2-7
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Split-Folding Rear Seatback
To provide more space in the luggage
compartment.
1. Unfasten the lap portion of the rear-
center seat belt (page 2-15). 2. Push the button and fold the seatback
forward.
To return the seatback to its original
position, reverse the procedure.
Rear Seatback Lock
To lock or unlock a seatback, move the
lever.
Children and the Folding Rear Seats:Playing with the folding rear seats is
dangerous. Once the seats 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 give
the car keys to children and do not
allow them to play in the vehicle.
NOTE
When returning a rear seat to its
original position, also replace the seat
belt to its normal position. Verify that
the seat belt pulls and retracts.
Always unfasten the lap portion of the
belt before folding the rear-left
seatback. Leaving the lap portion of
the belt fastened could cause damage
to the seat belt, buckle and seatback.
WARNING
CAUTION
NOTE
The seatback locks are part of the
trunk security system (page 3-11).
Button
Lock Unlock
Unlock Lock
J94S.book Page 7 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-8
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Armrest
The armrest can be used or placed
upright.
J94S.book Page 8 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-21
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
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.
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.
Rear Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation
Follow these instructions when using a
child-restraint system.
1. Secure the child-restraint system with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.
See the instructions on the child-
restraint system for belt routing
instructions.
2. 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.
Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
Tethered Child-Restraint Systems Work Only on Rear Seat: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.
WARNING
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer ’s instructions carefully.
Depending on the type of child-
restraint system, it may not employ
seat belts which are in automatic
locking mode.
J94S.book Page 21 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-23
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
If You Must Use the Front Seat
for Children
If you cannot put all children in the rear
seat, at least put the smallest in the rear
seat and be sure the largest child up front
uses the shoulder belt over the shoulder.
Do not put rear-facing child-restraint
systems on the front passenger ’s seat.
This seat is also not set up for tethered
child-restraint systems, put them in one of
the three rear seat positions set up with
tether anchors.
Don ’t allow anyone to sleep against the
right front door if you have an optional
side 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.
NOTE
To check if your Mazda front seats
have side air bags:
Every Mazda side air bag will have a
"SRS-Air Bag" label on the outboard
shoulder of the front seats.
Front Passenger ’s Seat Position: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 seat only when it is unavoidable.
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.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems
on the front seat are particularly
dangerous.
The child-restraint system can be hit
by a deploying air bag and moved
violently backward resulting in
serious injury or death to the child.
NEVER use a rear-facing child-
restraint system in the front seat with
an air bag that could deploy.
WARNING
J94S.book Page 23 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-26
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Air Bags without Seat Belts: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 during a frontal, side or near-frontal collision of at least
moderate force. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.
Child in the Front 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. A sleeping child is
more likely to lean against the door and be hit by the side air bag in a moderate, right-
side collision. 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.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous.
The child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violently
backward resulting in serious injury or death to the child. NEVER use a rear-facing
child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy.
Seating Position with Front Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the air bag storage compartments or placing hands or feet on them
is extremely dangerous. Front 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.
WARNING
Deploying air bag
J94S.book Page 26 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-27
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Seating Position with Side Air Bags:Sitting too close to the side air bag storage compartments or placing hands on them is
extremely dangerous. A side air bag inflates with great force and speed directly out of
the outboard shoulder of the front seat and expands along the front 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 front seats or if rear seat occupants grab the sides of the
seatbacks. Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the driver’s-side
window while driving could block the side air bag and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. Give the side airbags room to work by sitting in the center of
the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.
Front Air Bag Storage Areas:
Attaching an object to a front air bag storage area or placing something in front of it
is dangerous. In an accident, the object could interfere with front air bag inflation
and injure the occupants.
Always keep the front air bag storage areas free of objects.
Side Air Bag Storage Areas:
Attaching things 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 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 spewing exhaust.
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or back pads with side straps on the front seats.
Always keep the side air bag storage areas in your front seats free to deploy in the
event of a side collision.
Hot Air Bag Inflators:
Hot air bag inflators are dangerous. Immediately after inflation, the inflators in the
steering wheel, dashboard or the seatbacks are very hot. You could get burned. Don ’t
touch the internal components of the air bag storage areas after the bags have
inflated.
Installation of Front-End Equipment:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar,
bull bar, push bar, etc.), 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. Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle.
WARNING
J94S.book Page 27 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
2-28
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Suspension Adjustment:Adjusting the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle’s height or the
suspension is changed, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.
Modification of 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. Don ’t make any
modifications to the supplemental restraint system. This includes installing trim,
badges, or anything else over the air bag storage areas. It also includes installing
extra electric 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 side air bag wiring and connections to assure
that the bags do not accidentally deploy and that the seats retain an undamaged air
bag connection.
Using Seat Covers:
Using a seat cover on the front seats is dangerous. In a severe side collision, the seat
covers could interfere with the side air bag inflation and serious injuries could result.
Never use seat covers on the front seats.
To prevent damage to the side air bag wiring, don ’t place luggage or other objects under
the front seats.
NOTE
• 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.
WARNING
CAUTION
J94S.book Page 28 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM
3-12
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8Q50-EA-01G
Your vehicle is equipped with a trunk
release handle that provides a means of
escape for children and adults in the event
they become locked inside the trunk.
No matter how careful adults might be
with keys and locking their cars, parents
should be aware that children may be
tempted to play around vehicles and use
the trunk as a hiding place.
Adults are advised to familiarize
themselves with the operation and
location of the release handle so that all
children can be told about it in an
appropriate way, keeping in mind that
most vehicles don’t have such handles.
Trunk Release Handle
Open Trunk Lid and Children:Leaving the trunk lid open or leaving
children in the vehicle with the keys is
dangerous. Children could open the
trunk lid and climb inside resulting in
possible injury or death from heat
exposure. Close the trunk lid, lock the
rear seatbacks and do not allow
children to play inside the vehicle.
Unattended Children and Pets:
Leaving children or animals
unattended in a parked vehicle is
dangerous. Babies left sleeping and
kids who lock themselves in cars or
trunks can die very quickly from heat
prostration. Don ’t leave your children
or pets alone in a car at any time.
Don’ t leave the car, the rear folding
seats or the trunk unlocked. Always
keep the car from being a tempting
place to play by locking rear seats,
doors and the trunk, and keeping the
keys where children won ’t play with
them.
WARNING
J94S.book Page 12 Saturday, June 23, 2001 1:04 PM