2–8
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
When transporting cargo, do not allow
the cargo to exceed the height of the
seatbacks.
Transporting cargo stacked higher
than the seatbacks is dangerous as
visibility to the rear and sides of the
vehicle is reduced which could interfere
with driving operations and lead to an
accident.
Lowering the seatbacks
CAUTION
¾ When folding the seatback forward,
always support the seatback with your
hand. If it is not supported by a hand,
fi ngers or the hand pressing the push
knob could be injured.
¾ Check the position of a front seat before
folding a rear seatback.
Depending on the position of a front
seat, it may not be possible to fold a rear
seatback all the way down because it
may hit the seatback of the front seat
which could scratch or damage the front
seat or its pocket. Remove the head
restraint on the rear outboard seat if
necessary.
1. Lower the head restraint all the way
down.
Refer to Head Restraints on page
2-10 .
2. Press the push knob to fold down the
seatback.
Push knob
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2–9
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
To return the seatback to its upright
position:
WARNING
When returning a seatback to its
upright position, make sure the 3-point
seat belt is not caught in the seatback
and the 3-point seat belt is not twisted.
If the seat belt is used while it is twisted
and caught in the seatback, the seat
belt cannot function at its full capacity,
which could cause serious injury or
death.
When returning a seatback to its
upright position, make sure that it is
fi rmly locked and the red indication is
not visible.
If the red indication is visible behind
the push knob, it means the seatback
is not locked. If the vehicle is driven
without the seatback locked, it could
fold down suddenly and cause an
accident.
Red indicationUnlocked positionLocked position
1. Make sure that the seat belt passes
through the seat belt guide correctly
and it is not twisted, then raise the
seatback while preventing the seat belt
from being caught in the seatback.
Seat belt guideRed indication
2. Press the seatback rearward and lock it
in place. After returning the seatback
to its upright position, make sure it is
securely locked.
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2–10
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Head Restraints
Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints on all outboard seats and the
rear center seat. The head restraints are
intended to help protect you and the
passengers from neck injury.
WARNING
Always drive with the head restraints
installed when seats are being used and
make sure they are properly adjusted.
In addition, always raise the head
restraints on all rear seat when they are
being used:
Driving with the head restraints
adjusted too low or removed is
dangerous. With no support behind
your head, your neck could be seriously
injured in a collision.
Height Adjustment
Adjust the head restraint so that the center
is even with the top of the passenger's ears.
To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the
desired position.
To lower the head restraint, press the stop-
catch release, then push the head restraint
down.
Front outboard seat
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2–11
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Rear outboard seat
Except Mexico
Mexico
Rear center seat
Removal/Installation
To remove the head restraint, pull it up
while pressing the stop-catch.
To install the head restraint, insert the legs
into the holes while pressing the stop-
catch.
WARNING
Always drive with the head restraints
installed when seats are being used and
make sure they are properly installed:
Driving with the head restraints not
installed is dangerous. With no support
behind your head, your neck could be
seriously injured in a collision.
After installing a head restraint, try
lifting it to make sure that it does not
pull out:
Driving with an unsecured head
restraint is dangerous as the
eff ectiveness of the head restraint will
be compromised which could cause it
to unexpectedly detach from the seat.
CAUTION
¾ When installing a head restraint, make
sure that it is installed correctly with
the front of the head restraint facing
forward. If the head restraint is installed
incorrectly, it could detach from the seat
during a collision and result in injury.
¾ The head restraints on each of the front
and rear seats are specialized to each
seat. Do not switch around the head
restraint positions. If a head restraint is
not installed to its correct seat position,
the eff ectiveness of the head restraint
during a collision will be compromised
which could cause injury.
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2–12
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Seat Belt Precautions
Seat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden
stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and all passengers always wear seat belts.
(Except Mexico)
All of the seat belt retractors are designed to keep the lap/shoulder belts out of the way when
not in use.
The driver's seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint systems and has only an
emergency locking mode. The driver may wear it comfortably, and it will lock during a
collision.
However, the front passenger's seat and all rear lap/shoulder belt retractors operate in
two modes: emergency locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking
mode. While we recommend you put all children in the rear seats, if you must use the front
passenger seat for a child, slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible and make
sure any child-restraint system is secured properly.
(Mexico)
All the seats have lap/shoulder belts. These belts have retractors with inertia locks that keep
them out of the way when not in use. The locks allow the belts to remain comfortable on
users, but they will lock in position during a collision.
WARNING
Always wear your seat belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained:
Not wearing a seat belt is extremely dangerous. During a collision, occupants not
wearing seat belts could hit someone or things inside the vehicle or even be thrown out of
the vehicle. They could be seriously injured or even killed. In the same collision, occupants
wearing seat belts would be much safer.
Do not wear twisted seat belts:
Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt is not available to
absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt, which could cause
serious injury or death. So, if your seat belt is twisted, you must straighten the seat belt to
remove any twists and to allow the full width of the belt to be used.
Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used
in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could
be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more
than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly
restrained.
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2–20
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 speci ¿ c 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 come with the individual
child-restraint system.
A child who has outgrown child-restraint systems should sit in the rear and 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 buckle on the right if the
child is seated on the center seat.
Statistics con ¿ rm 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 Classi ¿ cation System)
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the
front passenger occupant classi ¿ cation 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 air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates.
When an infant or small child sits on the front passenger seat, the system 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 properly secured on the rear
seats which are the best place for children.
For more details, refer to "Front passenger occupant classi ¿ cation sensor" (page 2-55 ).
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2–23
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 Classifi cation System) :
Your vehicle is equipped with front passenger occupant classifi cation sensor. Even with
the front passenger occupant classifi cation 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.
¾ The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate when
seating a child in the child-restraint system.
¾ Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint
system.
¾ A rear passenger or luggage pushing or pulling down on the front passenger
seatback.
¾ Luggage or other items are placed on the seatback or hung on the head restraint.
¾ The seat is washed.
¾ Liquids are spilled on the seat.
¾ The front passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items
placed behind it.
¾ The front passenger seatback contacts the rear seat.
¾ Luggage or other items are placed between the front passenger seat and driver seat.
¾ An electric device is put on the front passenger's seat.
¾ 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.
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2–24
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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 infl ation 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.
Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time:
Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used
in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could
be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more
than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly
restrained.
CAUTION
A seat belt or child-restraint system can become very hot in a closed vehicle during warm
weather. To avoid burning yourself or a child, check them before you or your child touches
them.
N O T E
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed
LATCH child-restraint systems in the rear seats. When using these anchors to secure a
child-restraint system, refer to "Using LATCH Lower Anchor" (page 2-34 ).
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