03
3-53
What to Expect After an Air Bag 
Inflates
After a frontal or side air bag inflates, it 
will deflate very quickly. Air bag inflation 
will not prevent the driver from seeing 
out of the windshield or being able 
to steer. Curtain air bags may remain 
partially inflated for some time after they 
deploy.
 WARNING
After an air bag inflates, take the 
following precautions:
ś Open your windows and doors as 
soon as possible after impact to 
reduce prolonged exposure to the 
smoke and powder released by the 
inflating air bag.
ś Do not touch the air bag storage 
area’s internal components 
immediately after an air bag has 
inflated. The parts that come into 
contact with an inflating air bag may 
be very hot.
ś Always wash exposed skin areas 
thoroughly with cold water and mild 
soap.
ś Have an authorized retailer of 
Genesis Branded products replace 
the air bag immediately after 
deployment. Air bags are designed to 
be used only once.
Noise and smoke from inflating air 
bag
When the air bags inflate, they make a 
loud noise and may produce smoke and 
powder in the air inside of the vehicle. 
This is normal and is a result of the 
ignition of the air bag inflator. After the 
air bag inflates, you may feel substantial 
discomfort in breathing because of the 
contact of your chest with both the seat 
belt and the air bag, as well as from 
breathing the smoke and powder. The 
powder may aggravate asthma for some 
people. If you experience breathing 
problems after an air bag deployment, 
seek medical attention immediately.
Though the smoke and powder are 
nontoxic, they may cause irritation to 
the skin, eyes, nose, throat, etc. If this is 
the case, wash and rinse with cold water 
immediately and seek medical attention 
if the symptoms persist.