Page 25 of 340

CAUTION
Be careful of the following when using
the remote handle levers:
lOn a downward slope, the seatback
could flip forward faster than on a
flat area.
lOn an upward slope, the seatback
may not fold down. When the
seatbacks cannot be folded down
with levers, pull the rear seatback
forward from inside the vehicle.
1. Unfasten the lap portion of the rear center seat belt (page 2-23).
CAUTION
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.
2. After checking that the rear seats are clear, open the trunk and pull the
remote handle levers on the left and
right side of the trunk.
To return the seatbacks to the uprightposition
1. Lift the seatbacks upright.
2. Pull on the top of the seatbacks from inside the vehicle to make sure they are
locked.
3. Fasten the rear-center lap/shoulder belt and check that all seat belts are routed
properly for passenger use (page 2-23).
WARNING
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-11
Page 26 of 340

qEasy Fold Down Rear Seatbacks
and Seat Bottom for Added
Luggage Space (5-Door/Sport
Wagon)
The seatback and seat bottom can be
folded down to provide a flat surface
extending from the back of the front seats
to the rear of the vehicle for extra luggage
space.
To fold down the rear seatbacks andseat bottoms
WARNING
Operating the Remote Handle LeversWhile a Rear-Facing Child-RestraintSystem is in the Rear Seat:
Operating the remote handle levers
while a rear-facing child-restraint
system is in the rear seat is dangerous.
It could cause injury to a child seated
in the child-restraint system when the
seatback suddenly flips forward.
Always remove the child-restraint
system from the rear seat before
operating the remote handle levers for
the rear seat.
WARNING
Folding Seatbacks with RemoteHandle Levers:
Not checking the rear seat area for
persons before folding the seatbacks
with the remote handle levers is
dangerous. The rear seat area is
difficult to see from the rear of the
vehicle. Operating the remote handle
levers without checking could cause
injury to a person when a seatback
suddenly flips forward. Make sure
there is nobody in the rear seat area
before operating the remote handle
levers.
When using the remote handle levers:
CAUTION
Be careful of the following when using
the remote handle levers:
lOn a downward slope, the seatback
could flip forward faster than on a
flat area.
lOn an upward slope, the seatback
may not fold down. When the
seatbacks cannot be folded down
with levers, pull the rear seatback
forward from inside the vehicle.
1. Unfasten the lap portion of the rear center seat belt (page 2-23).
2-12
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Page 27 of 340

CAUTION
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.
2. After checking that the rear seats are clear, open the liftgate and pull the
remote handle levers on the left and
right side of the liftgate.
When using the rear seatback knobs:
CAUTION
When operating the rear seatback knob,
make sure you support the seatback
with your hand. If the seatback is not
supported with your hand, it will flip
forward suddenly and could cause
injury to the finger that pushes the rear
seatback knob down.
1. Unfasten the lap portion of the rear center seat belt (page 2-23).
CAUTION
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.
2. Support the seatback with your hand.
3. Push the rear seatback knob down.
To return the seatbacks to the uprightposition
1. Lift the seatbacks upright.
2. Pull on the top of the seatbacks from inside the vehicle to make sure they are
locked.
3. Fasten the rear-center lap/shoulder belt and check that all seat belts are routed
properly for passenger use (page 2-23).
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-13
Page 28 of 340

WARNING
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.
Returning Rear Seatbacks to theUpright Position:
A rear seatback not fully returned and
locked in the upright position is
dangerous. Sudden stops or
maneuvering could cause a seatback
to flip forward suddenly resulting in
injury. If the red indicator is visible on
the back of the rear seatback knob, the
seatback is not locked in the upright
position. When returning the seatback
to the upright position, make sure
there is no red indication.
Unlocked positionLocked position
q
Head Restraint (5-Door/Sport
Wagon)
WARNING
Head Restraints Adjustment:
Driving with the head restraints
adjusted too low or removed is
dangerous. With no support behind
your head, your neck could be
seriously injured in a collision. Always
drive with the head restraints inserted
when seats are being used and make
sure they are properly adjusted.
Height adjustment
To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the
desired position.
To lower the head restraint, press the stop-
catch release, then push the head restraint
down.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top is
parallel with the top of the passenger's
ears, never the passenger's neck.
2-14
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Page 29 of 340
qArmrest
The armrest can be used or placed upright.
WARNING
Positioning the Shoulder Belt Over theArmrest:
Positioning the shoulder portion of a
rear seat belt over the armrest is
dangerous as it cannot provide
adequate protection in a collision and
could result in serious injuries. Never
position the shoulder portion of a rear
seat belt over the armrest.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-15
Page 30 of 340
Seat Belt Precautions
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 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 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.
2-16
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Page 31 of 340

WARNING
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.
One Belt, One Passenger:
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used
in this way can't 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.
CAUTION
Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and rings are soiled, so try to keep them
clean.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-17
Page 32 of 340

qPregnant Women and Persons with Serious Medical Conditions
Pregnant women should wear seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific recommendations.
The lap belt should be worn SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS.
The shoulder belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the
stomach area.
Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your
doctor for any special instructions regarding specific medical conditions.
qEmergency 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.
qAutomatic 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 2-28).
2-18
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems