Get Essential Safety Equipment -> SRS Air Bags Guide for Mazda Mx-5 SUV Fourth Generation (2016-2026)

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions

The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include different types of air bags.

Please verify which kinds of air bags are 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:



The steering wheel hub (driver air bag)

The passenger dashboard (passenger air bag)

The outboard sides of the seatbacks (side air bags)



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:



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



inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.

Reduce the possibility of injuries in frontal, near frontal or side collisions that are not



severe enough to activate the air bags.

Reduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.

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.



Refer to the Passenger Occupant Classification System (page 2-49) for details.

The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specified time after the

ignition is switched ON.

Type A

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Type B

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 2-21).

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.

Do not use a child-restraint system which employs an upper tether because there is no

appropriate means to anchor the tether.

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 inꢀate

only in the ꢁrst accident, such as frontal, near frontal or side collisions that are at least

moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.

Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated when

using a child-restraint system:

Seating a child in a child-restraint system that is installed on the passenger seat with the

passenger air bag deactivation indicator light not illuminated is extremely dangerous. In an

accident, an air bag could inꢀate and cause serious injuries or even death to the child seated

in the child-restraint system. Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator

light is illuminated.

Refer to Occupant Classiꢁcation System on page 2-49.

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Do not sit too close to the driver and passenger air bags:

Sitting too close to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing hands or feet on them

is extremely dangerous. The driver and passenger air bags inꢀate 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 passenger should keep both feet on the ꢀoor. Seat

occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the

seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.

Do not sit too close to a door or lean against doors in vehicles with side air bags:

Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them is extremely

dangerous. A side air bag inꢀates with great force and speed directly out of the outboard

shoulder of the seat and expands 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 in the seats.

Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the driver-side window while

driving could block the side air bag and eliminate the advantages of supplemental

protection. Give the side air bags room to work by sitting in the center of the seat while the

vehicle is moving 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 air bags inꢀate 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. Give the side 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 passenger air bags deploy:

Attaching an object to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing something in

front of them is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere with air bag inꢀation and

injure the occupants.

Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:

Attaching objects to the 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

inꢀates from the outboard side of the 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 seats. Never use

seat covers on the seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your seats free to deploy in

the event of a side collision.

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Do not touch the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags have

inꢀated:

Touching the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags have

inꢀated is dangerous. Immediately after inꢀation, 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 aꢂected. This could cause air bags to inꢀate unexpectedly, or it could

prevent the air bags from inꢀating during an accident. Occupants could be seriously injured.

Do not modify the suspension:

Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the suspension is

modiꢁed, 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 a door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an Authorized Mazda

Dealer inspect a damaged door:

Modifying a door or leaving any damage unrepaired is dangerous. Each door has a side crash

sensor as a component of the supplemental restraint system. If holes are drilled in a door, a

door speaker is left removed, or a damaged door is left unrepaired, the sensor could be

adversely aꢂected causing it to not detect the pressure of an impact correctly during a side

collision. If a sensor does not detect a side impact correctly, the side air bags and the seat belt

pretensioner may not operate normally which could result in serious injury to occupants.

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 modiꢁcations 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 seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and

connections to assure that the bags do not accidentally deploy, and that the passenger

occupant classiꢁcation system and the seats retain an undamaged air bag connection.

Do not place luggage or other objects under the seats:

Placing luggage or other objects under the 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 seats.

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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 aꢂord

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 seats, front dashboard, the steering wheel, 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.

Properly dispose of the air bag system:

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 could result. Have an Authorized

Mazda Dealer safely dispose of the air bag system or 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 8-2).



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.

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.

Vehicles with a passenger air bag have a warning label attached as shown in the



following.

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

(Except Mexico)

This warning label is displayed in compliance with regulations.

(Mexico)

This warning label reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the

passenger seat at any time.

2-41

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Supplemental Restraint System Components

Driver/Passenger inflators and air bags

Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)

Seat belt pretensioners (page 2-18)

Front air bag sensors

Side crash sensors

Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 4-27)

Side inflators and air bags

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-49)

Passenger occupant classification sensor (page 2-49)

Passenger occupant classification module

2-42

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.

Seat Belt Pretensioners

▼

The seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near frontal

collisions.

In addition, during a side collision, the pretensioner operates. The pretensioners operate

differently depending on what types of air bags are equipped. For more details about seat

belt pretensioner operation, refer to the SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-46).

Driver Air Bag

▼

The driver's air bag is mounted in the steering wheel.

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.

For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"

(page 2-46).

(Except Mexico)

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.

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Passenger Air Bag

▼

The passenger air bag is mounted in the passenger dashboard.

The inflation mechanism for the passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag.

For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"

(page 2-46).

In addition, the passenger air bag is designed to only deploy when the passenger occupant

classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the passenger's seat. For details, refer to

the passenger occupant classification system (page 2-49).

Side Air Bags

▼

The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the 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 passenger's head and chest caused by

directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.

For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"

(page 2-46).

In addition, the passenger side air bag is designed to only deploy when the passenger

occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the passenger's seat. For details,

refer to the passenger occupant classification system (page 2-49).

2-44

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Warning Light/Beep

▼

A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.

Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-27.

Refer to Warning Sound is Activated on page 7-48.

2-45

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

*2

A severe frontal/near frontal collision

A rear collision

A severe side collision

SRS equip‐

ment

Seat belt

pretensioner

*1

X

Driver air

bag

No air bag and seat belt

pretensioner will be activat‐

ed in a rear collision.

X

Passenger

air bag

*1

X

*1

Side air bag

X

(impact side only)

X : The SRS air bag equipment is designed to deploy in a collision.

*

1

The passenger front and side air bags and the seat belt pretensioner are designed to deploy when the passenger

occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the passenger's seat.

In a side collision, the seat belt pretensioners and the side air bags deploy.

*

2

NOTE

In a frontal offset collision, the equipped air bags and pretensioners may all deploy depending on the direction,

angle, and rate of impact.

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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

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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

Roll-over

2-48

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Passenger Occupant Classification System

First, please read "Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions" (page 2-36) carefully.

Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor

▼

Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger occupant classification sensor as a part of the

supplemental restraint system. This sensor is equipped in the passenger's seat cushion. This

sensor measures the electrostatic capacity of the passenger's seat. The SAS unit is designed

to prevent the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from

deploying if the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.

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

deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system

when the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on. Refer to the following table

for the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illumination conditions.

This system shuts off the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system,

so make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on according to the

following table.

The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible malfunction. If this

happens, the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not

deploy.

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light

This indicator light turns on to remind you that the passenger front and side air bags and seat

belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.

Type A

If the passenger occupant classification sensor is normal, the indicator light turns on when

the ignition is switched ON. The light turns off after a few seconds. Then, the indicator light

turns on or is off under the following conditions:

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart

Condition detected by the pas‐ Passenger air bag de‐

Passenger front and

Passenger seat belt

pretensioner system

senger occupant classification

system

activation indicator

light

side air bags

Deactivated

Ready

Empty (Not occupied)

On

Off

Deactivated

Ready

A child is seated in a child-re‐

*1

straint system

*2

Adult

*

1

2

The occupant classification sensor may not detect a child seated on the seat, in a child-restraint system, or a

junior seat depending on the child's physical size and seated posture.

If a smaller adult sits on the passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child depending on

the person's physique.

*

If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on when the ignition is

switched ON and does not turn on as indicated in the passenger air bag deactivation

indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an occupant to sit in the passenger seat

and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work

properly in an accident.

Type B

2-50

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart

Condition detected by the pas‐ Passenger air bag de‐

Passenger front and

Passenger seat belt

pretensioner system

senger occupant classification

system

activation indicator

light

side air bags

Empty (Not occupied)

Deactivated

A child is seated in a child-re‐

Deactivated

Ready

*1

straint system

*2

Ready

Adult

Turns off after a short

period of time.

*

1

2

The occupant classification sensor may not detect a child seated on the seat, in a child-restraint system, or a

junior seat depending on the child's physical size and seated posture.

If a smaller adult sits on the passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child depending on

the person's physique.

If both of the passenger air bag deactivation indicator lights do not turn on for a specified

period of time when the ignition is switched ON or they do not turn on as indicated in the

passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an

occupant to sit in the passenger seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as

possible. The system may not work properly in an accident.

2-51

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

WARNING

Do not allow an occupant in the passenger's seat tosit with a posture which makes it diꢁcult

for the passenger occupant classiꢂcation sensor to detect the occupant correctly:

Sitting in the passenger's seat with a posture which makes it diꢃcult for the passenger

occupant classiꢁcation sensor to detect the occupant correctly is dangerous. If the passenger

occupant classiꢁcation sensor cannot detect the occupant sitting on the passenger's seat

correctly, the passenger front and side air bags and pretensioner system may not operate

(non-deploy) or they may operate (deploy) accidentally. The passenger will not have the

supplementary protection of the air bags or the accidental operation (deployment) of the air

bags could result in serious injury or death.

Under the following conditions, the passenger occupant classiꢁcation sensor cannot detect a

passenger sitting on the passenger's seat correctly and the deployment/non-deployment of

the air bags cannot be controlled as indicated in the passenger air bag deactivation indicator

light on/oꢂ condition chart. For example:

A passenger is seated as shown in the following ꢁgure:

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Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Luggage or other items placed under the passenger seat or between the passenger seat and

driver seat that push up the passenger seat bottom.

An object, such as a seat cushion, is put on the passenger's seat or between the passenger's

back and the seatback.

A seat cover is put on the passenger's seat.

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

The seat is washed.

Liquids are spilled on the seat.

The passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items placed behind

it.

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

An electric device is put on the passenger's seat.

An additional electrical device, such as a seat warmer is installed to the surface of the

passenger seat.

The passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will deactivate if the

passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.

CAUTION

To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the sensor in

the seat cushion:

Do not place sharp objects on the seat cushion or leave heavy luggage on them.

Do not spill any liquids on the seats or under the seats.

To allow the sensors to function properly, always perform the following:

Adjust the seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the seatbacks with

seat belts worn properly.

If you place your child on the passenger seat, secure the child-restraint system properly

and slide the passenger seat as far back as possible.

2-53

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

NOTE



The system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the passenger front

and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.

The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may turn on repeatedly if luggage or



other items are put on the passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior

changes suddenly.

The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may turn on for 10 seconds if the



electrostatic capacity on the passenger seat changes.

The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light might turn on if the passenger



seat receives a severe impact.

If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on after installing a



child-restraint system on the passenger seat, first, re-install your child-restraint system

according to the procedure in this owner's manual. Then, if the passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light still does not turn on, and consult an Authorized Mazda

Dealer as soon as possible.



If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on when an occupant is seated

directly in the passenger seat, have the passenger re-adjust their posture by sitting with

their feet on the floor, and then re-fastening the seat belt. If the passenger air bag

deactivation indicator light remains turned on, slide the passenger seat as far back as

possible. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.

2-54

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

Constant Monitoring

The following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagnostic system:



Front air bag sensors

Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)

Side crash sensors

Air bag modules

Seat belt pretensioners

Air bag/Seat belt pretensioner system warning light

Related wiring



Passenger occupant classification sensor

Passenger occupant classification module

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light



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.

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Essential Safety Equipment -> SRS Air Bags for Your Mazda Mx-5 SUV Fourth Generation (2016-2026)

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