2016 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK Owners Manual (in English)

2–43
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:
Attaching objects to the front 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 infl ates from the outboard side of the front 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 releasing the gas.
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or backpacks with side straps on the front seats.
Never use seat covers on the front seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your
front seats free to deploy in the event of a side collision.

Do not attach objects on or around the area where a curtain air bag deploys:
Attaching objects to the areas where the curtain air bag activates such as on the
windshield glass, side door glass, front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge
and assist grips is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the curtain
air bag, which infl ates from the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge,
impeding the added protection of the curtain air bag system or redirecting the air bag in
a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open releasing the gas.
Do not place hangers or any other objects on the assist grips. When hanging clothes,
hang them on the coat hook directly. Always keep the curtain air bag modules free to
deploy in the event of a side collision or roll-over accident.

Do not touch the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags
have infl ated:
Touching the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags have
infl ated is dangerous. Immediately after infl ation, they are very hot. You could get burned.

Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar, bull
bar, push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The air bag
crash sensor system could be aff ected. This could cause air bags to infl ate unexpectedly,
or it could prevent the air bags from infl ating during an accident. Front occupants could
be seriously injured.

Do not modify the suspension:
Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the suspension is
modifi ed, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision or roll-over accident
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious
injuries.

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2–44
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
To prevent false detection by the air bag sensor system, heed the following:  


¾ Do not use tires or wheels other than those specifi ed for your Mazda:
 Use of any tire or wheel other than those specifi ed for your Mazda (page 9-10 ) is
dangerous. Use of such wheels will prevent the vehicle's accident detections system
from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in incorrect or
unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.
 


¾ Do not overload your vehicle:
 Overloading your vehicle is dangerous as it could prevent the air bag crash sensor
system from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in incorrect
or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries. The gross axle
weight rating (GAWR) and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for your vehicle are
on the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Label on the driver's door frame. Do not exceed
these ratings.
 


¾ Do not drive the vehicle off -road:
 Driving your Mazda off -road is dangerous because the vehicle has not been designed
to do so. Driving the vehicle off -road could prevent the air bag crash sensor system
from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in incorrect or
unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.

Do not modify a front door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect a damaged front door:
Modifying a front door or leaving any damage unrepaired is dangerous. Each front
door has a side crash sensor as a component of the supplemental restraint system. If
holes are drilled in a front door, a door speaker is left removed, or a damaged door is left
unrepaired, the sensor could be adversely aff ected causing it to not detect the pressure
of an impact correctly during a side collision. If a sensor does not detect a side impact
correctly, the side and curtain air bags and the front seat belt pretensioner may not
operate normally which could result in serious injury to occupants.

Do not modify 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. Do not make any modifi cations
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, and that
the front passenger occupant classifi cation system and the seats retain an undamaged
air bag connection.

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2–45
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats:
Placing luggage or other objects under the front seats is dangerous. The components
essential to the supplemental restraint system could be damaged, and in the event of
a side collision, the appropriate air bags may not deploy, which could result in death
or serious injury. To prevent damage to the components essential to the supplemental
restraint system, do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats.

Do not operate a vehicle with damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system
components:
Expended or damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system components must be
replaced after any collision which caused them to deploy or damage them. Only a trained
Authorized Mazda Dealer can fully evaluate these systems to see that they will work in
any subsequent accident. Driving with an expended or damaged air bag or pretensioner
unit will not aff ord you the necessary protection in the event of any subsequent accident
which could result in serious injury or death.

Do not remove interior air bag parts:
Removing any components such as the front seats, front dashboard, the steering wheel
or parts on the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge, containing air bag
parts or sensors is dangerous. These parts contain essential air bag components. The air
bag could accidentally activate and cause serious injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer remove these parts.

Properly dispose of the air bag system:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a vehicle with live air bags in it can be extremely
dangerous. Unless all safety procedures are followed, injury could result. Have an
Authorized Mazda Dealer safely dispose of the air bag system or scrap an air bag
equipped vehicle.

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2–46
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
N O T E
 


y If it becomes necessary to have the components or wiring system for the supplementary
restraint system modi¿ ed to accommodate a person with certain medical conditions in
accordance with a certi¿ ed physician, contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to
“Customer Assistance (U.S.A.)” (page 8-2 ).
 


y When an air bag deploys, a loud inÀ ation 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.
 


y Should 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.
 


y This highly-visible label is displayed which warns against the use of a rear-facing child-
restraint system on the front passenger seat.


(Except Mexico)



(Mexico)



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2–47
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Supplemental Restraint System Components
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classi¿ cation System)



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2–48
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
(Without Front Passenger Occupant Classi¿ cation System)




Driver/Front passenger inÀ ators and air bags

Roll-over sensor * , crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)

Seat belt pretensioners (page 2-17 )

Front air bag sensors

Side crash sensors *

Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 4-20 )

Side and curtain inÀ ators and air bags *

Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-56 )

Front passenger seat weight sensors (page 2-56 )

Front passenger seat weight sensor control module

Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-60 )
N O T E
- are equipped only on models with the front passenger occupant classi¿ cation system.
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2–49
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
How the SRS Air Bags Work
Your Mazda is equipped with the following types of SRS air bags. SRS air bags are
designed to work together with the seat belts to help to reduce injuries during an accident.
The SRS air bags are designed to provide further protection for passengers in addition to the
seat belt functions. Be sure to wear seat belts properly.
Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
The front seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near
frontal collisions.
In addition, the pretensioners operate when a side collision (only on the side in which the
collision occurs) or a roll-over accident is detected. The pretensioners operate differently
depending on what types of air bags are equipped. For details on the seat belt pretensioner
operation, refer to the SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-53 ).
Driver Air Bag
The driver's air bag is mounted in the steering wheel.
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, the
driver's air bag inÀ ates quickly helping to reduce injury mainly to the driver's head or chest
caused by directly hitting the steering wheel.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-53 ).
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classi¿ cation System)
The driver's dual-stage air bag controls air bag inÀ ation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity, the driver's air bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, it deploys with more energy.


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2–50
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.
Front Passenger Air Bag
The front passenger air bag is mounted in the front passenger dashboard.
The inÀ ation mechanism for the front passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag, as
mentioned above.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-53 ).
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classi¿ cation System)
In addition, the front passenger air bag is designed to only deploy in accordance with the
total seated weight on the front passenger seat. For details, refer to the front passenger
occupant classi¿ cation system (page 2-56 ).


Side Air Bags *
The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the front seatbacks.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the
system inÀ ates the side air bag only on the side in which the vehicle was hit. The side
air bag inÀ ates quickly to reduce injury to the driver or front passenger's chest caused by
directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-53 ).
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