2017 MAZDA MX5 MIATA steering

1 –3 Pictorial Index
Interior Overview
Audio control switches .......................................................................................... page 5-55
Dashboard illumination knob ................................................................................ page 4-15
Instrument cluster .................................................................................................. page 4-11
Cruise control switches ....................................................................................... page 4-100
Push button start ...................................................................................................... page 4-4
Retractable fastback switch ................................................................................... page 3-45
Hazard warning flasher switch .............................................................................. page 4-57
Seat warmer switches .............................................................................................. page 2-5
Steering shift switches .......................................................................................... page 4-37
Lock release lever ................................................................................................. page 3-27
Trunk release button .............................................................................................. page 3-19
Hood release handle .............................................................................................. page 6-24
The equipment and installation position varies by vehicle
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 3 2016/08/11 20:28:19

2 –24 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include different types of air bags.
Please verify which kinds of air bags are equipped on your vehicle by locating the
“SRS AIRBAG” location indicators. These indicators are visible in the area where the air
bags are installed.
The air bags are installed in the following locations: 
The steering wheel hub (driver air bag) 
The passenger dashboard (passenger air bag) 
The outboard sides of the seatbacks (side air bags)
The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
in certain situations so seat belts are always important in the following ways:
Without seat belt usage, the air bags cannot provide adequate protection during an accident.
Seat belt usage is necessary to: 
Keep the occupant from being thrown into an inflating air bag. 
Reduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is n ot designed for air bag
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact. 
Reduce the possibility of injuries in frontal, near frontal or side collisions that are not
severe enough to activate the air bags. 
Reduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle. 
Reduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs durin g an accident because the
air bags provide no protection to these parts of the body. 
Hold the driver in a position which allows better control of the vehicle.
If your vehicle is also equipped with a passenger occupant classification system, refer
to the Passenger Occupant Classification System (page 2-37 ) for details.
If your vehicle is equipped with a passenger occupant classifica tion system, the passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specified time after the ignition is
switched ON.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 24 2016/08/11 20:28:24

2 –25 Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air BagsSmall children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every
state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-15 ).
Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow
the installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
Do not use a child-restraint system which employs an upper tether because there is no
appropriate means to anchor the tether.
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 that are at least
moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.
Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated
when using a child-restraint system (With Passenger Occupant Classification System):
Seating a child in a child-restraint system that is installed on the passenger seat with the
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light not illuminated is extremely dangerous. In
an accident, an air bag could inflate and cause serious injuries or even death to the child
seated in the child-restraint system. Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light is illuminated.
Refer to Occupant Classification System on page 2-37 .
Do not sit too close to the driver and passenger air bags:
Sitting too close to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing hands or feet on
them is extremely dangerous. The driver and 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 passenger should keep both feet on
the floor. Seat occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and always sit
upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
Do not sit too close to a door or lean against doors in vehicles with side air bags:
Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them is extremely
dangerous. A side air bag inflates with great force and speed directly out of the outboard
shoulder of the seat and expands 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 in the
seats. Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the driver-side window
while driving could block the side air bag and eliminate the advantages of supplemental
protection. Give the side air bags room to work by sitting in the center of the seat while
the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 25 2016/08/11 20:28:24

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.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 27 2016/08/11 20:28:25

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.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 31 2016/08/11 20:28:25

3 –1 *Some models.3 Before Driving Use of various features, including keys, doors, mirrors and windows.
Keys ...................................................... 3-2
Keys
............................................... 3-2
Keyless Entry System
.................... 3-3
Advanced Keyless Entry System ....... 3-8
Advanced Keyless Entry
System *
........................................... 3-8
Operational Range
......................... 3-9
Doors and Locks ................................ 3-10
Door Locks
................................... 3-10
Trunk Lid
..................................... 3-18
Inside Trunk Release Lever *
........ 3-20
Fuel and Emission ............................. 3-22
Fuel and Engine Exhaust
Precautions
................................... 3-22
Fuel-Filler Lid and Cap
................ 3-25
Steering Wheel ................................... 3-27
Steering Wheel
............................. 3-27
Mirrors ............................................... 3-28
Mirrors
......................................... 3-28
Windows ............................................. 3-31
Power Windows
........................... 3-31
Convertible Top (Soft Top) ............... 3-34
Convertible Top (Soft Top)
.......... 3-34 Convertible Top
(Retractable Fastback)
..................... 3-39
Convertible Top (Retractable
Fastback)
...................................... 3-39
Security System ................................. 3-47
Modification and Add-On
Equipment
.................................... 3-47
Immobilizer System
..................... 3-47
Theft-Deterrent System *
............... 3-49
Driving Tips ....................................... 3-51
Break-In Period
............................ 3-51
Saving Fuel and Protection of the
Environment
................................. 3-51
Hazardous Driving
....................... 3-52
Floor Mat
..................................... 3-52
Rocking the Vehicle
..................... 3-53
Winter Driving
............................. 3-53
Driving In Flooded Area
.............. 3-55
Overloading
.................................. 3-55
Driving on Uneven Road
............. 3-56
Towing ................................................ 3-57
Trailer Towing
.............................. 3-57
Recreational Towing
.................... 3-57
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 1 2016/08/11 20:28:27

3 –27 Before Driving
Steering Wheel
Steering WheelWARNING Never adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving:
Adjusting the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving is dangerous.
Moving it can very easily cause the
driver to abruptly turn to the left or
right. This can lead to loss of control or
an accident.
Steering Wheel AdjustmentTo change the angle of the steering wheel:
1. Stop the vehicle, and then pull down
the lock release lever under the steering
column.

Lock release le ve r
2. Tilt the steering wheel to the desired
positions, then push the lever up to lock
the column.
3. Attempt to push the steering wheel
up and down to make sure it's locked
before driving.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 27 2016/08/11 20:28:33

3 –51 Before Driving
Driving Tips
Break-In Period No special break-in is necessary, but a
few precautions in the first 1,000 km
(600 miles) may add to the performance,
economy, and life of the vehicle. 
Do not race the engine. 
Do not maintain one constant speed,
either slow or fast, for a long period of
time. 
Do not drive constantly at full-throttle or
high engine rpm for extended periods of
time. 
Avoid unnecessary hard stops. 
Avoid full-throttle starts.
Saving Fuel and
Protection of the
Environment How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save fuel and
reduce CO2. 
Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, begin driving. 
Avoid fast starts. 
Drive at lower speeds. 
Anticipate when to apply the brakes
(avoid sudden braking). 
Follow the maintenance schedule
(page 6-4 ) and have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer perform inspections and
servicing. 
Use the air conditioner only when
necessary. 
Slow down on rough roads. 
Keep the tires properly inflated. 
Do not carry unnecessary weight. 
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal
while driving. 
Keep the wheels in correct alignment. 
Keep windows closed at high speeds. 
Slow down when driving in crosswinds
and headwinds.
WARNING Never stop the engine when going down
a hill:
Stopping the engine when going
down a hill is dangerous. This causes
the loss of power steering and power
brake control, and may cause damage
to the drivetrain. Any loss of steering
or braking control could cause an
accident.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 51 2016/08/11 20:28:38