THOUSANDS of cars in the UK are being recalled over a potential airbag fault that has already involved millions of vehicles worldwide in recent years.

The latest recall involves Toyota and Nissan cars fitted with airbags made by Japanese company Takata Corp.

Six deaths in Honda cars - five in the US and one in Malaysia - have been linked to faulty airbags.

A total of 1.27 million Toyota models in Europe are affected in the latest recall. The company has not yet put a figure on the UK-owned vehicles involved but it is thought it could be as many as 125,000.

The European recall covers passenger-side airbags on 995,000 Toyota cars produced between March 2003 and March 2007. The models involved are Corolla, Yaris, the MPV six-seater Picnic, Avensis and Verso.

The European recall also involves driver-side airbags on 271,000 vehicles made between July 2003 and December 2005. The models involved are Rav 4, Yaris and the Hilux pick-up truck.

The European recall is part of a worldwide recall of about five million Toyota vehicles.

Toyota GB said the UK cars involved would be tested and new airbag inflators fitted if necessary. The company added that there had been no injuries involving its vehicles.

Toyota said: "We have been conducting various investigations on Takata-produced airbag inflators. Among the parts collected from the Japanese market, certain types of airbag inflators were found to have a potential for moisture intrusion over time.

"As a result, they could be susceptible to abnormal deployment in a crash. The relationship of moisture intrusion, if any, to the risk of inflator rupture is not known."

Nissan is recalling about 1.56 million cars worldwide, including 563,00 in Europe.

Nissan said 100,263 of its vehicles were affected in the UK, covering the years 2004 to 2007. Models involved were Navara pick up, Tino , Patrol, Almera, Terrano II and X-Trail.

The company said: "As part of an ongoing investigation into Takata inflator issues, Nissan will expand its ongoing Takata passenger airbag inflator recall campaign to include additional model-year 2004 to model-year 2007 vehicles equipped with `SPI' inflators.

"Nissan plans to begin notifying customers in June. Nissan dealers will test the subject inflators, and replace the inflator as necessary. This recall will be carried out at no cost to customers for parts or labour.

"Nissan is committed to a high level of customer safety, service and satisfaction and is working with its dealers to promptly address this issue."