Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 965.0

529US3

Unit: $U62

[09-26-01 12:54:02] PAGES PGT: OPIN

890

GEIER v. AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

Stevens, J., dissenting

were airbags and automatic seatbelts; the regulation allowed
each vehicle manufacturer to choose which restraint to in-
stall.
In 1981, however, following a change of administra-
tion, the new Secretary ﬁrst extended the deadline for com-
pliance and then rescinded the passive restraint requirement
In Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Assn., we afﬁrmed a de-
altogether.
cision by the Court of Appeals holding that this rescission
was arbitrary. On remand, Secretary Elizabeth Dole pro-
mulgated the version of Standard 208 that is at issue in
this case.

The 1984 standard provided for a phase-in of passive re-
straint requirements beginning with the 1987 model year.
In that year, vehicle manufacturers were required to equip
a minimum of 10% of their new passenger cars with such
restraints. While the 1987 Honda Accord driven by Ms.
Geier was not so equipped, it is undisputed that Honda com-
plied with the 10% minimum by installing passive restraints
in certain other 1987 models. This minimum passive re-
straint requirement increased to 25% of 1988 models and 40%
of 1989 models; the standard also mandated that “after Sep-
tember 1, 1989, all new cars must have automatic occupant
crash protection.” 49 Fed. Reg. 28999 (1984); see 49 CFR
§ 571.208, S4.1.3–S4.1.4 (1998).
In response to a 1991 amend-
ment to the Safety Act, the Secretary amended the standard
to require that, beginning in the 1998 model year, all new
cars have an airbag at both the driver’s and right front pas-
senger’s positions.3

Given that Secretary Dole promulgated the 1984 standard
in response to our opinion invalidating her predecessor’s re-
scission of the 1977 passive restraint requirement, she pro-
vided a full explanation for her decision not to require air-

3 See 49 U. S. C. § 30127; 49 CFR § 571.208, S4.1.5.3 (1998). Congress
stated that it did not intend its amendment or the Secretary’s consequent
alteration of Standard 208 to affect the potential liability of vehicle manu-
facturers under applicable law related to vehicles with or without airbags.
49 U. S. C. § 30127(f)(2).