Mercury 1999 Villager Owner's Manual page 132

Seating and safety restraints
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
recommends a minimum distance of at least 25 cm (ten [10]
inches) between an occupant's chest and the driver air bag module.
Never place your arm over the air bag module as a deploying air
bag can result in serious arm fractures or other injuries.
Steps you can take to properly position yourself away from the airbag:
Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the
pedals comfortably.
Recline the seat slightly (one or two degrees) from the upright
position.
Do not put anything on or over the air bag module. Placing
objects on or over the air bag inflation area may cause those
objects to be propelled by the air bag into your face and torso causing
serious injury.
Do not attempt to service, repair, or modify the Air Bag
Supplemental Restraint System or its fuses. See your Ford or
Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
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