Get Essential Safety Equipment -> Child Restraint Guide for Mazda 3 4 Door First Generation (2004-2009)

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

Child Restraint Precautions

Mazda strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for children small enough to use

them.

You are required by law to use a child-restraint system for children in the U.S. and Canada.

Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety

of children riding in your vehicle.

Whatever child-restraint system you consider, please pick the appropriate one for the age

and size of the child, obey the law and follow the instructions that come with the individual

child-restraint system.

A child who has outgrown child-restraint systems should sit in the rear and use seat belts,

both lap and shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses the neck or face, move the child closer to

the center of the vehicle in the outboard seats, and towards the buckle on the right if the

child is seated on the center seat.

Statistics confirm that the rear seat is the best place for all children up to 12 years of age,

and more so with a supplemental restraint system (air bags).

A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER be used on the front seat with the air

bag system activated. The front passenger's seat is also the least preferred seat for other

child-restraint systems.

To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the

front passenger seat weight sensors work as a part of the supplemental restraint system.

This system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the front

passenger seat belt pretensioner system when the total seated weight on the front passenger

seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb).

When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, the system shuts off the front

passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so make sure the front

passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.

Even if the front passenger air bag is shut off, Mazda strongly recommends that children be

properly restrained and child-restraint systems of all kinds are properly secured on the rear

seats which are the best place for children.

For more details, refer to “Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-45)”.

2-21

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

WARNING

Proper Size of Child-Restraint System:

For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, a child must be

properly restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending on age and

size. If not, the child could be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.

Follow the Manufacturer's Instructions and Always Keep the Child-Restraint System

Buckled Down:

An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it

could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make sure

any child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint

system manufacturer's instructions. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or

fasten it with a seat belt, or latch it down to BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH

child-restraint systems and the corresponding tether anchor.

Holding a Child While the Vehicle is Moving:

Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No

matter how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a sudden

stop or collision and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or other

occupants. Even in a moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag forces

that could result in serious injury or death to the child, or the child may be slammed

into the adult, injuring the adult. Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint

system.

Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:

Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous.

The child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violently

backward resulting in serious injury or death to the child. Even though you may feel

assured that a front passenger air bag will not deploy based on the fact that the front

passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, NEVER use a rear-facing

child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy even in a

moderate collision.

2-22

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

WARNING

Seating Children in a Child-Restraint System on the Front Passenger Seat:

If your vehicle is equipped with front passenger seat weight sensors, the vehicle is also

equipped with an air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-30). Even with the front

passenger seat weight sensors, if you must use the front passenger seat for children,

seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat under the

following conditions increases the danger of the front passenger air bag deploying

and could result in serious injury or death to the child.

l

The total seated weight of the child with the child-restraint system on the front

passenger seat is approximately 30 kg (66 lb) or more with a child in the child-

restraint system.

Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint

l

system.

A rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.

l

A rear passenger puts their feet on the front seat rails.

Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.

l

The seat is washed.

Liquids are spilled on the seat.

l

The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items

placed behind it.

l

The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.

Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver seat.

l

Any accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front passenger

seat are attached to the front passenger seat.

The designated positions with seat belts on the rear seats are the safest places for

children. Always use seat belts and child restraints.

Children and Seating Position with Side and Curtain Air Bags:

Allowing anyone to lean over or against the side window, the area of the front

passenger seat, front and rear window pillars and the roof edge along both sides from

which the side and curtain air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint system is used, is

dangerous. If the vehicle is equipped with side and curtain air bags, the impact of

inflation could cause serious injury or death to the child. Furthermore, leaning over

or against the front door could block the side and curtain air bags and eliminate the

advantages of supplemental protection. With the front air bag and the additional side

air bag that comes out of the front seat, the rear seat is always a better location for

children. Do not allow a child to lean over or against the side window, even if the child

is seated in a child-restraint system.

2-23

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

WARNING

One Belt, One Passenger:

Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used

in this way can't spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could be

crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more

than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly

restrained.

CAUTION

A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle during

warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your child

touches them.

NOTE

Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially

designed LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear seat. When using these anchors to

secure a child-restraint system, refer to “LATCH Child-Restraint Systems” (page 2-33).

2-24

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

qRear Seat Child-Restraint System

Installation

Installing Child-Restraint

Systems

Follow these instructions when using a

child-restraint system, unless you are

attaching a LATCH-equipped child-

restraint system to the rear LATCH lower

anchors. Refer to “LATCH Child-

Restraint Systems” (page 2-33).

Accident statistics reveal that a child is

safer in the rear seat. The front passenger's

seat is clearly the worst choice for any

child under 12, and with rear-facing child-

restraint systems it is clearly unsafe due to

air bags.

NOTE

Some child-restraint systems now come

with tethers and therefore must be

installed on the seats that take tethers to

be effective. In your Mazda, tethered

child-restraint systems can only be

accommodated in the three positions on

the rear seat.

Follow the child-restraint system

manufacturer's instructions carefully. If

you are not sure whether you have a

LATCH system or tether, check in the

child-restraint system manufacturer's

instructions and follow them

accordingly. Depending on the type of

child-restraint system, it may not

employ seat belts which are in

Some child-restraint systems also employ

specially designed LATCH attachments;

refer to “LATCH Child-Restraint

Systems” (page 2-33).

automatic locking mode.

1. Make sure the seatback is securely

latched by pushing it back until it is

fully locked.

WARNING

2. Secure the child-restraint system with

the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.

See the manufacturer's instructions on

the child-restraint system for belt

routing instructions.

Tethered Child-Restraint Systems

Work Only on Tether-Equipped Rear

Seats:

Installation of a tether equipped child-

restraint system in the front

passenger's seat defeats the safety

design of the system and will result in

an increased chance of serious injury

if the child-restraint system goes

forward without benefit of being

tethered.

Place tether equipped child-restraint

systems where there are tether

anchors.

2-25

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

3. To get the retractor into the automatic

locking mode, pull the shoulder belt

portion of the seat belt until the entire

length of the belt is out of the retractor.

NOTE

Inspect this function before each use of

the child-restraint system. You should

not be able to pull the shoulder belt out

of the retractor while the system is in

the automatic locking mode. When you

remove the child-restraint system, be

sure the belt fully retracts to return the

system to emergency locking mode

before occupants use the seat belts.

5. If your child-restraint system requires

the use of a tether strap, hook and

tighten the tether strap after raising the

head restraint (except center position)

by following the manufacturer's

instructions.

4. Push the child-restraint system firmly

into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt

retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking

from the retractor will be heard during

retraction if the system is in the

automatic locking mode. If the belt

does not lock the seat down tight,

repeat this step.

Anchor bracket location (4 Door)

Anchor bracket

2-26

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

Tether strap position (4 Door)

Anchor bracket location (5 Door center

position)

Tether

strap

Anchor bracket

Anchor bracket location (5 Door

outboard position)

Tether strap position (5 Door center

position)

Tether

strap

Tether strap position (5 Door outboard

position)

Tether strap

2-27

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

qIf You Must Use the Front Seat

for Children

WARNING

If you cannot put all children in the rear

seat, at least put the smallest children in

the rear and be sure the largest child up

front uses the shoulder belt over the

shoulder.

NEVER put a rear-facing child-restraint

system on the front passenger seat, even

with a seat weight sensor equipped

vehicle.

Child-Restraint Tether Usage:

Using the tether or tether anchor to

secure anything but a child-restraint

system is dangerous. This could

weaken or damage the tether or tether

anchor and result in injury. Use the

tether and tether anchor only for a

child-restraint system.

This seat is also not set up for tethered

child-restraint systems, put them in one of

the rear seat positions set up with tether

anchors.

Likewise the LATCH child-restraint

system cannot be secured in the front

passenger's seat and should be used in the

rear seat.

Don't allow anyone to sleep against the

side window if you have an optional side

and curtain air bag, it could cause serious

injuries to an out of position occupant. As

children more often sleep in cars, it is

better to put them in the rear seat. If

installing the child-restraint system on the

front seat is unavoidable, follow these

instructions when using a front-facing

child-restraint system in the front

passenger's seat.

Incorrect Attachment of the Tether

Strap (Except center position):

Routing the tether strap on top of the

head restraint is dangerous. In a

collision, the tether strap could slide

off the head restraint, and loosen the

child-restraint system. The child-

restraint system could move which

may result in death or injury to the

child. Always route the tether strap

between the head restraint posts.

2-28

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

NOTE

WARNING

l

To check if your front seats have side

air bags:

Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:

Rear-facing child-restraint systems on

the front seat are particularly

dangerous.

Every Mazda side air bag will have a

“SRS AIRBAG”tag on the outboard

shoulder of the front seats.

The child-restraint system can be hit

by a deploying air bag and moved

violently backward resulting in serious

injury or death to the child. Even

though you may feel assured that the

front passenger air bag will not deploy

based on the fact that the front

passenger air bag deactivation

indicator light illuminates, NEVER

use a rear-facing child-restraint

system in the front seat with an air bag

that could deploy even in a moderate

collision.

l

To check if your vehicle has curtain

air bags:

Every Mazda curtain air bag will

have an “SRS AIRBAG” marking on

the front and rear window pillars

along the roof edge.

WARNING

Front Passenger's Seat Position:

As your vehicle has front air bags and

doubly so if your vehicle has side air

bags, a front-facing child-restraint

system should be put on the front seat

only when it is unavoidable.

Even if the front passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light

illuminates, always move the seat as

far back as possible, because the force

of a deploying air bag could cause

serious injury or death to the child.

2-29

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

qFront Passenger's Seat Child-

Restraint System Installation

WARNING

1. Slide the seat as far back as possible.

Children and Seating Position with

Side and Curtain Air Bags:

Allowing anyone to lean over or

against the side window, the area of

the front passenger seat, front and

rear window pillars and the roof edge

along both sides from which the side

and curtain air bags deploy, even if a

child-restraint system is used, is

dangerous. If the vehicle is equipped

with side and curtain air bags, the

impact of inflation could cause serious

injury or death to the child.

Furthermore, leaning over or against

the front door could block the side and

curtain air bags and eliminate the

advantages of supplemental

protection. With the front air bag and

the additional side air bag that comes

out of the front seat, the rear seat is

always a better location for children.

Do not allow a child to lean over or

against the side window, even if the

child is seated in a child-restraint

system.

2. Secure the child-restraint system with

the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.

See the manufacturer's instructions on

the child-restraint system for belt

routing instructions.

3. To get the retractor into the automatic

locking mode, pull the shoulder belt

portion of the seat belt until the entire

length of the belt is out of the retractor.

4. Push the child-restraint system firmly

into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt

retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking

from the retractor will be heard during

retraction if the system is in automatic

locking mode. If the belt does not lock

the seat down tight, repeat the previous

step and also this one.

2-30

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

Without seat warmer

NOTE

l

Inspect this function before each use

of the child-restraint system. You

should not be able to pull the

shoulder belt out of the retractor

while the system is in the automatic

locking mode. When you remove the

child-restraint system, be sure the

belt fully retracts to return the system

to emergency locking mode before

occupants use the seat belts.

l

Follow the child-restraint system

manufacturer's instructions carefully.

Depending on the type of child-

restraint system, it may not employ

seat belts which are in automatic

locking mode.

5. Make sure the front passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light illuminates

after installing a child-restraint system

on the front passenger seat.

Refer to Front passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light on page

2-45.

With seat warmer

2-31

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

WARNING

Seating a Child in a Child-Restraint

System on the Front Passenger Seat

With the Front Passenger Air Bag

Deactivation Indicator Light Not

Illuminated:

Seating a child in a child-restraint

system installed on the front passenger

seat with the front passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light not

illuminated is dangerous. If this

indicator light does not illuminate

even when the total seated weight is

less than approximately 30 kg (66 lb),

this means that the front passenger

front and side air bags, and seat belt

pretensioner are ready for deployment.

If an accident were to deploy an air

bag, a child sitting in the front

passenger seat could be seriously

injured or killed. If the indicator light

does not illuminate after installing a

child-restraint system on the front

passenger seat, install the child-

restraint system on the rear seat and

consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer

as soon as possible. While it is always

better to install any child-restraint

system on the rear seat, it is essential

to do so if the front passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light does not

illuminate (page 2-45).

2-32

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

LATCH Child-Restraint Systems

Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed

LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear outboard seats that slide through the passenger

seat when it is in the fully rearward position. Both anchors must be used, otherwise the seat

will bounce around and put the child in danger. Most LATCH child-restraint systems must

also be used in conjunction with a tether to be effective. If they have a tether you must use

it to better assure your child's safety.

WARNING

Manufacturer's Instructions for Child-Restraint System:

An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it

could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make sure

the child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint

system manufacturer's instructions.

Attaching Two Child-Restraint Systems to the Same LATCH Lower Anchor:

Attaching two child-restraint systems to the same LATCH lower anchor is dangerous.

In a collision, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two child-restraint system

attachments and may break, causing serious injury or death. If you use the seat

position for another child-restraint system when an outboard LATCH position is

occupied, use the center seat belts instead, and the tether if tether-equipped.

Unsecured Child-Restraint System:

An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it

could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Follow the

child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions on belt routing to secure the seat

just as you would with a child in it so that nobody is tempted to put a child in an

improperly secured seat later on. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or fasten

it with a seat belt, or latch it down to BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH child-

restraint systems.

LATCH Child-Restraint Systems:

Not following the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions when installing

the child-restraint system is dangerous. If seat belts or a foreign object prevent the

child-restraint system from being securely attached to the LATCH lower anchors and

the child-restraint system is installed improperly, the child-restraint system could move

in a sudden stop or collision causing serious injury or death to the child or other

occupants. When installing the child-restraint system, make sure there are no seat

belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH lower anchors. Always follow the

child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions.

2-33

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

Anchor bracket location (4 Door)

qChild-Restraint System

Installation Procedure (Rear

Outboard Seats)

1. Make sure the seatback is securely

latched by pushing it back until it is

fully locked.

2. Expand the area between the seat

bottom and the seatback slightly to

verify the locations of the LATCH

lower anchors.

Anchor bracket

Tether strap position (4 Door)

Tether

strap

Anchor bracket

NOTE

The markings above the LATCH lower

anchors indicate the locations of

LATCH lower anchors for the

Anchor bracket location (5 Door)

attachment of a child-restraint system.

3. Secure the child-restraint system using

BOTH LATCH lower anchors,

following the child-restraint system

manufacturer's instruction.

4. If your child-restraint system came

equipped with a tether, that probably

means it is very important to properly

secure the tether for child safety, please

carefully follow the child-restraint

system manufacturer's instructions

when installing tethers.

2-34

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

Tether strap position (5 Door)

qChild-Restraint System

Installation Procedure (Rear

Center Seat)

Tether strap

The LATCH lower anchors at the center

of the rear seat are much further apart than

the sets of LATCH lower anchors for

child-restraint system installation at other

seating positions. Child-restraint systems

with rigid LATCH attachments cannot be

installed on the center seating position.

Some LATCH equipped child-restraint

systems can be placed in the center

position and will reach the nearest

LATCH lower anchors which are 400 mm

(15.75 in) apart. LATCH compatible

child-restraint systems (with attachments

on belt webbing) can be used at this

seating position only if the child-restraint

system manufacturer's instructions state

that the child-restraint system can be

installed to LATCH lower anchors that are

400 mm (15.75 in) apart. Do not attach

two child-restraint systems to the same

LATCH lower anchor. If your child-

restraint system has a tether, it must also

be used for your child's optimum safety.

WARNING

Child-Restraint Tether Usage:

Using the tether or tether anchor to

secure anything but a child-restraint

system is dangerous. This could

weaken or damage the tether or tether

anchor and result in injury. Use the

tether and tether anchor only for a

child-restraint system.

Incorrect Attachment of the Tether

Strap:

1. Make sure the seatback is securely

latched by pushing it back until it is

fully locked.

Routing the tether strap on top of the

head restraint is dangerous. In a

collision, the tether strap could slide

off the head restraint, and loosen the

child-restraint system. The child-

restraint system could move which

may result in death or injury to the

child. Always route the tether strap

between the head restraint posts.

2-35

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

2. Expand the area between the seat

bottom and the seatback slightly to

verify the locations of the LATCH

lower anchors.

Anchor bracket location (4 Door)

Anchor bracket

Tether strap position (4 Door)

NOTE

Tether

strap

The markings above the LATCH lower

anchors indicate the locations of

LATCH lower anchors for the

attachment of a child-restraint system.

Anchor bracket

3. Secure the child-restraint system using

BOTH LATCH lower anchors,

following the child-restraint system

manufacturer's instructions.

Anchor bracket location (5 Door)

4. If your child-restraint system came

equipped with a tether, that probably

means it is very important to properly

secure the tether for child safety, please

carefully follow the child-restraint

system manufacturer's instructions

when installing tethers.

2-36

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

Tether strap position (5 Door)

Tether

strap

WARNING

Child-Restraint Tether Usage:

Using the tether or tether anchor to

secure anything but a child-restraint

system is dangerous. This could

weaken or damage the tether or tether

anchor and result in injury. Use the

tether and tether anchor only for a

child-restraint system.

2-37

Essential Safety Equipment -> Child Restraint for Your Mazda 3 4 Door First Generation (2004-2009)

Related Topics

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals