Get Essential Safety Equipment -> Child Restraint Guide for Mazda 3 4 Door Second Generation (2010-2013)

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).

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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 -> Child Restraint for Your Mazda 3 4 Door Second Generation (2010-2013)

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