2004 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK fold seats

2-5
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Rear Seat
Stacking Cargo:
Stacking luggage or other cargo
higher than the seatbacks, and
placing articles on the rear package
tray 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. Don’t
stack cargo higher than the seatbacks
or on the luggage compartment cover.
Not Securing Luggage and Cargo:
Not securing cargo while driving is
dangerous as it could move or be
crushed during sudden braking or a
collision and cause injury. Make sure
luggage and cargo is secured before
driving.
Securing Seats:
Adjustable seats 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.
WARNINGUnlocked Seatback:
The seatback plays 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.
Passenger on the Folded Seatback:
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 car resulting in
serious injuries or death. The child or
other objects in the baggage area
could be thrown into other occupants
and cause serious injury. Never allow
a passenger to sit or stand on the
folded seatback while the vehicle is
moving.
Children and the Folding Rear Seats:
Playing with the folding rear seats is
dangerous. Do not give the car keys to
children and do not allow them to
play in the vehicle.
WARNING
J48C_8S18-EA-03I_Edition1.book Page 5 Wednesday, August 6, 2003 8:51 AM

2-6
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I

Split-Folding Rear Seatback
To fold the seatbacks
1. Unfasten the lap portion of the rear
center seat belt (page 2-16).
2. Position the outboard seat belts to the
side when folding the seatbacks down.
3. Support the seatback with your hand.
4. Push the rear seatback knob down.To return the seatbacks to the upright
position
1. Position the outboard seat belts to the
side.
2. Lift the seatbacks upright.
3. Make sure the seat belts are fully
pulled out from under the seatbacks.
4. Pull on the top of the seatbacks from
inside the vehicle to make sure they are
locked.
5. Fasten the rear-center lap/shoulder belt
and check that all seat belts are routed
properly for passenger use (page 2-16).
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.
CAUTION
Rear seatback knob
Seat Belts Caught Under 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.
Always make sure the seat belts are
fully pulled out from under the
seatbacks.
WARNING
J48C_8S18-EA-03I_Edition1.book Page 6 Wednesday, August 6, 2003 8:51 AM

3-14
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Opening the trunk lid with the key
Insert the key into the slot and turn it
clockwise.Opening the trunk lid with the remote
release lever
Pull up the release lever next to the
driver’s seat.
Closing the trunk lid
Use both hands to push the trunk lid down
until the lock snaps shut. Do not slam it.
Pull up on the trunk lid to make sure it is
secure.
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.
For vehicles equipped with a rear
spoiler, do not lift the trunk lid by the
spoiler. Lifting up the trunk lid by the
rear spoiler could cause damage to the
rear spoiler and the trunk lid.
WARNING
CAUTION
Open
Release lever
J48C_8S18-EA-03I_Edition1.book Page 14 Wednesday, August 6, 2003 8:51 AM

3-16
Knowing Your Mazda
Doors and Locks
Form No. 8S18-EA-03I
Your vehicle is equipped with an inside
trunk release slide lever 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 inside trunk release slide
lever so that all children can be told about
it in an appropriate way, keeping in mind
that most vehicles don’t have such levers.

Opening the Trunk Lid from the
Inside
Slide the illuminated inside trunk release
slide lever in the direction of the arrow.
The lever is made of material that will
glow for hours in the darkness of the trunk
following a brief exposure to ambient
light.
The inside trunk release slide lever is
located on the inside of the trunk lid.
Inside Trunk Release Slide
Lever (4 Door)
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.
WARNING
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
J48C_8S18-EA-03I_Edition1.book Page 16 Wednesday, August 6, 2003 8:51 AM