2–23
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Child-Restraint Precautions
Mazda strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for children small enough to use \
them.
You are required by law to use a child-restraint system for children in the U.S. and Canada.
Check your local and state or provincial laws for specific requirements regarding the safety
of children riding in your vehicle.
Whatever child-restraint system you consider, please pick the appropriate one for the age
and size of the child, obey the law and follow the instructions that com\
e with the individual
child-restraint system.
A child who has outgrown child-restraint systems should sit in the rear a\
nd use seat belts,
both lap and shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses the neck or face, move the child closer
to the center of the vehicle in the outboard seats, and towards the buck\
le on the right if the
child is seated on the center seat.
Statistics confirm that the rear seat is the best place for all children up to 12 years of age,
and more so with a supplemental restraint system (air bags).
A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER be used on the front seat with the air
bag system activated. The front passenger's seat is also the least preferred seat for other
child-restraint systems.
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passen\
ger air bag, the
front passenger occupant classification sensor works as a part of the supplemental restraint
system. This system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and \
also the
front passenger seat belt pretensioner system when the front passenger a\
ir bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates.
When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, the syst\
em shuts off the front
passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so \
make sure the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.
Even if the front passenger air bag is shut off, Mazda strongly recommends that children be
properly restrained and child-restraint systems of all kinds are properl\
y secured on the rear
seats which are the best place for children.
For more details, refer to "Front passenger occupant classification sensor" (page 2-56).
Mazda6_8FH2-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 232016/07/07 13:44:13
2–25
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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.
(Except Mexico)
Vehicles with a front passenger air bag have the following warning label. The warning
label reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger
seat at any time.
(Mexico)
NEVER use a rearward facing child restraint on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in
front of it, DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can occur.
Vehicles with a front passenger air bag have the following warning label. The warning
label reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger
seat at any time.
Mazda6_8FH2-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 252016/07/07 13:44:14
2–26
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
Do not install a front-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger seat unless it
is unavoidable:In a collision, the force of a deploying air bag could cause serious injury or death to the
child. If installing a front-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger seat is
unavoidable, move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat is dangerous
under certain conditions (With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System):Your vehicle is equipped with front passenger occupant classification sensor. Even with
the front passenger occupant classification sensor, if you must use the front passenger
seat to seat a child, using a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat under the
following conditions increases the danger of the front passenger air bag deploying and
could result in serious injury or death to the child.
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when
seating a child in the child-restraint system.
Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
A rear passenger or luggage pushing or pulling down on the front passenger
seatback.
Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint. The seat is washed. Liquids are spilled on the seat. The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat. Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver seat. An electric device is put on the front passenger's seat. An additional electrical device, such as a seat warmer is installed to the surface of the
front passenger seat.
The designated positions with seat belts on the rear seats are the safest places for
children. Always use seat belts and child restraints.
Mazda6_8FH2-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 262016/07/07 13:44:14
2–33
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
NOTE
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.
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.
WARNING
Always move the front passenger seat
as far back as possible if installing a
front-facing child-restraint system on it
is unavoidable:
As your vehicle has front air bags and
doubly so because your vehicle has
side air bags, a front-facing child-
restraint system should be put on the
front passenger seat only when it is
unavoidable.
Even if the front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light
illuminates, always move the seat as
far back as possible, because the force
of a deploying air bag could cause
serious injury or death to the child. 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 in a moderate collision, 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.
Even though you may feel assured
that the front passenger air bag will
not deploy based on the fact that the
front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates, you should
not use a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the front seat.
Do not allow a child or anyone to lean
over or against the side window of a
vehicle with side and curtain air bags: It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean
over or against the side window, the
area of the front passenger seat, the
front and rear window pillars and the
roof edge along both sides from which
the side and curtain air bags deploy,
even if a child-restraint system is used.
The impact of inflation from a side or
curtain air bag could cause serious
injury or death to an out of position
child. Furthermore, leaning over or
against the front door could block the
side and curtain air bags and eliminate
the advantages of supplemental
protection. With the front air bag and
the additional side air bag that comes
out of the front seat, the rear seat is
always a better location for children.
Take special care not to allow a child to
lean over or against the side window,
even if the child is seated in a child-
restraint system.
Mazda6_8FH2-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 332016/07/07 13:44:16
2–35
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
NOTE
Inspect this function before each use of
the child-restraint system. You should
not be able to pull the shoulder belt
out of the retractor while the system is
in the automatic locking mode. When
you remove the child-restraint system,
be sure the belt fully retracts to return
the system to emergency locking mode
before occupants use the seat belts.
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully.
Depending on the type of child-restraint
system, it may not employ seat belts
which are in automatic locking mode.
7. Seat your child safely in the child-
restraint system and secure the child
according to the instructions from the
child-restraint system manufacturer.
8. Switch the ignition ON and make sure
the front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates after
installing a child-restraint system on
the front passenger seat.
If the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does not
illuminate, remove the child-restraint
system, switch the ignition to OFF, and
then re-install the child-restraint system
(page 2-56).
WARNING
Do not seat a child in a child-restraint
system on the front passenger seat if the
front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate: While it is always better to install any
child-restraint system on the rear seat,
it is imperative that a child-restraint
system ONLY be used on the front
passenger seat if the deactivation
indicator light illuminates when the
child is seated in the child-restraint
system (page 2-56). Seating a child
in a child-restraint system installed
on the front passenger seat with the
front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light not illuminated is
dangerous. If this indicator light does
not illuminate, this means that the
front passenger front and side air
bags, and seat belt pretensioner are
ready for deployment. If an accident
were to deploy an air bag, a child in
a child-restraint system sitting in the
front passenger seat could be seriously
injured or killed. If the indicator light
does not illuminate after seating a
child in a child-restraint system on
the front passenger seat, seat a child
in a child-restraint system on the rear
seat and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
Mazda6_8FH2-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 352016/07/07 13:44:16
2–37
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. Remove the head restraint.
Refer to Head Restraints on page
2-13.
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.
Always remove the head restraint and
install child-restraint system: Installing a child-restraint system
without removing the head restraint is
dangerous. The child-restraint system
cannot be installed correctly which
may result in death or injury to the
child in a collision.
Anchor bracket
Tether strap
Mazda6_8FH2-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 372016/07/07 13:44:16
2–41
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
If your vehicle is also equipped with a front passenger occupant classification system,
refer to the Front Passenger Occupant Classification System (page 2‑56) for details.
If your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification system, the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specified 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
inflate only in the first 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.
Mazda6_8FH2-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 412016/07/07 13:44:17
2–42
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 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. 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 inflate 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 inflation and injure the occupants.
Mazda6_8FH2-EA-16F_Edition2.indb 422016/07/07 13:44:17