Black plate (9,1)
Power door lock switch ..................................................................................... page 3-29
Outside mirror switch ........................................................................................ page 3-56
Dashboard illumination ..................................................................................... page 5-38
DSC OFF switch ............................................................................................... page 5-26
Lighting control/Turn signals ............................................................................ page 5-57
Audio control switch ......................................................................................... page 6-52
Instrument cluster .............................................................................................. page 5-35
Air bags ............................................................................................................. page 2-38
Wiper and washer lever ..................................................................................... page 5-61
Cruise control switches ...................................................................................... page 5-22
Information display ............................................................................................ page 6-79
Hazard warning flasher switch .......................................................................... page 5-67
Audio system ..................................................................................................... page 6-15
Glove box .......................................................................................................... page 6-84
Center console ................................................................................................... page 6-85
Cup holder ......................................................................................................... page 6-83
Parking brake ....................................................................................................... page 5-6
MT shift lever .................................................................................................... page 5-10
AT shift lever (Sport AT) ................................................................................... page 5-13
Lighter ............................................................................................................... page 6-81
Ashtray ............................................................................................................... page 6-82
Climate control system ........................................................................................ page 6-2
Ignition switch ..................................................................................................... page 5-2
Tilt wheel release lever ...................................................................................... page 3-56
Coin box ............................................................................................................ page 6-84
Hood release handle .......................................................................................... page 3-45
Trunk release button .......................................................................................... page 3-33
Power window lock switch ................................................................................ page 3-40
Power window switches .................................................................................... page 3-37
Interior light ....................................................................................................... page 6-77
Sunvisor ............................................................................................................. page 6-77
Rearview mirror ................................................................................................. page 3-57
Vanity mirror ...................................................................................................... page 6-77
Front seats ............................................................................................................ page 2-2
Rear seat ............................................................................................................ page 2-11
Seat belt ............................................................................................................. page 2-14
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Dashboard and Interior Overview
1-3The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page9
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (11,1)
Trunk lid ............................................................................................................ page 3-33
Rear window defroster ....................................................................................... page 5-66
Antenna ............................................................................................................. page 6-15
Power windows ................................................................................................. page 3-36
Outside mirror .................................................................................................... page 3-56
Tires ................................................................................................................... page 8-23
Light bulbs ......................................................................................................... page 8-28
Hood .................................................................................................................. page 3-45
Windshield wiper blades .................................................................................... page 8-19
Moonroof ........................................................................................................... page 3-46
Fuel-filler lid ...................................................................................................... page 3-43
Doors and keys .................................................................................................. page 3-28
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Exterior Overview
1-5The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page11
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
Black plate (13,1)
2Essential Safety Equipment
Use of safety equipment, including seats, seat belt system, child-restraint
systems and SRS air bags.
Seats ............................................................................................... 2-2
Front Seats (Manually Operated Seats) ..................................... 2-2
Driver's Seat (Electrically Operated Seat) ................................. 2-6
Rear Seat ................................................................................. 2-11
Seat Warmer
í......................................................................... 2-12
Seat Belt Systems ........................................................................ 2-14
Seat Belt Precautions .............................................................. 2-14
Location of Seat Belt ............................................................... 2-17
Seat Belt .................................................................................. 2-18
Front Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems ....... 2-19
Seat Belt Extender ................................................................... 2-21
Seat Belt Warning Light/Beep ................................................ 2-23
Child Restraint ............................................................................ 2-25
Child Restraint Precautions ..................................................... 2-25
Installing Child-Restraint Systems .......................................... 2-29
LATCH Child-Restraint Systems ............................................ 2-35
SRS Air Bags ............................................................................... 2-38
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Precautions ............... 2-38
Supplemental Restraint System Components ......................... 2-42
How the Air Bags Work .......................................................... 2-44
2-1íSome models.
RX-8_8AT5-EA-09E_Edition1 Page13
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
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(Dial type)
To change the seatback angle, lean
forward slightly while rotating the dial to
the desired position.
(Lever type)
To change the seatback angle, lean
forward slightly while raising the lever.
Then lean back to the desired position and
release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original
position and the seatback is locked in
place by attempting to push it forward and
backward.
CAUTION
When returning a rear-reclined
seatback to its upright position,
make sure you hold onto the
seatback with your other hand while
operating the lever or dial. If the
seatback is not supported, it will flip
forward suddenly and could cause
injury.
qHeight Adjustment (Driver's Seat)í
To adjust the seat height, move the lever
up or down.
Up
Down
2-4
Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
Seats
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
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(Recaro manufactured bucket seats)í
Pull the lever upward to fold the seatback
forward.
To return the seatback to its on-road
position
To return the seatback to its on-road
position, press the seatback rearward until
is locks in place.
After returning the seatback to its on-road
position, make sure it is secured by
attempting to lightly move it forward and
back.
Driver's Seat (Electrically
Operated Seat)
The power operated seat is available only
on the driver's seat. The front passenger
seat is manually operated.
Refer to Front Seats (Manually Operated
Seats) (page 2-2) for adjustment
instructions.
WARNING
Do not modify or replace the front
seats:
Modifying or replacing the front seats
such as replacing the upholstery or
loosening any bolts is dangerous. The
front seats contain air bag
components essential to the
supplemental restraint system. Such
modifications could damage the
supplemental restraint system and
result in serious injury. Consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is
any need to remove or reinstall the
front seats.
Do not drive with damaged front seats:
Driving with damaged front seats is
dangerous. A collision, even one not
strong enough to inflate the air bags,
could damage the front seats which
contain essential air bag
components. If there was a
subsequent collision, an air bag may
not deploy which could lead to
injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats,
front seat belt pretensioners and air
bags after a collision.
2-6
Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
Seats
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E
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Seat Warmerí
The front seats are electrically heated. The
ignition switch must be in the ON
position.
Press the switch to turn the seat warmer
on or off. When the switch is in the ON
position, the indicator light will come on.
WARNING
ØBe careful when using the seat
warmer. The heat from the seat
warmer may be too hot for some
people, as indicated below, and
could cause a low-temperature
burn.
ØInfants, small babies, elderly
people, and physically
challenged people
ØPeople with delicate skin
ØPeople who are excessively
fatigued
ØPeople who are drunk
ØPeople who have taken sleep-
inducing medicine such as
sleeping pills or cold medicine
ØDo not use the seat warmer with
anything having high moisture-
retention ability such as a blanket
or cushion on the seat. The seat
may be heated excessively and
cause a low-temperature burn.
ØDo not use the seat warmer even
when taking a short nap in the
vehicle. The seat may be heated
excessively and cause a low-
temperature burn.
ØDo not place heavy objects with
sharp projections on the seat, or
insert needles or pins into it. This
could cause the seat to become
excessively heated and result in
injury from a minor burn.
CAUTION
Do not use organic solvents to clean
the seat. It may damage the seat
surface and the heater.
2-12
Essential Safety Equipment
íSome models.
Seats
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WARNING
Wear seat belts only as recommended
in this owner's manual:
Incorrect positioning of the driver and
front passenger seat belts is
dangerous. Without proper
positioning, the pretensioner and
load limiting systems cannot provide
adequate protection in an accident
and this could result in serious injury.
For more details about wearing seat
belts, refer to“Fastening the seat
belts”(page 2-18).
Have your seat belts changed
immediately if the pretensioner or load
limiter has been expended:
One or both front air bags may
deploy, and the corresponding
pretensioner(s) may also deploy at
the same time. Like the air bags, the
front seat belt pretensioners will only
function once. While it is safer to use
a post-crash (a seat belt that was
used in an accident) than no front
seat belt at all, using a front seat belt
with an expended pretensioner or
load limiter loaded reduces the safety
available to you. If the front seat belt
pretensioners are not replaced, the
risk of injury in a collision will
increase. Expended front seat belt
pretensioners and air bags must be
replaced after any collision which
caused them to deploy. Additionally,
the load limiter will only limit loads
on the chest once in a collision and
this is another reason to have the
front seat belts inspected. Always
have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
inspect the front seat belt
pretensioners and air bags after any
collision.Do not modify the components or
wiring, or use electronic testing devices
on the pretensioner system:
Modifying the components or wiring
of the pretensioner system, including
the use of electronic testing devices is
dangerous. You could accidentally
activate it or make it inoperable
which would prevent it from
activating in an accident. The
occupants or repairers could be
seriously injured.
Properly dispose of the pretensioner
system:
Improper disposal of the pretensioner
system or a vehicle with non-
deactivated pretensioners is
dangerous. Unless all safety
procedures are followed, injury could
result. Ask an Authorized Mazda
Dealer how to safely dispose of the
pretensioner system or how to scrap
a pretensioner-equipped vehicle.
NOTE
lThe pretensioner system will activate in a
moderate or greater frontal or near-frontal
collision. The pretensioner system for the
front passenger is designed to only deploy
in accordance with the total seated weight
on the front passenger seat. It will not
activate in most rollovers, side or rear
impacts.
lSome smoke (non-toxic gas) will be
released when the air bags and
pretensioners deploy. This does not indicate
a fire. This gas normally has no effect on
occupants, however, those with sensitive
skin may experience light skin irritation. If
residue from the deployment of the air bags
or the front pretensioner system gets on the
skin or in the eyes, wash it off as soon as
possible.
2-20
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
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qAir Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/front seat belt pretensioner
system is working properly, the warning
light illuminates when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position or after the
engine is cranked. The warning light turns
off after a specified period of time.
A system malfunction is indicated if the
warning light constantly flashes,
constantly illuminates or does not
illuminate at all when the ignition switch
is turned to the ON position. If any of
these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible. The system
may not work in an accident.
WARNING
Never tamper with the air bag/
pretensioner systems and always have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer perform
all servicing and repairs:
Self-servicing or tampering with the
systems is dangerous. An air bag/
pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled causing
serious injury or death.
Seat Belt Extender
If your seat belt is not long enough, even
when fully extended, a seat belt extender
may be available to you at no charge from
your Authorized Mazda Dealer.
This extender will be only for you and for
the particular vehicle and seat. Even if it
plugs into other seat belts, it may not hold
in the critical moment of a crash.
When ordering an extender, only order
one that provides the necessary additional
length to fasten the seat belt properly.
Please contact your Authorized Mazda
Dealer for more information.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-21
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Form No.8AT5-EA-09E