has been flagged by Australian authorities, affecting around 78,000 vehicles across several brands.

Key points: The car makes affected in the warning include Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota

The car makes affected in the warning include Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota Audi and BMW have already begun a voluntary recall

Audi and BMW have already begun a voluntary recall The Takata airbags are fitted with a particular inflator, NADI 5-AT

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the car makes included Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota manufactured between 1996 and 2000.

They were fitted with a particular Takata airbag with a certain inflator, NADI 5-AT, and the ACCC warned it could mis-deploy in an accident.

These Takata airbags were not part of the existing recall that had affected the brand.

The ACCC said metal fragments could fly from the airbag after it inflates, causing serious injury, and in some cases could under inflate.

Authorities have already received reports of three incidents, including a fatality, suspected of involving these airbags not deploying correctly.

Audi and BMW have already begun a voluntary recall.

ACCC chair Rod Sims encouraged anyone with one of these cars to consider using alternative transport rather than drive them.

"Even though full details and appropriate remedies are still being worked out by the manufacturers, we are issuing this warning now to urge people not to use their car if it is affected by this potentially deadly airbag," Mr Sims said.

"The fastest way to deal with these issues is via a voluntary recall. A compulsory recall is a lengthy process but it will be considered if manufacturers do not take appropriate steps."

Car makes and models potentially at risk

Make Model Years Contact details Audi A6 4B/C5 1998-2000 Audi Takata Information Line: 1800 856 770 A8 4D/D2 1998-2000 A4 8D/B5 1997-2000 TT 8N/1 1999-2000 Cabriolet 8G/B4 1998-1999 BMW E46 3 Series 1997-2000 BMW Takata Hotline: 1800 243 675 Ford Courier 1998-2000 Takata Recall Hotline: 1800 503 673 Honda Legend 1996-2000 1800 952 272 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 6:00pm AEDT) CR-V 1997-2000 Accord 1997-1999 Mazda Eunos 800 1996-1999 Mazda Customer Support: 1800 034 411 Mitsubishi NL Pajero 1997-2000 Takata Hotline: 1800 931 811 CE Lancer 1997-2000 WA Express 1997-2000 CE Mirage 1997-2000 WA Starwagon 1997-2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1998-2000 1800 777 088 Toyota Starlet 3 door 1997-1999 1800 800 424 (Monday to Friday, 8:00am-7:00pm AEDT) Starlet 5 door 1997-1999 Paseo 1997-1999 Celica 1997-1999 RAV4 3 door 1997-1999 RAV4 5 door 1997-1999

Editor's note 19/12/19: The ACCC originally included the Toyota Vitz/Echo 1999 in its list of affected vehicles. This vehicle is not affected and has been removed from the list.

Table source: ACCC