general problems of the 1998 Subaru Forester

Steering wheel airbag cover has split; a Subaru 3yr/36k warranty item; if car were in crash, wouldn't the airbag possibly cause injury by inflating out of the torn airbag cover on the steering wheel? cannot replace just the cover; will cost $1000+/- to replace the airbag and cover. Shouldn't the original driver airbag assembly be a seatbelt-like warranty item? the plastic cover splits, the airbag could injure in a way not expected, and the manufacturer does not have to provide a warranty for its defective product.