2017 MAZDA MX5 MIATA Owners Manual

2 –27 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air BagsDo not modify a door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect a damaged door:
Modifying a door or leaving any damage unrepaired is dangerous. Each door has a side
crash sensor as a component of the supplemental restraint system. If holes are drilled in
a door, a door speaker is left removed, or a damaged door is left unrepaired, the sensor
could be adversely affected 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 air bags
and the 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 modifications
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 seats. It is important to protect the air bag
wiring and connections to assure that the bags do not accidentally deploy, and that the
passenger occupant classification system and the seats retain an undamaged air bag
connection.
Do not place luggage or other objects under the seats:
Placing luggage or other objects under the 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 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 afford 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 seats, front dashboard, the steering wheel,
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.
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2 –28 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags 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.
NOTE 
If it becomes necessary to have the components or wiring system for the supplementary
restraint system modified to accommodate a person with certain medical conditions in
accordance with a certified physician, contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to
“Customer Assistance (U.S.A.)” (page 8-2 ).
When an air bag deploys, a loud inflation 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. 
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. 
Vehicles with a passenger air bag have a warning label attached as shown in the
following.
(Except Mexico)
This warning label is displayed in compliance with regulations.
(Mexico)
This warning label reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the
passenger seat at any time.

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2 –29 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Supplemental Restraint System Components(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
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2 –30 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.(Without Passenger Occupant Classification System)
Driver/Passenger inflators and air bags
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Seat belt pretensioners (page 2-12 )
Front air bag sensors
Side crash sensors
Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 4-18 )
Side inflators and air bags
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light *
(page 2-37 )
Passenger occupant classification sensor *
(page 2-37 )
Passenger occupant classification module *
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2 –31 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
How the SRS Air Bags WorkYour 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.
Seat Belt PretensionersThe seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near frontal
collisions.
In addition, during a side collision, the pretensioner operates on the side in which the
collision occurs. The pretensioners operate differently depending on what types of air bags
are equipped. For more details about seat belt pretensioner ope ration, refer to the SRS Air
Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-34 ).
Driver Air BagThe 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 inflates quickly helping to reduce injury mainl y 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 2-34 ).
(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
The driver's dual-stage air bag controls air bag inflation in tw o 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 –32 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags Passenger Air BagThe passenger air bag is mounted in the passenger dashboard.
The inflation mechanism for the passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-34 ).
(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the passenger air bag is designed to only deploy when the passenger occupant
classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the passeng er's seat. For details, refer to
the passenger occupant classification system (page 2-37 ).
Side Air BagsThe side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the seatbacks.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the
system inflates the side air bag only on the side in which the v ehicle was hit. The side air
bag inflates quickly to reduce injury to the driver or passenger 's head and 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 2-34 ).
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2 –33 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the passenger side bag is designed to only deploy when the passenger occupant
classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the passeng er's seat. For details, refer to
the passenger occupant classification system (page 2-37 ).
Warning Light/BeepA system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-26 .
Refer to Warning Sound is Activated on page 7-48 .
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2 –34 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
SRS Air Bag Deployment CriteriaThis chart indicates the applicable SRS equipment that will dep loy depending on the type of
collision.
(The illustrations are the representative cases of collisions.) SRS
equipment Types of collision
A severe frontal/near frontal collision A severe side collision *2
A rear collision
Seat belt
pretensioner X *1
(both sides) X *1
(impact side only)
No air bag and seat belt
pretensioner will be
activated in a rear collision.Driver air
bag X
Passenger
air bag X *1
Side air bag X *1
(impact side only)
X : The SRS air bag equipment is designed to deploy in a collision.
*1 (Passenger Occupant Classification System)
The passenger front and side air bags and the seat belt pretensioner are designed to deploy when the passenger
occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on th e passenger's seat.
*2 In a side collision, the seat belt pretensioners and the side air bags deploy (only on the side in which the
collision occurs).
NOTE
In a frontal offset collision, the equipped air bags and pretensioners may all deploy
depending on the direction, angle, and rate of impact.
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