A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes a vehicle steering wheel unit (12) and fasteners (16) which fasten the steering wheel unit (12) in an installed position on a vehicle steering column (14). The steering wheel unit (12) includes parts which are attached to each other separately from the steering column (14). The attached parts of the steering wheel unit (12) include a steering wheel armature (50), an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (22), an inflator (20) for inflating the restraint (22), and a cover (40) for covering the restraint (22) and the inflator (20) on the armature (50). The fasteners (16) snap into a locked condition to establish a mechanical interlock between the steering wheel unit (12) and the steering column (14) when the steering wheel unit (12) is moved to its installed position on the steering column (14).