Okay, maybe not a wet noodle, but let's just say the Japanese government's action doesn't carry much weight. The government says that while no laws were broken and technically automaker Toyota Motor Company did nothing wrong, the manufacturer is deserving of a public scolding over its failure to take steps to recall some of its SUV models for a bad steering component that led to a deadly crash in 2004. Rather than take any legal action, the government is using its words to urge Toyota to take steps to review its recall process.

While the public scolding, or "administrative guidance" as it's called, doesn't carry any legal weight, it does represent an image challenge for one of the world's most successful automakers in its home country. Let's just hope that Toyota is thanking its lucky stars that it's only subject to public judgement and not a much more costly fate.

[Source: Detroit News]