An air bag deployment door in an instrument panel has a sliding bolt engaging an aperture in the panel to latch the door closed. A pivoted linkage connected to the bolt is engaged by the air bag upon initial inflation to withdraw the bolt to release the door. Alternatively, a flexible plastic sheet covering a recess in the inner side of the door has a movable margin portion which engages a slot in the instrument panel opening to latch the door closed. The air bag, upon initial inflation, pushes the sheet into the recess causing the margin portion to pull out of the slot to release the door.