A steering wheel unit for a motor vehicle. The steering wheel unit has a steering wheel and an airbag module (30) located in the hub area of the steering wheel. This airbag module forms a housing (32), an airbag (52) folded into the housing, and a gas generator (54). The airbag module can be pushed down against the force of at least one spring element to activate a horn, whereby positioning means are present which define the position of the airbag module in relation to the steering wheel. In order to achieve a high degree of operational reliability and a very exact positioning of the airbag module in the steering wheel, at least one retaining means (28;38,68) is present which acts between the airbag module and the steering wheel (28;38,68). This retaining means is ineffective in the absence of outer forces and when the airbag module (30) is pressed down to activate a horn.