Passenger Airbag: Description

The passenger airbag door is concealed behind the instrument panel top pad and above the glove box opening on the instrument panel in front of the passenger seating position. The stamped steel passenger airbag door is secured on the back of the instrument panel top pad armature between the two passenger side panel outlets. A stamped metal reinforcement is secured to the instrument panel top pad armature near the upper edge of the passenger airbag door opening, and helps to define a predetermined hinge line beneath the decorative cover of the top pad.

Located behind the passenger airbag door is the passenger airbag. The passenger airbag is secured to the instrument panel. A short four-wire pigtail harness with a keyed, yellow connector insulator connects the two inflator initiators to the vehicle electrical system.

The passenger airbag is a multistage, Next Generation-type. The passenger airbag consists of an extruded aluminum housing, two stamped steel end brackets, a molded plastic inner airbag cushion cover, the rectangular fabric airbag cushion, and the airbag inflator. The airbag housing contains the airbag inflator, while the inner cover contains the folded airbag cushion. The inner cover completely encloses the airbag cushion and is permanently retained to the housing. The airbag cushion is constructed of a coated nylon fabric. The airbag inflator is a dual-initiator, hybrid-type unit that is secured to and sealed within the airbag housing.

The passenger airbag cannot be repaired, and must be replaced if deployed, faulty, or in any way damaged. The passenger airbag door is serviced only as a unit with the instrument panel top pad. If the passenger airbag is deployed, the instrument panel must also be replaced.