Dodge JOURNEY 2009 Owner's Manual page 58

56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
WARNING!
Ignoring the Airbag Warning Light in your instru-
ment panel could mean you won't have the airbags to
protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have the airbag system checked right
away.
• The Driver and Front Passenger Airbag/Inflator
Units are located in the center of the steering wheel
and the passenger's side of the instrument panel.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the air-
bags, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of
nontoxic gas is generated to inflate the front airbags.
Different airbag inflation rates may be possible based
on collision severity. The steering wheel hub trim
cover and the upper passenger's side of the instrument
panel separate and fold out of the way as the bags
inflate to their full size. The bags fully inflate in about
50 to 70 ms. This is about half of the time that it takes
to blink your eyes. The bags then quickly deflate while
helping to restrain the driver and front passenger. The
driver's front airbag gas is vented through vent holes
in the sides of the airbag. The passenger's front airbag
gas is vented through vent holes in the sides of the
airbag. In this way, the airbags do not interfere with
your control of the vehicle.
• The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of
the driver and the front passenger and position every-
one for the best interaction with the front airbag.
• The Supplemental Side Impact SRS Side Curtain
Airbags are designed to activate only in certain side
collisions. When the ORC detects a collision requiring
the side curtain airbag to inflate, it signals the inflators
on the crash side of the vehicle. A quantity of nontoxic