2015 MAZDA MODEL 3 4-DOOR seats

2–28
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
Child-Restraint System
Installation
Child-Restraint System Types
In this owner's manual, explanation of
child-restraint systems is provided for the
following three types of popular child-
restraint systems: infant seat, child seat,
booster seat.
NOTE
 y Installation position is determined
by the type of child-restraint system.
Always read the manufacturer's
instructions and this owner's manual
carefully.
 y Due to variations in the design of child-
restraint systems, vehicle seats and
seat belts, all child-restraint systems
may not fi t all seating positions. Before
purchasing a child-restraint system, it
should be tested in the specifi c vehicle
seating position (or positions) where it
is intended to be used. If a previously
purchased child-restraint system does
not fi t, you may need to purchase a
different one that will.
Infant seat
An infant seat provides restraint by
bracing the infant's head, neck and back
against the seating surface.
Child seat
A child seat restrains a child's body using
the harness.
Booster seat
A booster seat is a child restraint accessory
designed to improve the fi t of the seat belt
system around the child's body.
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2–29
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
Installing Child-Restraint
Systems
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear 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.
NOTE
Even if your vehicle is equipped with front
passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-
57), which automatically deactivates the
front passenger air bag, a rear seat is the
safest place for a child of any age or size.
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 positions on
the rear seat.
Some child-restraint systems also employ
specially designed LATCH attachments;
refer to "Using LATCH Lower Anchor"
(page 2-37 ).
WARNING
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 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 benefi t of being tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.
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2–33
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
Tether strapForward
(5-Door)

Tether strapForward
Always attach the tether strap to the
correct tether anchor position: Attaching the tether strap to the
incorrect tether anchor position is
dangerous. In a collision, the tether
strap could come off and loosen the
child-restraint system. If the child-
restraint system moves it could result
in death or injury to the child.
If You Must Use the Front Seat for Children
If you cannot put all children in the rear
seat, at least put the smallest children
in the rear and be sure the largest child
up front uses the shoulder belt over the
shoulder.
NEVER put a rear-facing child-restraint
system on the front passenger seat whether
your vehicle is equipped with a seat
weight sensor or not.
This seat is also not set up for tethered
child-restraint systems, put them in one of
the rear seat positions set up with tether
anchors.
Likewise the LATCH child-restraint
system cannot be secured in the front
passenger's seat and should be used in the
rear seat.
Do not allow anyone to sleep against the
side window since your vehicle has side
and curtain air bags, it could cause serious
injuries to an out of position occupant.
As children more often sleep in cars,
it is better to put them in the rear seat.
If installing the child-restraint system
on the front seat is unavoidable, follow
these instructions when using a front-
facing child-restraint system in the front
passenger's seat.
NOTE
 y  To check if your front seats have side air
bags:
 Mazda vehicles equipped with side air bag will have a "SRS AIRBAG" tag on
the outboard shoulder of the front seats.
 y To check if your vehicle has curtain air
bags:
 Mazda vehicles equipped with curtain air bag will have an "SRS AIRBAG"
marking on the window pillars along
the roof edge.
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2–37
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
Using LATCH Lower Anchor
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed
LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear seats. Both anchors must be used\
, otherwise the
seat will bounce around and put the child in danger. Most LATCH child-restraint systems
must also be used in conjunction with a tether to be effective. If they have a tether you must
use it to better assure your child's safety.
WARNING
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the use of the 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 the
child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.

Never attach two child-restraint systems to the same LATCH lower anchor: Attaching two child-restraint systems to the same LATCH lower anchor is dangerous.
In a collision, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two child-restraint system
attachments, and it may break, causing serious injury or death. If you use the seat
position for another child-restraint system when an outboard LATCH position is occupied,
use the center seat belts instead, and the tether if tether-equipped.

Make sure the child-restraint system is properly secured: 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 i\
mproperly 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.

Make sure there are no seat belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH child-
restraint system: 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.
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2–38
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
Installation on rear outboard seats
1. First, adjust the front seat to allow clearance between the child-restraint
system and the front seat (page 2-5 ).
2. Make sure the seatback is securely latched by pushing it back until it is
fully locked.
3. Expand the area between the seat bottom and the seatback slightly to
verify the locations of the LATCH
lower anchors.
NOTE
The markings above the LATCH lower
anchors indicate the locations of the
LATCH lower anchors for the attachment
of a child-restraint system.
4. Raise the head restraint to the top locked position.
Refer to Head Restraints on page 2-11 .
5. Secure the child-restraint system using BOTH LATCH lower anchors,
following the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instruction. Pull on the
child-restraint to be sure both anchors
are engaged. 6. If your child-restraint system came
equipped with a tether, that means it is
very important to properly secure the
tether for child safety. Please carefully
follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions when
installing tethers.
WARNING
Use the tether and tether anchor only
for a child-restraint system: Using the tether or tether anchor to
secure anything but a child-restraint
system is dangerous. This could
weaken or damage the tether or tether
anchor and result in injury.

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2–39
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
Always route the tether strap between
the head restraint and the seatback: Routing the tether strap on top of
the head restraint is dangerous. In a
collision the tether strap could slide off
the head restraint and loosen the child-
restraint system. The child-restraint
system could move which may result in
death or injury to the child.
Anchor bracket
Tether strap(4-Door)
Tether strap
Forward
(5-Door)
Always attach the tether strap to the
correct tether anchor position: Attaching the tether strap to the
incorrect tether anchor position is
dangerous. In a collision, the tether
strap could come off and loosen the
child-restraint system. If the child-
restraint system moves it could result
in death or injury to the child.
Installation on rear center seat
The LATCH lower anchors at the center
of the rear seat are much further apart
than the sets of LATCH lower anchors
for child-restraint system installation at
other seating positions. Child-restraint
systems with rigid LATCH attachments
cannot be installed on the center seating
position. Some LATCH equipped child-
restraint systems can be placed in the
center position and will reach the nearest
LATCH lower anchors which are 443 mm
(17.4 in) apart. LATCH compatible child-
restraint systems (with attachments on
belt webbing) can be used at this seating
position only if the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions state that the
child-restraint system can be installed to
LATCH lower anchors that are 443 mm
(17.4 in) apart. Do not attach two child-
restraint systems to the same LATCH
lower anchor. If your child-restraint
system has a tether, it must also be used
for your child's optimum safety.
The procedure for installation on the rear
outboards seats is the same.
LATCH lower anchor location
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2–42
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
If your vehicle is also equipped with a front passenger occupant classifi cation system,
refer to the Front Passenger Occupant Classifi cation System (page 2-57 ) for details.
If your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classifi cation system, the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specifi\
ed time after the
ignition is switched ON.
Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulat\
ed by law in every
state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-23 ).
Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your ch\
ild and follow
the installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the child-\
restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
WARNING
Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles: 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
infl ate only in the fi rst accident, such as frontal, near frontal or side collisions or roll-over
accidents that are at least moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.

Children should not ride in the front passenger seat: Placing a child, 12 years or under, in the front seat is dangerous. The child could be hit
by a deploying air bag and be seriously injured or even killed. A sleeping child is more
likely to lean against the door and be hit by the side air bag in moderate collision to the
front-passenger side of the vehicle. Whenever possible, always secure a child 12 years and
under on the rear seats with an appropriate child-restraint system for the child's age and
size.

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2–43
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that
could deploy: Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous even
though you may feel assured that a front passenger air bag will not deploy based on
the fact that the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates. The
child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violently backward
resulting in serious injury or death to the child.
Do not sit too close to the driver and front passenger air bags: Sitting too close to the driver and front passenger air bag modules or placing hands or
feet on them is extremely dangerous. The driver and front passenger air bags infl ate 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 fl oor. Front seat occupants should adjust their seats as
far back as possible and always sit upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn
properly.

Sit in the center of the seat and wear seat belts properly: Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them, \
or sleeping up
against the door or hanging out the windows is extremely dangerous. The side and
curtain air bags infl ate with great force and speed directly expanding 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, or if rear seat occupants grab the sides of the front
seatbacks. Give the side and curtain air bags room to work by sitting in the center of the
seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.

Do not attach objects on or around the area where driver and front passenger air bags
deploy: Attaching an object to the driver and front passenger air bag modules or placing
something in front of them is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere with air
bag infl ation and injure the occupants.

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