The government's consumer administration watchdog has proposed that the government improve the system for automotive recalls, calling for better instructions to automakers and greater information disclosure for consumers.
The Consumer Commission under the Cabinet Office submitted the proposal to the Consumer Affairs Agency on Friday.
It was the first proposal, although nonbinding, worked out by the commission since it was inaugurated last September.
The commission also released the results of its survey covering a total of 1,518 recalls reported to the transport ministry between fiscal 2005 and 2009.
Of the total, around 140 recalls involved single car models and causes, but the ministry instructed automakers to conduct more thorough probes into the causes in only eight recalls, according to the survey.
Masato Nakamura, acting chairman of the commission, said at a news conference that the survey demonstrated the transport ministry's lenient stance toward the automobile industry.