2010-2013 Mazda 3 4 Door Essential Safety Equipment User Manual
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Essential Safety Equipment for Your Mazda 3 4 Door Second Generation (2010-2013)

Essential Safety Equipment  
2
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint  
systems and SRS air bags.  
Seats ............................................................................................... 2-2  
Front Seats (Manually Operated Seats) ..................................... 2-2  
Front Seats (Electrically Operated Seats) .................................. 2-4  
Rear Seat ................................................................................... 2-9  
Head Restraints ....................................................................... 2-12  
Seat Warmerí ......................................................................... 2-14  
Seat Belt Systems ........................................................................ 2-16  
Seat Belt Precautions .............................................................. 2-16  
Seat Belt .................................................................................. 2-20  
Front Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems ....... 2-22  
Seat Belt Extender ................................................................... 2-25  
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep ................................................ 2-26  
Child Restraint ............................................................................ 2-28  
Child Restraint Precautions ..................................................... 2-28  
Installing Child-Restraint Systems .......................................... 2-32  
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems ............................................ 2-38  
SRS Air Bags ............................................................................... 2-43  
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions ................ 2-43  
Supplemental Restraint System Components ......................... 2-48  
How the SRS Air Bags Work .................................................. 2-49  
SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria .......................................... 2-53  
Limitations to SRS Air Bag .................................................... 2-54  
Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification  
Systemí .................................................................................. 2-56  
Monitoring and Maintenance .................................................. 2-61  
íSome models.  
2-1  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
Make sure the adjustable components  
of a seat are locked in place:  
Front Seats (Manually  
Operated Seats)  
Adjustable seats and seatbacks that  
are not securely locked are  
dangerous. In a sudden stop or  
collision, the seat or seatback could  
move, causing injury. Make sure the  
adjustable components of the seat  
are locked in place by attempting to  
slide the seat forward and backward  
and rocking the seatback.  
WARNING  
Do not modify or replace the front  
seats:  
Modifying or replacing the front seats  
such as replacing the upholstery or  
loosening any bolts is dangerous. The  
front seats contain air bag  
components essential to the  
supplemental restraint system. Such  
modifications could damage the  
supplemental restraint system and  
result in serious injury. Consult an  
Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is  
any need to remove or reinstall the  
front seats.  
qSeat Slide  
WARNING  
Adjust the driver's seat only when the  
vehicle is stopped:  
Adjusting the driver's seat while the  
vehicle is moving is dangerous. The  
driver could lose control of the vehicle  
and have an accident.  
Do not drive with damaged front seats:  
Driving with damaged front seats is  
dangerous. A collision, even one not  
strong enough to inflate the air bags,  
could damage the front seats which  
contain essential air bag  
To move a seat forward or backward, raise  
the lever and slide the seat to the desired  
position and release the lever.  
components. If there was a  
subsequent collision, an air bag may  
not deploy which could lead to  
injuries. Always have an Authorized  
Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats,  
front seat belt pretensioners and air  
bags after a collision.  
Make sure the lever returns to its original  
position and the seat is locked in place by  
attempting to push it forward and  
backward.  
2-2  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
Do not drive with the seatback  
unlocked:  
All of the seatbacks play an  
qSeat Recline  
WARNING  
important role in your protection in a  
vehicle. Leaving the seatback  
unlocked is dangerous as it can allow  
passengers to be ejected or thrown  
around and baggage to strike  
Do not drive with either front seat  
reclined:  
Sitting in a reclined position while the  
vehicle is moving is dangerous  
because you do not get the full  
protection from seat belts. During  
sudden braking or a collision, you  
can slide under the lap belt and  
suffer serious internal injuries. For  
maximum protection, sit well back  
and upright.  
occupants in a sudden stop or  
collision, resulting in severe injury.  
After adjusting the seatback at any  
time, even when there are no other  
passengers, rock the seatback to  
make sure it is locked in place.  
To change the seatback angle, lean  
forward slightly while raising the lever.  
Then lean back to the desired position and  
release the lever.  
Always sit in the passenger seat  
properly with the seatback upright and  
feet on the floor (With Driver and Front  
Passenger Occupant Classification  
System):  
Your front passenger seat has weight  
sensors, sitting in the front passenger  
seat improperly out of position or  
with the seatback reclined too far  
while the vehicle is moving is  
dangerous as it can take off weight  
from the seat bottom and affect the  
weight determination of the front  
passenger sensing system. As a result  
the front passenger will not have the  
supplementary protection of the air  
bag and seat belt pretensioner, which  
could result in serious injury. Always  
sit upright against the seatback with  
your feet on the floor.  
Make sure the lever returns to its original  
position and the seatback is locked in  
place by attempting to push it forward and  
backward.  
2-3  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
Front Seats (Electrically  
Operated Seats)  
CAUTION  
When returning a rear-reclined  
seatback to its upright position,  
make sure you hold onto the  
seatback with your other hand while  
operating the lever. If the seatback is  
not supported, it will flip forward  
suddenly and could cause injury.  
The power operated seat is available only  
on the driver's seat. The front passenger  
seat is manually operated.  
Refer to Front Seats (Manually Operated  
Seats) (page 2-2) for adjustment  
instructions.  
q
Height Adjustment (Driver's Seat)  
WARNING  
To adjust the seat height, move the lever  
up or down.  
Do not modify or replace the front  
seats:  
Modifying or replacing the front seats  
such as replacing the upholstery or  
loosening any bolts is dangerous. The  
front seats contain air bag  
Up  
components essential to the  
supplemental restraint system. Such  
modifications could damage the  
supplemental restraint system and  
result in serious injury. Consult an  
Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is  
any need to remove or reinstall the  
front seats.  
Down  
Do not drive with damaged front seats:  
Driving with damaged front seats is  
dangerous. A collision, even one not  
strong enough to inflate the air bags,  
could damage the front seats which  
contain essential air bag  
components. If there was a  
subsequent collision, an air bag may  
not deploy which could lead to  
injuries. Always have an Authorized  
Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats,  
front seat belt pretensioners and air  
bags after a collision.  
2-4  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
qSeat Recline  
CAUTION  
Ø The seat-bottom power  
adjustment is operated by motors.  
Avoid extended operation because  
excessive use can damage the  
motors.  
Ø To prevent the battery from  
running down, avoid using the  
power adjustment when the  
engine is stopped. The adjuster  
uses a large amount of electrical  
power.  
WARNING  
Do not drive with either front seat  
reclined:  
Sitting in a reclined position while the  
vehicle is moving is dangerous  
because you do not get the full  
protection from seat belts. During  
sudden braking or a collision, you  
can slide under the lap belt and  
suffer serious internal injuries. For  
maximum protection, sit well back  
and upright.  
Ø Do not use the switch to make  
more than one adjustment at a  
time.  
To change the seatback angle, press the  
front or rear side of the reclining switch.  
Release the switch at the desired position.  
qSeat Slide  
To slide the seat, move the slide lifter  
switch on the outside of the seat to the  
front or back and hold it. Release the  
switch at the desired position.  
2-5  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
qHeight Adjustment  
Set button  
To adjust the seat height, move the switch  
up or down.  
Programming of the driver's seat positions  
is possible using the following functions:  
l
Programming buttons 1, 2, or 3 and the  
set button.  
l
Operation using the advanced key/  
retractable type keyí  
Programmed seat positions can be  
activated using the following functions:  
l
Programming buttons 1, 2, or 3.  
Operation using advanced keyless  
l
functions/keyless entry systemí  
NOTE  
(With advanced key/retractable type key)  
Individual seat positions can be programmed  
to the three available programming buttons on  
the side of the driver's seat, plus one seat  
position for each advanced key/retractable  
type key used with the vehicle.  
qSeat Position Memory  
One-touch seat position programming and  
activation is available on the driver's seat.  
CAUTION  
When activating the seat position, do  
not place your hands or fingers  
around the seat bottom. The seat  
moves to the desired position  
automatically, and if your hands or  
fingers are placed around the seat  
bottom, it could cause injury.  
2-6  
íSome models.  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
Operation using the seat-side buttons  
Programming  
NOTE  
In the following cases, the seat position set  
function cancels:  
l
Park the vehicle in a safe location before  
performing the seat position  
programming. (Vehicle must be stopped)  
Any of the seat adjustment switches are  
operated.  
l
l
l
l
The set button is pressed.  
A programming button 1, 2, or 3 is pressed.  
The vehicle starts moving.  
Vehicle locking/unlocking is done using the  
transmitter.  
1. Adjust the seat to the desired position.  
For each seat position adjustment  
method refer to the following pages:  
Seat Slide (page 2-5)  
TYPE B  
Seat Recline (page 2-5)  
Height Adjustment (page 2-6)  
When the ignition is switched ON or the  
driver's door is closed, press and hold the  
desired programming button 1, 2, or 3.  
2. Press the desired programming button  
1, 2, or 3 while pressing the set button  
until a beep sound is heard.  
NOTE  
In the following cases, the seat position set  
function cancels:  
l
The button is programmed after a beep  
sound is heard. Other buttons can be  
programmed using the same procedure.  
Any of the seat adjustment switches are  
operated.  
NOTE  
l
The set button is pressed.  
Vehicle maintenance or other reasons  
requiring the vehicle battery to be  
disconnected will result in the seat position  
memory being erased.  
l
The vehicle starts moving.  
Operation using the advanced key/  
retractable type keyí  
In this case, re-program the seat positions.  
With advanced key  
Setting the driver's seat to a pre-  
programmed position  
Lock button  
There are two methods for setting the  
driver's seat to a pre-programmed  
Unlock button  
position. For example, the type A method  
can be used before sitting in the seat and  
while the driver's door is open, and the  
type B method can be used after getting in  
the vehicle with the driver's door closed.  
TYPE A  
When the ignition switched off and the  
driver's door is open, press the  
programming button 1, 2, or 3 for the  
desired seating position.  
íSome models.  
2-7  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
With retractable type key  
Seat position memory setting procedure  
To set the driver's seat to pre-programmed  
position, switch the ignition off, unlock  
the doors using any of the following  
methods, and then open the driver's door  
within about 40 seconds.  
Unlock button  
Lock button  
l
Press the unlock switch on the  
advanced key/retractable type key.  
l
Press the request switch on a front door  
while the advanced key is being  
carried.  
Operation  
indicator light  
NOTE  
If any of the following occurs, the seat position  
activation function cancels:  
l
Programming  
The lock/unlock button is pressed while the  
One seat position can be programmed into  
each advanced key/retractable type key.  
After the following conditions have been  
met, operate the seat and the advanced  
key/retractable type key to program the  
seat positions.  
key is not inserted into the ignition switch  
or the key slot.  
l
A seat adjustment switch is operated.  
l
The vehicle starts moving.  
l
The selected programming button 1, 2, or 3  
is pressed.  
l
The ignition switched off  
l
The set button is pressed.  
(The auxiliary key/retractable type key  
is removed from the ignition switch)  
The driver's door is open  
Erasing memory  
l
After the following conditions have been  
met, press the lock button on the  
advanced key/retractable type key while  
pressing the set button until a beep sound  
is heard.  
1. Adjust the seat to the desired position.  
For each seat position adjustment  
method, refer to the following pages:  
Seat Slide (page 2-5)  
l
The ignition switched off  
Seat Recline (page 2-5)  
Height Adjustment (page 2-6)  
(The auxiliary key/retractable type key  
is removed from the ignition switch)  
The driver's door is open  
2. Press and hold the unlock button on the  
advanced key/retractable type key  
while pressing the set button until a  
beep sound is heard.  
l
NOTE  
Memory will also be erased if any of the  
following operations are performed:  
l
The advanced key/retractable type key  
is programmed after a beep sound is  
heard.  
The advanced key/retractable type key code  
has been changed.  
Refer to Immobilizer System (with  
Advanced Key) on page 3-54.  
Refer to Immobilizer System on page 3-58.  
l
The vehicle battery is disconnected for  
vehicle maintenance or other reasons.  
2-8  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
Never allow a passenger to sit or stand  
on the folded seatback while the  
vehicle is moving:  
Rear Seat  
WARNING  
Driving with a passenger on the  
folded seatback is dangerous.  
Allowing a child to sit up on the  
folded seatback while the vehicle is  
moving is particularly dangerous. In  
a sudden stop or even a minor  
collision, a child not in a proper seat  
or child-restraint system and seat  
belt could be thrown forward, back  
or even out of the vehicle resulting in  
serious injuries or death. The child in  
the baggage area could be thrown  
into other occupants and cause  
serious injury.  
Do not stack cargo higher than the  
seatbacks or place articles on the rear  
package tray or on the luggage  
compartment cover:  
Stacking luggage or other cargo  
higher than the seatbacks, and  
placing articles on the rear seat or on  
the luggage compartment cover is  
dangerous. During sudden braking  
or a collision, objects can fly around  
and become projectiles that may hit  
and injure passengers.  
Make sure luggage and cargo is  
secured before driving:  
Never give the car keys to children and  
do not allow them to play in the vehicle  
(4 Door):  
Not securing cargo while driving is  
dangerous as it could move or be  
crushed during sudden braking or a  
collision and cause injury.  
Playing with the folding rear seats is  
dangerous. The folding rear  
seatbacks cannot be folded down  
from inside the trunk. Once the  
seatbacks are back up, a child in the  
trunk would not be able to get out  
the way they had entered. If you have  
small children, keep the seatbacks  
locked.  
Do not drive with the seatback  
unlocked:  
All of the seatbacks play an  
important role in your protection in a  
vehicle. Leaving the seatback  
unlocked is dangerous as it can allow  
passengers to be ejected or thrown  
around and baggage to strike  
occupants in a sudden stop or  
collision, resulting in severe injury.  
After returning the seatback at any  
time, even when there are no other  
passengers, rock the seatback to  
make sure it is locked in place.  
2-9  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
Always leave your car locked and keep  
the car keys safely away from children:  
Leaving your car unlocked or the  
keys in reach of children is  
qSplit-Folding Rear Seatback  
To fold the seatbacks  
CAUTION  
dangerous. Children who find their  
way into the trunk through an  
unlocked rear seatback or an open  
trunk can become accidentally locked  
in the trunk. This could result in  
death or brain damage from heat  
prostration, particularly in the  
summer. Always lock the doors and  
the trunk, and as an added measure,  
keep the rear seatbacks locked,  
whether you have children in your  
home or not.  
When operating the rear seatback  
knob, make sure you support the  
seatback with your hand. If the  
seatback is not supported with your  
hand, it will flip forward suddenly  
and could cause injury to the finger  
that pushes the rear seatback knob  
down.  
1. Support the seatback with your hand.  
2. Push the rear seatback knob down.  
Do not leave the key in your vehicle  
with children and keep them in a place  
where your children will not find or  
play with them:  
Leaving children in a vehicle with the  
key is dangerous. This could result in  
someone being badly injured or even  
killed. Children may find these new  
kinds of keys to be an interesting toy  
to play with and could cause the  
power windows or other controls to  
operate, or even make the vehicle  
move.  
To return the seatbacks to the upright  
position  
NOTE  
1. Lift the seatbacks upright.  
When returning a rear seat to its original  
position, also replace the seat belt to its  
normal position. Verify that the seat belt pulls  
out and retracts.  
2. Pull on the top of the seatbacks from  
inside the vehicle to make sure they are  
locked.  
2-10  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
qArmrestí  
WARNING  
The rear armrest in the center of the rear  
seatback can be used (no occupant in the  
center seat) or placed upright.  
Always make sure the seat belts are  
fully pulled out from under the  
seatbacks:  
A seat belt caught under a seatback  
after the seatback is returned to its  
upright position is dangerous. In a  
collision or sudden stop, the seat belt  
cannot provide adequate protection.  
When returning the seatback to the  
upright position, make sure there is no  
red indication:  
A rear seatback not fully returned  
and locked in the upright position is  
dangerous. Sudden stops or  
maneuvering could cause a seatback  
to flip forward suddenly resulting in  
injury. If the red indicator is visible on  
the back of the rear seatback knob,  
the seatback is not locked in the  
upright position.  
Locked position  
Unlocked position  
Red indicator  
íSome models.  
2-11  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
Rear outboard seat  
Head Restraints  
Your vehicle is equipped with head  
restraints on all outboard seats. The head  
restraints are intended to help protect you  
and the passengers from neck injury.  
WARNING  
Always drive with the head restraints  
installed when seats are being used  
and make sure they are properly  
adjusted:  
Driving with the head restraints  
adjusted too low or removed is  
dangerous. With no support behind  
your head, your neck could be  
seriously injured in a collision.  
Removal/Installation  
To remove the head restraint, pull it up  
while pressing the stop-catch.  
To install the head restraint, press the  
uprights into the holes while pressing the  
stop-catch.  
Height adjustment  
To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the  
desired position.  
WARNING  
To lower the head restraint, press the stop-  
catch release, then push the head restraint  
down.  
Adjust the head restraint so that the top is  
even with the top of the passenger's ears,  
never the passenger's neck to prevent  
injury.  
Always drive with the head restraints  
set up when seats are being used and  
make sure they are properly set up:  
Driving with the head restraints not  
set up is dangerous. With no support  
behind your head, your neck could be  
seriously injured in a collision.  
Front outboard seat  
2-12  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
qActive Head Restraintsí  
NOTE  
l
The active head restraints operate in a  
rear-end collision. The head restraints  
return to their original position after the  
collision.  
The front seats are equipped with active  
head restraints.  
In a rear-end collision, the active head  
restraints use the force applied by the  
occupant on the seatback to  
instantaneously move the head restraints  
in the forward direction, reducing  
excessive rearward tilting of the head and  
reducing the load on the neck. The active  
head restraints are also highly effective at  
reducing whip-lash injuries which  
commonly occur in rear-end collisions at  
low to mid-range vehicle speeds.  
l
The method for adjusting the active head  
restraints is the same as non-active head  
restraint.  
WARNING  
Ø Always adjust the head restraints  
properly as specified in this  
section. Failure to do so can  
reduce the effectiveness of the  
active head restraint.  
Ø Do not attach any accessories such  
as a TV screen to a front seatback  
and/or a front head restraint. Also  
do not place heavy items or thick  
items, or both in the seatback  
pocket. Doing so could reduce the  
effectiveness of the active head  
restraint in a rear-end collision.  
íSome models.  
2-13  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
í
Seat Warmer  
WARNING  
Ø Be careful when using the seat  
warmer. The heat from the seat  
warmer may be too hot for some  
people, as indicated below, and  
could cause a low-temperature  
burn.  
The driver and front passenger seats can  
be warmed by rotating the applicable seat  
warmer dial while the ignition is switched  
ON.  
The seat temperature increases as the  
number on the dial increases. When the  
seat warmers are not in use, rotate the seat  
warmer dials to 0.  
Ø
Infants, small babies, elderly  
people, and physically  
challenged people  
Ø
People with delicate skin  
Ø
People who are excessively  
fatigued  
Ø
People who are drunk  
Ø
People who have taken sleep-  
inducing medicine such as  
sleeping pills or cold medicine  
Ø Do not use the seat warmer with  
anything having high moisture-  
retention ability such as a blanket  
or cushion on the seat. The seat  
may be heated excessively and  
cause a low-temperature burn.  
Ø Do not use the seat warmer even  
when taking a short nap in the  
vehicle. The seat may be heated  
excessively and cause a low-  
temperature burn.  
Ø Do not place heavy objects with  
sharp projections on the seat, or  
insert needles or pins into it. This  
could cause the seat to become  
excessively heated and result in  
injury from a minor burn.  
CAUTION  
Do not use organic solvents to clean  
the seat. It may damage the seat  
surface and the heater.  
2-14  
íSome models.  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seats  
NOTE  
Use the seat warmer when the engine is  
running, and do not continue to use it for a  
long period of time.  
2-15  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
Seat Belt Precautions  
Seat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden  
stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and all passengers always wear seat belts.  
All of the seat belt retractors are designed to keep the lap/shoulder belts out of the way  
when not in use.  
The driver's seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint systems and has only an  
emergency locking mode. The driver may wear it comfortably, and it will lock during a  
collision.  
However, the front passenger's seat and all rear lap/shoulder belt retractors operate in two  
modes: emergency locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode.  
While we recommend you put all children in the rear seats, if you must use the front  
passenger seat for a child, slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible and make  
sure any child-restraint system is secured properly.  
2-16  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
WARNING  
Always wear your seat belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained:  
Not wearing a seat belt is extremely dangerous. During a collision, occupants not  
wearing seat belts could hit someone or things inside the vehicle or even be thrown  
out of the vehicle. They could be seriously injured or even killed. In the same  
collision, occupants wearing seat belts would be much safer.  
Do not wear twisted seat belts:  
Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt is not  
available to absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt,  
which could cause serious injury or death.  
Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:  
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt  
used in this way cannot 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.  
Do not operate a vehicle with a damaged seat belt:  
Using a damaged seat belt is dangerous. An accident could damage the belt  
webbing of the seat belt in use. A damaged seat belt cannot provide adequate  
protection in a collision. Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect all seat belt  
systems in use during an accident before they are used again.  
Have your seat belts changed immediately if the pretensioner or load limiter has  
been expended:  
One or both front air bags may deploy, and the corresponding pretensioner(s) may  
also deploy at the same time. Like the air bags, the front seat belt pretensioners will  
only function once. While it is safer to use a post-crash (a seat belt that was used in  
an accident) than no front seat belt at all, using a front seat belt with an expended  
pretensioner or load limiter loaded reduces the safety available to you. If the front  
seat belt pretensioners are not replaced, the risk of injury in a collision will increase.  
Expended front seat belt pretensioners and air bags must be replaced after any  
collision which caused them to deploy. Additionally, the load limiter will only limit  
loads on the chest once in a collision and this is another reason to have the front  
seat belts inspected. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect the front seat  
belt pretensioners and air bags after any collision.  
2-17  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
CAUTION  
Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and rings are soiled, so try to keep  
them clean. For more details about cleaning the seat belts, refer to “Cleaning the  
Lap/Shoulder Belt Webbing” (page 8-65).  
qPregnant Women and Persons with Serious Medical Conditions  
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific  
recommendations.  
The lap belt should be worn SNUGLYAND AS LOWAS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS.  
The shoulder belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the  
stomach area.  
Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your  
doctor for any special instructions regarding specific medical conditions.  
qEmergency Locking Mode  
In the emergency locking mode, the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the  
retractor will lock in position during a collision. When the seat belt is fastened, it will  
always be in the emergency locking mode until it is switched to automatic locking mode by  
pulling it all the way out to its full length. If the belt feels tight and hinders comfortable  
movement while the vehicle is stopped or in motion, it may be in the automatic locking  
mode because the belt has been pulled too far out. To return the belt to the more  
comfortable emergency locking mode, wait until the vehicle has stopped in a safe, level  
area, retract the belt fully to convert it back to emergency locking mode and then extend it  
around you again.  
If the belt is locked and cannot be pulled out, retract the belt once, and then try pulling it  
out slowly. If this fails, pull the belt strongly one time and loosen, then pull it out again  
slowly.  
2-18  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
qAutomatic Locking Mode  
Always use the automatic locking mode to keep the child-restraint system from shifting to  
an unsafe position in the event of an accident. To enable seat belt automatic locking mode,  
pull it all the way out and connect it as instructed on the child-restraint system. It will  
retract down to the child-restraint system and stay locked on it. See the section on child  
restraint (page 2-28).  
2-19  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
Seat Belt  
WARNING  
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of the  
Seat Belt:  
qFastening the Seat Belt  
Improper positioning of the shoulder  
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.  
Always make sure the shoulder  
portion of the seat belt is positioned  
across your shoulder and near your  
neck, but never under your arm, on  
your neck, or on your upper arm.  
1. Grasp the seat belt tongue.  
2. Slowly pull out the lap/shoulder belt.  
Lap/shoulder  
belt  
4. Position the lap belt as low as possible,  
not on the abdominal area, then adjust  
the shoulder belt so that it fits snugly  
against your body.  
Seat belt  
tongue  
3. Insert the seat belt tongue into the seat  
belt buckle until you hear a click  
sound.  
Take up slack  
Keep low on  
hip bone  
Too high  
Seat belt tongue  
WARNING  
Positioning the Lap Portion of the Seat  
Belt:  
Seat belt  
buckle  
The lap portion of the seat belt worn  
too high is dangerous. In a collision,  
this would concentrate the impact  
force directly on the abdominal area,  
causing serious injury. Wear the lap  
portion of the belt snugly and as low  
as possible.  
2-20  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
qUnfastening the Seat Belt  
qFront Shoulder Belt Adjuster  
Depress the button on the seat belt buckle.  
If the belt does not fully retract, pull it out  
and check for kinks or twists. Then make  
sure it remains untwisted as it retracts.  
Adjust the height of the shoulder belt if  
the seat belt touches your neck, or if it  
crosses your arm instead of your shoulder.  
To raise the shoulder belt adjuster, push  
the adjuster up. To lower the shoulder belt  
adjuster, pull the adjuster and slide it  
down. Make sure the adjuster is locked.  
To raise  
To lower  
Button  
NOTE  
If a belt does not fully retract, inspect it for  
kinks and twists. If it is still not retracting  
properly, have it inspected at an Authorized  
Mazda Dealer.  
WARNING  
Positioning the Shoulder Portion of the  
Seat Belt:  
Improper positioning of the shoulder  
portion of the seat belt is dangerous.  
Always make sure the shoulder  
portion of the seat belt is positioned  
across your shoulder and near your  
neck, but never under your arm, on  
your neck, or on your upper arm.  
2-21  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
Front Seat Belt Pretensioner  
and Load Limiting Systems  
WARNING  
Wear seat belts only as recommended  
in this owner's manual:  
For optimum protection, the driver and  
front passenger seat belts are equipped  
with pretensioner and load limiting  
systems. For both these systems to work  
properly you must wear the seat belt  
properly.  
Incorrect positioning of the driver and  
front passenger seat belts is  
dangerous. Without proper  
positioning, the pretensioner and  
load limiting systems cannot provide  
adequate protection in an accident  
and this could result in serious injury.  
For more details about wearing seat  
belts, refer to “Fastening the seat  
belts” (page 2-20).  
Pretensioners:  
In moderate or severe frontal or near-  
frontal accidents, the front air bag and  
pretensioner systems deploy  
simultaneously. The front seat belt  
retractors remove slack quickly as the air  
bags are expanding. Any time the air bags  
and front seat belt pretensioners have fired  
they must be replaced.  
(With Driver and Front Passenger  
Occupant Classification System)  
In addition, the pretensioner system for  
the front passenger, like the front  
passenger air bag, is designed to only  
deploy in accordance with the total seated  
weight on the front passenger seat.  
For details, refer to the front passenger  
seat weight sensors (page 2-56).  
Have your seat belts changed  
immediately if the pretensioner or load  
limiter has been expended:  
One or both front air bags may  
deploy, and the corresponding  
pretensioner(s) may also deploy at  
the same time. Like the air bags, the  
front seat belt pretensioners will only  
function once. While it is safer to use  
a post-crash (a seat belt that was  
used in an accident) than no front  
seat belt at all, using a front seat belt  
with an expended pretensioner or  
load limiter loaded reduces the safety  
available to you. If the front seat belt  
pretensioners are not replaced, the  
risk of injury in a collision will  
increase. Expended front seat belt  
pretensioners and air bags must be  
replaced after any collision which  
caused them to deploy. Additionally,  
the load limiter will only limit loads  
on the chest once in a collision and  
this is another reason to have the  
front seat belts inspected. Always  
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer  
inspect the front seat belt  
Load limiter:  
The load limiting system releases belt  
webbing in a controlled manner to reduce  
belt force on the occupant's chest. While  
the most severe load on a seat belt occurs  
in frontal collisions, the load limiter has  
an automatic mechanical function and can  
activate in any accident mode with  
sufficient occupant movement.  
Even if the pretensioners have not fired,  
the load limiting function must be  
checked by an Authorized Mazda Dealer  
after any collision.  
pretensioners and air bags after any  
collision.  
2-22  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
Do not modify the components or  
wiring, or use electronic testing devices  
on the pretensioner system:  
NOTE  
l
The pretensioner system will activate in a  
moderate or greater frontal or near-frontal  
collision. It will not activate in most  
rollovers, side or rear impacts.  
Modifying the components or wiring  
of the pretensioner system, including  
the use of electronic testing devices is  
dangerous. You could accidentally  
activate it or make it inoperable  
which would prevent it from  
activating in an accident. The  
occupants or repairers could be  
seriously injured.  
(With Driver and Front Passenger  
Occupant Classification System)  
The pretensioner system for the front  
passenger is designed to only deploy in  
accordance with the total seated weight on  
the front passenger seat.  
l
Some smoke (non-toxic gas) will be  
released when the air bags and  
Properly dispose of the pretensioner  
system:  
pretensioners deploy. This does not indicate  
a fire. This gas normally has no effect on  
occupants, however, those with sensitive  
skin may experience light skin irritation. If  
residue from the deployment of the air bags  
or the front pretensioner system gets on the  
skin or in the eyes, wash it off as soon as  
possible.  
Improper disposal of the pretensioner  
system or a vehicle with non-  
deactivated pretensioners is  
dangerous. Unless all safety  
procedures are followed, injury could  
result. Ask an Authorized Mazda  
Dealer how to safely dispose of the  
pretensioner system or how to scrap  
a pretensioner-equipped vehicle.  
q
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt  
Pretensioner System Warning Light  
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner  
system is working properly, the warning  
light illuminates when the ignition is  
switched ON or after the engine is  
cranked. The warning light turns off after  
a specified period of time.  
2-23  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
A system malfunction is indicated if the  
warning light constantly flashes,  
constantly illuminates or does not  
illuminate at all when the ignition is  
switched ON. If any of these occur,  
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as  
soon as possible. The system may not  
work in an accident.  
WARNING  
Do not drive the vehicle with the air  
bag/front seat belt pretensioner system  
warning beep sounding:  
Driving the vehicle with the air bag/  
front seat belt pretensioner system  
warning beep sounding is dangerous.  
In a collision, the air bags and the  
front seat belt pretensioner system  
will not deploy and this could result  
in death or serious injury.  
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer  
to have the vehicle inspected as soon  
as possible.  
WARNING  
Never tamper with the air bag/  
pretensioner systems and always have  
an Authorized Mazda Dealer perform  
all servicing and repairs:  
Self-servicing or tampering with the  
systems is dangerous. An air bag/  
pretensioner could accidentally  
activate or become disabled causing  
serious injury or death.  
q
Air Bag/Front Seat Belt  
Pretensioner System Warning Beep  
If a malfunction is detected in the air bag/  
front seat belt pretensioner systems and  
the warning light, a warning beep sound  
will be heard for about 5 seconds every  
minute.  
The air bag and seat belt pretensioner  
system warning beep sound will continue  
to be heard for approximately 35 minutes.  
Have your vehicle inspected at an  
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as  
possible.  
2-24  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
Seat Belt Extender  
WARNING  
Do not use a seat belt extender unless  
it is necessary:  
If your seat belt is not long enough, even  
when fully extended, a seat belt extender  
may be available to you at no charge from  
your Authorized Mazda Dealer.  
This extender will be only for you and for  
the particular vehicle and seat. Even if it  
plugs into other seat belts, it may not hold  
in the critical moment of a crash.  
When ordering an extender, only order  
one that provides the necessary additional  
length to fasten the seat belt properly.  
Please contact your Authorized Mazda  
Dealer for more information.  
Using a seat belt extender when not  
necessary is dangerous. The seat belt  
will be too long and not fit properly.  
In an accident, the seat belt will not  
provide adequate protection and you  
could be seriously injured. Only use  
the extender when it is required to  
fasten the seat belt properly.  
Do not use an improper extender:  
Using a seat belt extender that is for  
another person or a different vehicle  
or seat is dangerous. The seat belt  
will not provide adequate protection  
and the user could be seriously  
injured in an accident. Only use the  
extender provided for you and for the  
particular vehicle and seat. NEVER  
use the extender in a different vehicle  
or seat. If you sell your Mazda, do  
not leave your seat belt extender in  
the vehicle. It could be used  
accidentally by the new owner of the  
vehicle. After removing the seat belt  
extender, discard it. Never use the  
seat belt extender in any other  
vehicle you may own in the future.  
Do not use an extender that is too  
long:  
Using an extender that is too long is  
dangerous. The seat belt will not fit  
properly. In an accident, the seat belt  
will not provide adequate protection  
and you could be seriously injured.  
Do not use the extender or choose  
one shorter in length if the distance  
between the extender's buckle and  
the center of the user's body is less  
than 15 cm (6 in).  
2-25  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
NOTE  
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep  
When not in use, remove the seat belt extender  
and store it in the vehicle. If the seat belt  
extender is left connected, the seat belt  
extender might get damaged as it will not  
retract with the rest of the seat belt and can  
easily fall out of the door when not in use and  
be damaged. In addition, the seat belt warning  
light will not illuminate and function properly.  
The seat belt warning light illuminates  
and a beep sound will be heard if the  
driver's seat belt is not fastened when the  
ignition is switched ON.  
Conditions of operation  
Condition  
Result  
The warning light  
The driver's seat belt is not illuminates for about 1  
fastened when the ignition is minute and a beep  
switched ON.  
sound will be heard  
for about 6 seconds.  
The driver's seat belt is  
fastened while the warning  
light and the beep sound are  
activated.  
The warning light  
turns off and the beep  
sound stops.  
The warning light will  
not illuminate and the  
beep sound will not be  
heard.  
The driver's seat belt is  
fastened before the ignition  
is switched ON.  
qBelt Minder  
NOTE  
The belt minder can be deactivated. Consult an  
Authorized Mazda Dealer to deactivate or  
restore the seat belt minder.  
2-26  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Seat Belt Systems  
Driver seated/Front passenger not  
seated*1  
Driver seated/Front passenger seated  
The seat belt warning function reminds  
the front passenger to fasten the seat belt  
according to the chart below.  
The belt minder is a supplemental  
warning to the seat belt warning function.  
If the driver's seat belt is not fastened  
when the ignition is switched ON, the  
warning light/beep operates to give you  
further reminders according to the chart  
below.  
*1 The belt minder operates according to  
the chart below even if the front  
passenger is seated (Without Driver  
and Front Passenger Occupant  
Classification System).  
Vehicle speed  
Between 0 ― 20  
km/h  
(0 ― 12 mph)  
20 km/h  
(12 mph) or  
more  
Condition  
Seat belt  
(Driver)  
Seat belt  
(Passenger)  
Indicator  
Beep  
Vehicle speed  
: Fastened  
: Unfastened  
: Illuminated  
: Flashing  
: Beep  
Between 0 ― 20  
km/h  
(0 ― 12 mph)  
20 km/h  
(12 mph) or  
more  
Condition  
Seat belt  
(Driver)  
Placing heavy items on the front  
passenger seat may cause the front  
passenger seat belt warning function to  
operate depending on the weight of the  
item.  
Indicator  
Beep  
: Fastened  
: Unfastened  
: Illuminated  
: Flashing  
: Beep  
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues  
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers  
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the  
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound  
period has passed.  
Once the beep sound is heard, it continues  
sounding even if the vehicle speed lowers  
to 20 km/h (12 mph) or less until the  
seatbelt is fastened or the beep sound  
period has passed.  
NOTE  
l
To allow the front passenger seat weight  
sensor to function properly, do not place  
and sit on an additional seat cushion on the  
front passenger seat. The sensor may not  
function properly because the additional  
seat cushion could cause sensor  
interference.  
l
When a small child sits on the front  
passenger seat, it is possible that neither  
the warning light nor the warning beep  
operate.  
2-27  
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.  
(With Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)  
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 2-56).  
2-28  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
WARNING  
Use the correct size 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.  
Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint system:  
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 an adult, causing injury to both child and adult.  
Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that  
could deploy:  
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous 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. 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.  
2-29  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
Do not install a front-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger seat unless  
it is unavoidable:  
In a collision, the force of a deploying air bag could cause serious injury or death to  
the child. If installing a front-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger  
seat is unavoidable, move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.  
Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat is dangerous  
(With Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System):  
Your vehicle is equipped with front passenger seat weight sensors. Even with the  
front passenger seat weight sensors, if you must use the front passenger seat to seat  
a child, using 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.  
Ø 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.  
Ø Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint  
system.  
Ø A rear passenger or luggage pushing or pulling down on the front passenger  
seatback.  
Ø A rear passenger puts their feet on the front seat rails.  
Ø Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.  
Ø Heavy items are placed in the seatback map pocket.  
Ø The seat is washed.  
Ø Liquids are spilled on the seat.  
Ø The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items  
placed behind it.  
Ø The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.  
Ø Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver  
seat.  
Ø 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.  
2-30  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over or against the side window of a vehicle  
with side and curtain air bags:  
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over or against the side window, the area of  
the front passenger seat, the 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. The impact of inflation from a side or curtain air bag could cause  
serious injury or death to an out of position 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. Take special care not to allow a child to lean over or against the side  
window, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system.  
Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:  
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt  
used in this way cannot 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 2-38).  
2-31  
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 2-38).  
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  
Follow the child-restraint system  
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.  
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 use LATCH  
system instead of seat belts or if the belt goes  
across the child's chest, may recommend  
against using automatic locking mode.  
Even if your vehicle is equipped with  
front passenger seat weight sensors (page  
2-56), which automatically deactivates the  
front passenger air bag, a rear seat is the  
safest place for a child of any age or size.  
1. Make sure the seatback is securely  
latched by pushing it back until it is  
fully locked.  
2. Raise the head restraint to the top  
locked position (except center seat  
position).  
Some child-restraint systems also employ  
specially designed LATCH attachments;  
refer to “LATCH Child-Restraint  
Systems” (page 2-38).  
Refer to Head Restraints on page 2-12.  
3. 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.  
WARNING  
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.  
2-32  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
4. 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.  
6. If your child-restraint system requires  
the use of a tether strap, refer to the  
manufacturer's instructions to hook and  
tighten the tether strap.  
Anchor bracket location (4 Door)  
5. Push the child-restraint system firmly  
into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt  
retracts as snugly as possible. A  
clicking noise 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  
Tether strap position (4 Door)  
Tether strap  
Anchor bracket  
2-33  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
Anchor bracket location (5 Door  
outboard position)  
Tether strap position (5 Door center  
position)  
Tether  
strap  
Tether strap position (5 Door outboard  
position)  
WARNING  
Use the tether and tether anchor only  
for a child-restraint system:  
Tether strap  
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.  
Forward  
Always route the tether strap between  
the head restraint and the seatback  
(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.  
Anchor bracket location (5 Door center  
position)  
Always attach the tether strap to the  
correct tether anchor position:  
Attaching the tether strap to the  
incorrect tether anchor position is  
dangerous. In a collision, the tether  
strap could come off and loosen the  
child-restraint system. If the child-  
restraint system moves it could result  
in death or injury to the child.  
2-34  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
qIf You Must Use the Front Seat  
for Children  
WARNING  
Always move the front passenger seat  
as far back as possible if installing a  
front-facing child-restraint system on it  
is unavoidable:  
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.  
As your vehicle has front air bags  
and doubly so because your vehicle  
has side air bags, a front-facing  
child-restraint system should be put  
on the front passenger seat only  
when it is unavoidable.  
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.  
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.  
Never use a rear-facing child-restraint  
system in the front seat with an air bag  
that could deploy:  
Do not 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.  
Rear-facing child-restraint systems  
on the front seat are particularly  
dangerous.  
Even in a moderate collision, 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.  
NOTE  
l
To check if your front seats have side air  
bags:  
Mazda vehicles equipped with side air bag  
will have a “SRS AIRBAG” tag on the  
outboard shoulder of the front seats.  
l
To check if your vehicle has curtain air  
bags:  
Mazda vehicles equipped with curtain air  
bag will have an “SRS AIRBAG” marking  
on the window pillars along the roof edge.  
2-35  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
Do not allow a child or anyone to lean  
over or against the side window of a  
vehicle with side and curtain air bags:  
It is dangerous to allow anyone to  
lean over or against the side window,  
the area of the front passenger seat,  
the 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  
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.  
system is used. The impact of  
4. Push the child-restraint system firmly  
into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt  
retracts as snugly as possible. A  
clicking noise 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.  
inflation from a side or curtain air  
bag could cause serious injury or  
death to an out of position 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. Take special care not to  
allow a child to lean over or against  
the side window, even if the child is  
seated in a child-restraint system.  
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.  
qFront Passenger's Seat Child-  
Restraint System Installation  
l
Follow the child-restraint system  
1. Slide the seat as far back as possible.  
manufacturer's instructions carefully.  
Depending on the type of child-restraint  
system, it may not employ seat belts which  
are in automatic locking mode.  
2-36  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
5. (With Driver and Front Passenger  
Occupant Classification System)  
Make sure the front passenger air bag  
deactivation indicator light illuminates  
after installing a child-restraint system  
on the front passenger seat.  
WARNING  
Do not seat a child in a child-restraint  
system on the front passenger seat if  
the front passenger air bag  
deactivation indicator light does not  
illuminate (With Driver and Front  
Passenger Occupant Classification  
System):  
Refer to Front passenger air bag  
deactivation indicator light on page  
2-56.  
While it is always better to install any  
child-restraint system on the rear  
seat, it is imperative that a child-  
restraint system ONLY be used on the  
front passenger seat if the  
deactivation indicator light  
illuminates when the child is seated  
in the child-restraint system (page  
2-56). 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 in a child-  
restraint system sitting in the front  
passenger seat could be seriously  
injured or killed. If the indicator light  
does not illuminate after seating a  
child in a child-restraint system on  
the front passenger seat, seat a child  
in a child-restraint system on the rear  
seat and consult an Authorized  
Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.  
2-37  
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 seat. 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  
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the use of the 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.  
Never attach 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 it 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.  
Make sure the child-restraint system is properly secured:  
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.  
Make sure there are no seat belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH child-  
restraint system:  
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.  
2-38  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
5. If your child-restraint system came  
equipped with a tether, that 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.  
qLATCH Child-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 location (4 Door)  
Anchor bracket  
Tether strap position (4 Door)  
Tether strap  
NOTE  
The markings above the LATCH lower anchors  
indicate the locations of LATCH lower  
anchors for the attachment of a child-restraint  
system.  
3. Raise the head restraint to the top  
locked position.  
Refer to Head Restraints on page 2-12.  
Anchor bracket  
4. Secure the child-restraint system using  
BOTH LATCH lower anchors,  
following the child-restraint system  
manufacturer's instruction. Pull on the  
child-restraint to be sure both anchors  
are engaged.  
2-39  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
Anchor bracket location (5 Door)  
WARNING  
Use the tether and tether anchor only  
for a child-restraint system:  
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.  
Always route the tether strap between  
the head restraint and the seatback:  
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.  
Tether strap position (5 Door)  
Tether strap  
Always attach the tether strap to the  
correct tether anchor position:  
Attaching the tether strap to the  
incorrect tether anchor position is  
dangerous. In a collision, the tether  
strap could come off and loosen the  
child-restraint system. If the child-  
restraint system moves it could result  
in death or injury to the child.  
Forward  
2-40  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
qLATCH Child-Restraint System  
Installation Procedure (Rear  
Center Seat)  
WARNING  
Use the tether and tether anchor only  
for a child-restraint system:  
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  
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.  
Always attach the tether strap to the  
correct tether anchor position:  
Attaching the tether strap to the  
incorrect tether anchor position is  
dangerous. In a collision, the tether  
strap could come off and loosen the  
child-restraint system. If the child-  
restraint system moves it could result  
in death or injury to the child.  
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.  
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.  
NOTE  
The markings above the LATCH lower anchors  
indicate the locations of LATCH lower  
anchors for the attachment of a child-restraint  
system.  
2-41  
Essential Safety Equipment  
Child Restraint  
3. Secure the child-restraint system using  
BOTH LATCH lower anchors,  
following the child-restraint system  
manufacturer's instructions. Pull on the  
child-restraint to be sure both anchors  
are engaged.  
Anchor bracket position (5 Door)  
4. If your child-restraint system came  
equipped with a tether, that 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.  
Tether strap position (5 Door)  
Anchor bracket location (4 Door)  
Tether  
strap  
Anchor bracket  
Tether strap position (4 Door)  
Tether strap  
Anchor bracket  
2-42  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions  
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include 6 air bags. Please verify  
the air bags equipped on your vehicle by locating the “SRS AIRBAG” location  
indicators. These indicators are visible in the area where the air bags are installed.  
The air bags are installed in the following locations:  
l
The steering wheel hub (driver air bag)  
The front passenger dashboard (front passenger air bag)  
l
The outboard sides of the front seatbacks (side air bags)í  
l
The front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides (curtain air bags)í  
l
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection  
in certain situations, so seat belts are always important in the following ways:  
Without seat belt usage, the air bags cannot provide adequate protection during an accident.  
Seat belt usage is necessary to:  
l
Keep the occupant from being thrown into an inflating air bag.  
Reduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is not designed for air bag  
l
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.  
Reduce the possibility of injuries in frontal, near frontal, side collisions that are not  
l
severe enough to activate the air bags.  
Reduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.  
l
l
Reduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs during an accident because the  
air bags provide no protection to these parts of the body.  
Hold the driver in a position which allows better control of the vehicle.  
l
íSome models.  
2-43  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
If your vehicle is also equipped with a driver and front passenger occupant  
classification system, refer to the Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification  
System (page 2-56) for details.  
If your vehicle is equipped with a driver and front passenger occupant classification  
system, the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specified  
time after the ignition is switched ON.  
Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every  
state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint  
system (page 2-28).  
Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow the  
installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the child-restraint system  
manufacturer's instructions.  
WARNING  
Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles:  
Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous.  
Alone, air bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can be  
expected to inflate only in the first accident, such as frontal, near frontal, side  
collisions that are at least moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat  
belts.  
Children should not ride in the front passenger seat:  
Placing a child, 12 years or under, in the front seat is dangerous. The child could be  
hit by a deploying air bag and be seriously injured or even killed. Even if the front  
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates, always move the front  
passenger seat as far back as possible. A sleeping child is more likely to lean against  
the door and be hit by the side air bag in a moderate collision to the front-passenger  
side of the vehicle. Whenever possible, always secure a child 12 years and under on  
the rear seat with an appropriate child-restraint system for the child's age and size.  
2-44  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that  
could deploy:  
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous 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. 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.  
Do not sit too close to the driver and front passenger air bags:  
Sitting too close to the driver and front passenger air bag modules or placing hands  
or feet on them is extremely dangerous. The driver and front passenger air bags  
inflate with great force and speed. Serious injuries could occur if someone is too  
close. The driver should always hold onto only the rim of the steering wheel. The  
front seat passenger should keep both feet on the floor. Front seat occupants should  
adjust their seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the  
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.  
Sit in the center of the seat and wear seat belts properly:  
Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them, or sleeping  
up against the door or hanging out the windows is extremely dangerous. The side  
and curtain air bags inflate with great force and speed directly expanding along the  
door on the side the car is hit. Serious injury could occur if someone is sitting too  
close to the door or leaning against a window, or if rear seat occupants grab the  
sides of the front seatbacks. Give the side and curtain air bags room to work by  
sitting in the center of the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn  
properly.  
Do not attach objects on or around the area where driver and front passenger air  
bags deploy:  
Attaching an object to the driver and front passenger air bag modules or placing  
something in front of them is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere  
with air bag inflation and injure the occupants.  
2-45  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:  
Attaching things to the front seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the  
seat in any way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side  
air bag, which inflates from the outboard side of the front seats, impeding the added  
protection of the side air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is  
dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open releasing the gas.  
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or backpacks with side straps on the front  
seats. Never use seat covers on the front seats. Always keep the side air bag modules  
in your front seats free to deploy in the event of a side collision.  
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a curtain air bag deploys:  
Attaching objects to the areas where the curtain air bag activates such as on the  
windshield glass, side door glass, front and rear window pillars and along the roof  
edge and assist grips is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the  
curtain air bag, which inflates from the front and rear window pillars and along the  
roof edge, impeding the added protection of the curtain air bag system or redirecting  
the air bag in a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open  
releasing the gas.  
Do not place hangers or any other objects on the assist grips. When hanging clothes,  
hang them on the coat hook directly. Always keep the curtain air bag modules free  
to deploy in the event of a side collision.  
Do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats:  
Placing luggage or other objects under the front seats is dangerous. The components  
essential to the supplemental restraint system could be damaged, and in the event of  
a side collision, the appropriate air bags may not deploy, which could result in death  
or serious injury. To prevent damage to the components essential to the  
supplemental restraint system, do not place luggage or other objects under the front  
seats.  
Do not touch the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags  
have inflated:  
Touching the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags  
have inflated is dangerous. Immediately after inflation, they are very hot. You could  
get burned.  
Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:  
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar,  
bull bar, push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The  
air bag crash sensor system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate  
unexpectedly, or it could prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident.  
Front occupants could be seriously injured.  
2-46  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Do not modify the suspension:  
Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the  
suspension is modified, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision  
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious  
injuries.  
Do not modify the supplemental restraint system:  
Modifying the components or wiring of the supplemental restraint system is  
dangerous. You could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Do not make  
any modifications to the supplemental restraint system. This includes installing trim,  
badges, or anything else over the air bag modules. It also includes installing extra  
electrical equipment on or near system components or wiring. An Authorized Mazda  
Dealer can provide the special care needed in the removal and installation of front  
seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and connections to assure that the  
bags do not accidentally deploy, the driver seat slide position sensor and front  
passenger seat weight sensors are not damaged and that the seats retain an  
undamaged air bag connection.  
NOTE  
l
When an air bag deploys, a loud inflation noise can be heard and some smoke will be released.  
Neither is likely to cause injury, however, the texture of the air bags may cause light skin injuries  
on body parts not covered with clothing through friction.  
l
Should you sell your Mazda, we urge you to tell the new owner of its air bag systems and that  
familiarization with all instructions about them, from the Owner's Manual, is important.  
2-47  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Supplemental Restraint System Components  
Driver/Front passenger inflators and air bags  
Crash sensor, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)  
Front seat belt pretensioner and load limiting systems (page 2-22)  
Front air bag sensor  
Side crash sensorsí  
Air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 2-51)  
Side and curtain inflators and air bagsí  
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-56)  
Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-56)  
Front passenger seat weight sensor control module  
Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-60)  
Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-56)  
NOTE  
-
are equipped only on models with the driver and front passenger occupant classification  
system.  
2-48  
íSome models.  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
How the SRS Air Bags Work  
Your Mazda is equipped with the following types of SRS air bags. SRS air bags are  
designed to work together with the seat belts to help to reduce injuries during an accident.  
The SRS air bags are designed to provide further protection for passengers in addition to  
the seat belt functions. Be sure to wear seat belts properly.  
qFront Seat Belt Pretensioners  
The front seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near  
frontal collisions.  
qDriver Air Bag  
The driver's air bag is mounted in the steering wheels.  
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, the  
driver's air bag inflates quickly helping to reduce injury mainly to the driver's head or chest  
caused by directly hitting the steering wheel.  
(With Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)  
The driver's dual-stage air bag controls air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an  
impact of moderate severity the driver's air bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during  
more severe impacts, it deploys with more energy.  
2-49  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
qFront Passenger Air Bag  
The front passenger air bag is mounted in the front passenger dashboard. The inflation  
mechanism for the front passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag, as mentioned  
above.  
(With Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)  
In addition, the front passenger air bag is designed to only deploy in accordance with the  
total seated weight on the front passenger seat. For details, refer to the driver and front  
passenger occupant classification system (page 2-56).  
qSide Air Bagsí  
The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the front seatbacks.  
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the  
system inflates the side air bag only on the side in which the vehicle was hit. The side air  
bag inflates quickly to reduce injury to the driver or front passenger's chest caused by  
directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.  
(With Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)  
In addition, the front passenger side air bag is designed to only deploy in accordance with  
the total seated weight on the front passenger seat. For details, refer to the driver and front  
passenger occupant classification system (page 2-56).  
2-50  
íSome models.  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
qCurtain Air Bagsí  
The curtain air bags are mounted in the front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge  
along both sides.  
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the  
curtain air bag inflates quickly and helps to reduce injury mainly to the rear outboard  
passenger's head caused by directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.  
In a side impact:  
Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle will cause the curtain air bag on  
that side only to inflate.  
The side and curtain air bags will deploy only on the side the  
vehicle receives the force of the impact.  
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light  
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system is working properly, the warning light  
illuminates when the ignition is switched ON or after the engine is cranked. The warning  
light turns off after a specified period of time.  
A system malfunction is indicated if the warning light constantly flashes, constantly  
illuminates or does not illuminate at all when the ignition is switched ON. If any of these  
occur, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work  
in an accident.  
íSome models.  
2-51  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
WARNING  
Never tamper with the air bag/pretensioner systems and always have an Authorized  
Mazda Dealer perform all servicing and repairs:  
Self-servicing or tampering with the systems is dangerous. An air bag/pretensioner  
could accidentally activate or become disabled causing serious injury or death.  
qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Beep  
If a malfunction is detected in the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner systems and the  
warning light, a warning beep sound will be heard for about 5 seconds every minute.  
The air bag and seat belt pretensioner system warning beep sound will continue to be heard  
for approximately 35 minutes.  
Have your vehicle inspected at an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.  
WARNING  
Do not drive the vehicle with the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning  
beep sounding:  
Driving the vehicle with the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning beep  
sounding is dangerous. In a collision, the air bags and the front seat belt  
pretensioner system will not deploy and this could result in death or serious injury.  
Contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer to have the vehicle inspected as soon as  
possible.  
2-52  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria  
This chart indicates the applicable SRS equipment that will deploy depending on the type  
of collision.  
(The illustrations are the representative cases of collisions.)  
Types of collision  
A severe frontal/near frontal collision  
A severe side collision  
A rear collision  
SRS  
equipment  
Front seat  
belt  
pretensioner  
X
*1 (both sides)  
Driver air  
bag  
X
No air bag and front seat  
belt pretensioner will be  
activated in a rear collision.  
Front  
passenger air  
bag  
X*1  
Side air  
bagí  
X*1 (impact side only)  
X (impact side only)  
Curtain air  
bagí  
X: The SRS air bag equipment is designed to deploy in a collision.  
*1: (With Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)  
The front passenger front and side air bags and the seat belt pretensioner are designed  
to deploy depending on the condition of the total seated weight on the front passenger  
seat.  
íSome models.  
2-53  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Limitations to SRS Air Bag  
In severe collisions such as those described previously in “SRS Air Bag Deployment  
Criteria”, the applicable SRS air bag equipment will deploy. However, in some accidents,  
the equipment may not deploy depending on the type of collision and its severity.  
Limitations to front/near front collision detection:  
The following illustrations are examples of front/near front collisions that may not be  
detected as severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment.  
Frontal offset impact to the vehicle  
Impacts involving trees or poles  
Rear-ending or running under a truck's tail gate  
Limitations to side collision detection:  
The following illustrations are examples of side collisions that may not be detected as  
severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment.  
Side impacts with two-wheeled vehicles  
Side impacts involving trees or poles  
2-54  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Roll-over  
2-55  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
í
Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System  
First, please read “Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions” (page 2-43)  
carefully.  
qDriver Seat Slide Position Sensor  
Your vehicle is equipped with a driver seat slide position sensor as a part of the  
supplemental restraint system. The sensor is located under the driver seat. The sensor  
determines whether the driver seat is fore or aft of a reference position and sends the seat  
position to the diagnostic module (SAS unit). The SAS unit is designed to control the  
deployment of the driver air bag depending on how close the driver seat is to the steering  
wheel.  
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes if the sensor has a  
possible malfunction (page 2-51).  
qFront Passenger Seat Weight Sensors  
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger seat weight sensors as a part of the  
supplemental restraint system. These sensors are located under both of the front passenger  
seat rails. These sensors determine the total seated weight on the front passenger seat. The  
SAS unit is designed to prevent the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt  
pretensioner system from deploying if the total seated weight is less than approximately 30  
kg (66 lbs).  
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the  
system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt  
pretensioner system when:  
l
There is no passenger in the front passenger seat. (The front passenger air bag  
deactivation indicator light does not illuminate.)  
l
The total seated weight on the front passenger seat is less than approximately 30 kg (66  
lbs). (The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.)  
This 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  
according to the following table.  
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the front  
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible  
malfunction. If this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt  
pretensioner system will not deploy.  
2-56  
íSome models.  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light  
This indicator light illuminates to remind you that the front passenger front and side air  
bags and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.  
If the front passenger weight sensors are normal, the indicator light illuminates when the  
ignition switch is turned to the ON position. For a specified of time it goes out.  
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates or is off under the following conditions:  
Front passenger seat  
Total seated weight on the Front passenger air bag Front passenger front and  
belt pretensioner  
front passenger seat  
deactivation indicator light  
side air bags  
Deactivated  
Deactivated  
system  
Empty (Not occupied)*  
OFF  
ON  
Deactivated  
Less than approx. 30 kg  
(66 lbs)  
Deactivated  
Ready  
Approx. 42 kg (93 lbs) or  
more  
OFF  
Ready  
* If the front passenger seat belt is buckled, the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates,  
however this does not indicate a malfunction.  
The curtain air bag is ready for inflating despite the chart above.  
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the  
ignition switch is turned to the ON position and does not illuminate as indicated in the  
above chart, do not allow a child to sit in the front passenger seat and consult an  
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an  
accident.  
2-57  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
WARNING  
Do not decrease the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:  
When an adult or large child sits on the front passenger seat, decreasing the total  
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of  
approximately 42 kg (93 lbs) required for air bag deployment is dangerous. The front  
passenger seat weight sensors will detect the reduced total seated weight condition  
and the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system  
will not deploy during an accident. The front passenger will not have the  
supplementary protection of the air bag, which could result in serious injury.  
Decreasing the total seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated  
weight of approximately 42 kg (93 lbs) could result in an air bag not deploying under  
the following conditions, for example:  
Ø A rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with their feet.  
Ø Luggage or other items placed under the front passenger seat or between the  
front passenger seat and driver seat that push up the front passenger seat  
bottom.  
Ø The front passenger seat occupant sits in a manner that does not place the entire  
weight of the occupant on the seat such as by sitting too close to the door,  
grasping the assist grip or the rim of the moonroof and sitting with the seatback  
reclined too far.  
Ø Any accessories which might decrease the total seated weight on the front  
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.  
The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will  
deactivate if the total seated weight on the front passenger seat is close to 30 kg (66  
lbs) and they will reactivate before the weight exceeds 42 kg (93 lbs).  
2-58  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Do not increase the total seated weight on the front passenger seat:  
When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, increasing the total  
seated weight on the front passenger seat from the total seated weight of  
approximately 30 kg (66 lbs) is dangerous. The front passenger seat weight sensors  
will detect the increased total seated weight, which could result in the unexpected  
deployment of the front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner  
system in an accident and may cause serious injury. Increasing the total seated  
weight on the front passenger seat beyond the total seated weight of approximately  
30 kg (66 lbs) could result in the front passenger front and side air bags and seat  
belt pretensioner system deployment in an accident under the following conditions,  
for example:  
Ø Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint  
system.  
Ø A rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.  
Ø A rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with their feet.  
Ø Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.  
Ø Heavy items are placed in the seatback map pocket.  
Ø The seat is washed.  
Ø Liquids are spilled on the seat.  
Ø The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items  
placed behind it.  
Ø The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.  
Ø Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver  
seat.  
Ø Any accessories which might increase the total seated weight on the front  
passenger seat are attached to the front passenger seat.  
The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will  
deactivate if the total seated weight on the front passenger seat is close to 30 kg (66  
lbs) and they will reactivate before the weight exceeds 42 kg (93 lbs).  
CAUTION  
Ø To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the  
sensors in the front seat bottoms:  
Ø
Do not place sharp objects on the front seat bottoms or leave heavy luggage on  
them.  
Ø
Do not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.  
Ø To allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:  
Ø
Adjust the front seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the  
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.  
Ø
If you place your child on the front passenger seat, secure the child-restraint  
system properly and slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible (page  
2-36).  
2-59  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
NOTE  
l
The system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the front passenger front and  
side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.  
l
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate repeatedly if luggage or  
other items are put on the front passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior  
changes suddenly.  
l
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may illuminate for 10 seconds if the total  
seated weight on the front passenger seat changes.  
l
If the front passenger air bag deactivation 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.  
qDriver and Front Passenger Buckle Switches  
The buckle switches on the front seat belts detect whether or not the front seat belts are  
securely fastened and further control the deployment of the air bags.  
2-60  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
Monitoring and Maintenance  
qConstant Monitoring  
The following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagnostic system:  
l
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)  
Front air bag sensor  
Air bag modules  
Side crash sensorsí  
Air bag/Front seat belt pretensioner system warning light  
l
l
l
l
l
Front seat belt pretensioners  
Related wiring  
l
(With Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)  
l
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light  
Driver seat slide position sensor  
l
l
Front passenger seat weight sensors  
Front passenger seat weight sensor control module  
l
The diagnostic module continuously monitors the system's readiness. This begins when the  
ignition is switched ON and continues while the vehicle is being driven.  
qMaintenance  
The air bag systems do not require regular maintenance. But if any of the following occurs,  
take your vehicle to an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible:  
l
The air bag system warning light flashes.  
The air bag system warning light remains illuminated.  
l
l
The air bag system warning light does not illuminate when the ignition is switched ON.  
The air bag system warning beep sound is heard.  
l
l
The air bags have deployed.  
(With Driver and Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)  
l
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when the ignition  
is switched ON or does not illuminate as indicated in the chart. For more details about  
this indicator light and this chart, refer to “Front passenger seat weight sensors” (page  
2-56).  
íSome models.  
2-61  
Essential Safety Equipment  
SRS Air Bags  
WARNING  
Do not operate a vehicle with damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system  
components:  
Expended or damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system components must be  
replaced after any collision which caused them to deploy or damage them. Only a  
trained Authorized Mazda Dealer can fully evaluate these systems to see that they  
will work in any subsequent accident. Driving with an expended or damaged air bag  
or pretensioner unit will not afford you the necessary protection in the event of any  
subsequent accident which could result in serious injury or death.  
Do not remove interior air bag parts:  
Removing any components such as the front seats, front dashboard, the steering  
wheel or parts on the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge,  
containing air bag parts or sensors is dangerous. These parts contain essential air  
bag components. The air bag could accidentally activate and cause serious injuries.  
Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer remove these parts.  
Dispose of the air bag properly:  
Improper disposal of an air bag or a vehicle with live air bags in it can be extremely  
dangerous. Unless all safety procedures are followed, injury can result. Ask an  
Authorized Mazda Dealer how to safely dispose of an air bag or how to scrap an air  
bag equipped vehicle.  
NOTE  
If it becomes necessary to have the components or wiring system for the supplementary restraint  
system modified to accommodate a person with certain medical conditions in accordance with a  
certified physician, contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to “Customer Assistance (U.S.A.)”  
(page 9-2).  
2-62  

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