While recently-delivered cars are free of the deadly substance, a recall monitored by the ACCC has been announced to replace components in affected models.
Affected Great Wall cars include 21,500 utes and SUVs, and affected Chery models include 1700 J11 SUVs and 550 J3 light cars.
The ACCC has confirmed that newly imported cars and the existing Chery J1 are free of asbestos and not included in the recall.
"We'll be writing to all owners very soon to explain the situation for their specific vehicle," Ateco Automotive's Daniel Cotterill told ABC news.
"Included in that information will be a risk assessment done by an independent occupational health and safety consultant that outlines the risk to drivers and passengers from the asbestos in these gaskets as being negligible."
The report notes that the danger to professional workers removing and replacing the components is minimal.
“Even if carried out in an uncontrolled way, handling and removing these gaskets constitutes a very low asbestos related health risk,” the report reads.
