The recall system aims to protect automobile users by preventing accidents caused by defective vehicles. It is a system that requires the manufacturers and importers to notify Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport(MLIT) of the defect and collect and repair the defective vehicle free of charge, if the vehicle in question may fail or has failed to comply with the Safety Regulations pursuant to the Road Vehicle Act and the defect was caused in the design or manufacturing process.
In order to ensure prompt recalls, MLIT has strengthened its oversight mechanism over the automobile manufacturers, etc. that committed serious misconduct, established a system to issue a recall order, and newly imposed a prison term （1 year or less） and a heavier fine （maximum fine of 200 million yen）.
MLIT put a new system in place effective as of April 2005 requiring quarterly reporting of malfunctions. This system was made applicable in January 2007 to importers with 10,000 new registrations or more annually by brand.