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WARNING
Child-Restraint Tether:
Using a child-restraint system that requires a tether is dangerous. Your Mazda doesn't
have a child-restraint tether. The child-restraint system cannot be properly secured. In
a collision, it could move and cause serious injury or even death to the child or
someone else. Always use a child-restraint system designed for use without a tether.
CAUTION
A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot when exposed to direct
sunlight during warm weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before
you or your child touches them.
NOTE
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially
designed LATCH child-restraint systems behind the passenger seat that slide through the
passenger seat when it is in the fully rearward position. When using these anchors to
secure a child-restraint system, refer to“LATCH Child-Restraint Systems ”(page 2-23).
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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4. Push the child-restraint system firmlyinto the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. Clicking
from the retractor will be heard during
retraction if the system is in automatic
locking mode. If the belt does not lock
the seat down tight, repeat this step.
5. Make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates
by using the key to turn the passenger
air bag off after installing a child-
restraint system on the passenger seat.
WARNING
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Seating a child in a rear-facing 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, a air bag could inflate
and cause serious injuries or even
death to the child seated in the rear-
facing child-restraint system. When
using a rear-facing child-restraint
system, always make sure the
passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light is illuminated by using
the key to turn the passenger air bag
off.
Refer to Passenger seat weight sensors
on page 2-37.
Refer to Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch on page 2-30.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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LATCH Child-Restraint System
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed
LATCH child-restraint systems behind the passenger seat that slide through the passenger
seat when it is in the fully rearward position. Only LATCH booster seats and infant carriers
without upper tethers can be used in this position, as there is no good place to anchor the
tether due to this vehicle's design. Both anchors must be used when installing these lower
anchor only child-restraint systems, otherwise the seat will bounce around and put the child
in danger.
WARNING
Manufacturer's Instructions for Child-Restraint System:
An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make sure
any child-restraint system does not rely on an upper tether and then properly secure
those non-tethered seats according to the child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions.
Unsecured Child-Restraint System:
An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions on belt routing to secure the seat
just as you would with a child in it so that nobody is tempted to put a child in an
improperly secured seat later on. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or fasten
it with a seat belt, or latch it down to BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH child-
restraint systems.
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems:
Not following the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions when installing
the child-restraint system is dangerous. If seat belts or a foreign object prevent the
child-restraint system from being securely attached to the LATCH lower anchors and
the child-restraint system is installed improperly, the child-restraint system could move
in a sudden stop or collision causing serious injury or death to the child or other
occupants. When installing the child-restraint system, make sure there are no seat
belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH lower anchors. Always follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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WARNING
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Seating a child in a rear-facing 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, a air bag could inflate
and cause serious injuries or even
death to the child seated in the rear-
facing child-restraint system. When
using a rear-facing child-restraint
system, always make sure the
passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light is illuminated by using
the key to turn the passenger air bag
off.
Refer to Passenger seat weight sensors
on page 2-37.
Refer to Passenger Air Bag
Deactivation Switch on page 2-30.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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WARNING
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 in the first collision with frontal, near frontal or side forces that are at
least moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.
Rear-Facing Child-Restraint System:
Seating a child in a rear-facing 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, a air bag could inflate and cause serious
injuries or even death to the child seated in the rear-facing child-restraint system.
When using a rear-facing child-restraint system, always make sure the passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated by using the key to turn the passenger
air bag off.
Refer to Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch on page 2-30.
Refer to Passenger seat weight sensors on page 2-37.
Seating Position with Front Air Bags:
Sitting too close to the air bag modules 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. Seat
occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and always sit upright
against the seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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WARNING
Seating Position 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 inflates 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's-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.
Front Air Bag Modules Located in the Steering Wheel Hub and the Dashboard:
Attaching an object to the front air bag modules or placing something in front of them
is dangerous. In an accident, the object could interfere with front air bag inflation and
injure the occupants.
Always keep the front air bag modules free of objects.
Side Air Bag Modules:
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 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.
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.
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 modules 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. Occupants could be seriously
injured. Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle.
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SRS Air Bags
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WARNING
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 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 front
seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and connections to assure that the
bags do not accidentally deploy, the driver seat slide position sensor and front
passenger seat weight sensors are not damaged and that the seats retain an
undamaged air bag connection.
NOTE
lWhen 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.
lShould 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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch
WARNING
Unnecessary Deactivation of Passenger Air Bag:
Unnecessary deactivation of the passenger air bag is dangerous. If turned off
unnecessarily, the passenger will not receive the added protection of the air bag.
Serious injuries or even death could occur. With the exception of passengers fitting
the categories described below, do not turn the air bag deactivation switch to the OFF
position.
Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger air bag deactivation switch. The switch is
located in the position shown in the figure below. The switch must be used to deactivate
the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat belt pretensioner system
when the occupant of the passenger seat fits into one of the following categories (as
described in the request form for the passenger air bag deactivation switch, the appendix B
to part 595 of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA]):
lInfants (less than one year old; for all types of restraint, but particularly the rear-facing
child restraint.)
lChildren aged 1 to 12
lPeople with certain medical conditions which, according to his/her physician, could be
adversely affected by air-bag activation
For more government release information on air bag deactivation, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer for the occupant categories as described in the request form for the air bag
deactivation switch in the NHTSA rules.
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SRS Air Bags
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