1-4
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Exterior Overview
Windshield wiper blades
Power windows
Hood
Fog lights*
Front turn signal lights/Front side-marker lights
Headlights
Fuel-filler lid
Doors and keys
Rear windshield
wiper blades
Liftgate
License plate
lights
Reverse lights
Rear turn signal lights
Tires
Rear window defrosterChild safety lock
Outside mirrors Brake lights/Taillights
Parking lights
Moonroof*
High-mount brake light
Side turn signal lights Taillights/Rear side-marker lights
(page 8-31)
(page 8-31)
(page 5-38)(page 3-12)
(page 8-22)
(page 3-18)
(page 8-31)
(page 8-31)
(page 8-31)
(page 8-20)
(page 3-24)
(page 8-31)
(page 8-31)(page 3-33)
(page 8-27)
(page 3-25)
(page 3-23) (page 3-19)
(page 3-2)
(page 8-31)
(page 8-31) (page 8-31)
(page 8-31)
*Some models.
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Second-Row Seats
Stacking Cargo:
Stacking luggage or other cargo
higher than the seatback is
dangerous. During a sudden stop or
collision, objects can fly around and
become projectiles that could hit and
injure passengers. Don’t stack cargo
higher than the seatback.
Not Securing Luggage and Cargo:
Not securing cargo while driving is
dangerous as they could move or be
crushed in 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
latched 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.
Seat Adjustment:
Adjusting the seat while the vehicle is
moving is dangerous. Sudden braking
or a collision could cause serious
injury. Adjust the seat only when the
vehicle is stopped.
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 adjusting 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 on the folded
seatback while the vehicle is moving
is particularly dangerous. During
sudden braking or even a minor
collision, a child not restrained 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 cargo
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.
NOTE
When returning a second-row seat to
its original position, also replace the
seat belt to its normal position. Verify
that the seat belt pulls and retracts.
WARNING
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2-21
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Seat Recline
To change seatback angle, lean forward
slightly while pulling the flat-folding
strap. Then lean back to the desired
position and release the strap. Make sure
the seat is securely latched.
Unlocked 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 adjusting 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.
WARNINGNOTE
•The third-row seat cannot be
removed.
•When returning the third-row seat
to its original position, also place
the seat belt in its normal position.
Verify that the seat belt pulls and
retracts.
Reclining:
Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous
because you don’t 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.
WARNING
Flat-folding strap
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2-30
Essential Safety Equipment
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Seat Belt Systems
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 outboard 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 outboard 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 the child-restraint system is secured properly.
The third-row center seat positions have a lap belt with manual adjustment.
Seat Belt Precautions
Not Wearing Seat Belts:
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. Always wear your seat
belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained.
Seat Belt Damaged During an Accident:
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. Whether a front seat was occupied or not, if the front air bags deployed the
seat belt pretensioners also deployed and both front seat belts must be replaced. Have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect all seat belt systems in use during an accident
before they are used again.
Twisted Seat Belts:
Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt isn’t
available to absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt,
which could cause serious injury or death. Don’t wear twisted seat belts.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Emergency Locking Mode
If the belt has fully retracted, it will always be in the emergency locking mode until you
move it into automatic locking mode by pulling the belt all the way out to its full length. In
the emergency locking mode, the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the
retractor will lock in position during a collision.
If the belt feels tight and hinders comfortable movement while the vehicle is stopped or in
motion, you may be in the automatic locking mode because you have pulled the belt too far
out. To return to the more comfortable emergency locking mode, wait until you can stop
the vehicle in a safe level area, retract the belt fully to convert it back to emergency locking
mode and then again extend it around you.
Automatic 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 get the seat belt into the 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 2-41).
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Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Seating Children in a Child-Restraint System on the Front Passenger Seat:
If your vehicle is equipped with front passenger seat weight sensors, a front passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light is also equipped (page 2-51). Even with the front
passenger seat weight sensors, if you must use the front passenger seat for children,
seating 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.
•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.
•Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
•A rear passenger or luggage push or pull down on the front passenger seatback.
•A rear passenger steps on the front passenger seat rails with the feet.
•Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the assist grip, head
restraint or armrest.
•The seat is washed.
•Liquids are spilled on the seat.
•The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
•The front passenger seatback contacts the second-row seat.
•Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and front
passenger seat side table.
•Any accessories such as increasing 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.
Children and Seating Position with Side Air Bag:
Allowing anyone to lean over or against the front door is dangerous. If the vehicle is
equipped with side air bags, the impact of an inflating side air bag could cause serious
injury or death to the person. Children are more likely to sleep in the vehicle; when
they do, they are more at risk in the front passenger’s seat that has a side air bag
because they may slump over into the path of the seatback-mounted air bag.
Furthermore, leaning over or against the doors could block the side air bag 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 who are prone to sleeping. If a child can’t be seated in the rear,
do not allow the child to lean over or against the front door, even if the child is seated
in a child-restraint system.
WARNING
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2-45
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear seats (both second-row
seats and third-row center 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 specific
seating positions on the rear seats (both
second-row seats and third-row center
seat).
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to "LATCH Child-Restraint
Systems" (page 2-53).
Second-Row Seats Child-
Restraint System Installation
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 2-53).
Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
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 or the third-row
outboard seats 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.
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
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 not
employ seat belts which are in
automatic locking mode.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Form No. 8S06-EA-03H
1. If the seat in which you install a child-
restraint system has a seat slide
function, slide the seat as far back as
possible.
2. 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.
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.4. Push the child-restraint system firmly
into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Adjust
the angle of the seat belt buckle so that
the belt is not loose. Clicking 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.
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.
J16R_8S06-EA-03H_Edition1.book Page 46 Wednesday, July 9, 2003 4:19 PM