For 1990-2009 cars

After a frontal airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbag inflated. Roof-mounted side impact airbags may still be at least partially inflated minutes after the vehicle comes to rest. Some components of the airbag module -- the steering wheel hub for the driver's airbag, the instrument panel for the right front passenger's airbag or the ceiling of your vehicle near the side windows -- may be hot for a short time. The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent the driver from seeing out of the front windshield or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from leaving the vehicle.

Caution: When an airbag inflates, there may be dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have breathing problems but cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you experience breathing problems following an airbag deployment, you should seek medical attention.

Your vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock the doors (if your vehicle has power door locks), turn the interior lamps on, flash the hazard warning flashers, and turn off the radio when the airbag inflates. You can lock the doors again by using the door lock. The interior lamps and hazard warning flashers will deactivate after approximately 15 minutes. You can use the radio controls to adjust the radio.

In many crashes severe enough to inflate an airbag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation. Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the right front passenger airbag.

• | Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an airbag inflates, you will need some new parts for the airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbag system will not be there to help protect you in another crash. A new system will include airbag modules and possibly other parts. The service manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

• | Your vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders .

• | Let only qualified technicians work on your airbag system. Improper service can mean that your airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer for service.