Abstract: Since November 25, 2009, Toyota’s auto recall has been concerned by the public. This incident reflects the fact that relying on auto makers’ self-consciousness to guarantee the effective auto recall is just not enough. Testing organizations with a neutral position could play a key role, when government, consumers, and auto makers have the disagreements on the safety defects. By comparing auto recall processes between China and Japan, the processes differences, characteristics differences, and roles of testing organizations related to the auto recall, as well as the problems involving neutrality and authority of the testing organizations in China are found. Some recommendations for improving the testing organizations in China have been proposed.

Key words: auto recall, testing organization, safety supervision system