I WAS DRIVING 1-16 WEST, GOING SPEED LIMIT (70) WITH CRUISE CONTROL WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION IN MY LEFT EAR (I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT), I WAS SO STUNNED FOR A MOMENT I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, BUT I TURNED MY HEAD SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT AND REALIZED THE AIR BAG IN MY BACK REST HAD BLOWN UP. SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF IT AND I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE AIR BAG SLAMMED INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE, NECK & SHOULDER. I WAS TRAUMATIZED THE REST OF THE DAY. *TR