2017 MAZDA MX5 MIATA warning

How to Use This Manual We want to help you get the most driving
pleasure from your vehicle. Your owner's
manual, when read from cover to cover,
can do that in many ways.
Illustrations complement the words of
the manual to best explain how to enjoy
your Mazda. By reading your manual, you
can find out about the features, important
safety information, and driving under
various road conditions.
The symbol below in this manual means
"Do not do this" or "Do not let this
happen".
Index: A good place to start is the Index,
an alphabetical listing of all information in
your manual.
You'll find several WARNINGs,
CAUTIONs, and NOTEs in the manual.
WARNING A WARNING indicates a situation in
which serious injury or death could
result if the warning is ignored.
CAUTION A CAUTION indicates a situation in
which bodily injury or damage to your
vehicle, or both, could result if the
caution is ignored. NOTE
A NOTE provides information and
sometimes suggests how to make better
use of your vehicle.
The following symbol, located on some
parts of the vehicle, indicates that this
manual contains information related to the
part.
Please refer to the manual for a detailed
explanation.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 4 2016/08/11 20:28:18

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 –1 * Some models.2 Essential Safety Equipment Important information about safety equipment, including seats, seat belt
system, child-restraint systems and SRS air bags.
Seats ..................................................................................................... 2-2
Seat Precautions
............................................................................ 2-2
Seat
................................................................................................ 2-4
Head Restraints
............................................................................. 2-6
Seat Belt Systems ................................................................................ 2-7
Seat Belt Precautions
.................................................................... 2-7
Seat Belt
...................................................................................... 2-10
Seat Belt Warning Systems
......................................................... 2-11
Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems
.................... 2-12
Seat Belt Extender
....................................................................... 2-13
Child Restraint ................................................................................. 2-15
Child-Restraint Precautions
........................................................ 2-15
Child-Restraint System Installation
............................................ 2-20
Installing Child-Restraint Systems
............................................. 2-21
SRS Air Bags .................................................................................... 2-24
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions
.................... 2-24
Supplemental Restraint System Components
............................. 2-29
How the SRS Air Bags Work
...................................................... 2-31
SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria
.............................................. 2-34
Limitations to SRS Air Bag
........................................................ 2-35
Passenger Occupant Classification System *
................................ 2-37
Constant Monitoring
................................................................... 2-42
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 1 2016/08/11 20:28:20

2 –2 Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Seat PrecautionsWARNINGMake sure the adjustable components of a seat are locked in place:
Adjustable seats and seatbacks that are not securely locked are dangerous. In a
sudden stop or collision, the seat or seatback could move, causing injury. Make sure the
adjustable components of the seat are locked in place by attempting to slide the seat
forward and backward and rocking the seatback.
Never allow children to adjust a seat:
Allowing children to adjust a seat is dangerous as it could result in serious injury if a
child's hands or feet become caught in the seat.
Do not drive with the seatback unlocked:
All of the seatbacks play an important role in your protection in a vehicle. Leaving the
seatback unlocked is dangerous as it can allow passengers to be ejected or thrown
around and baggage to strike occupants in a sudden stop or collision, resulting in severe
injury. After adjusting the seatback at any time, even when there are no other passengers,
rock the seatback to make sure it is locked in place.
Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is stopped:
Adjusting the driver's seat while the vehicle is moving is dangerous. The driver could lose
control of the vehicle and have an accident.
Do not modify or replace the seats:
Modifying or replacing the seats such as replacing the upholstery or loosening any
bolts is dangerous. The seats contain air bag components essential to the supplemental
restraint system. Such modifications could damage the supplemental restraint system
and result in serious injury. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer if there is any need to
remove or reinstall the seats.
Do not drive with damaged seats:
Driving with damaged seats, such as seat cushions torn or damaged down to the
urethane, is dangerous. A collision, even one not strong enough to inflate the air bags,
could damage the seats which contain essential air bag components. If there was a
subsequent collision, an air bag may not deploy which could lead to injuries. Always have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect the seats, seat belt pretensioners and air bags after
a collision.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 2 2016/08/11 20:28:20

2 –5 Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
* Some models. Seat Warmer *
The seats are electrically heated. The
ignition must be switched ON.
Press the seat warmer switch while the
ignition is switched ON to operate the seat
warmer. The indicator lights turn on to
indicate that the seat warmer is operating.
The mode changes as follows each time
the seat warmer switch is pressed.
LowMidHighOFF
WARNING Be careful when using the seat warmer:
The heat from the seat warmer may be
too hot for some people, as indicated
as follows, and could cause a low-
temperature burn. 
Infants, small children, elderly
people, and physically challenged
people 
People with delicate skin 
People who are excessively fatigued 
People who are intoxicated 
People who have taken sleep-
inducing medicine such as sleeping
pills or cold medicine Do not use the seat warmer with
anything having high moisture-
retention ability such as a blanket or
cushion on the seat:
The seat may be heated excessively
and cause a low-temperature burn.
Do not use the seat warmer even when
taking a short nap in the vehicle:
The seat may be heated excessively
and cause a low-temperature burn.
Do not place heavy objects with sharp
projections on the seat, or insert
needles or pins into it:
This could cause the seat to become
excessively heated and result in injury
from a minor burn.
CAUTION Do not use organic solvents to clean
the seat. It may damage the seat
surface and the heater.
NOTE 
If the ignition is switched off while the
seat warmer is operating (High, Mid or
Low) and then switched ON again, the
seat warmer will automatically operate
at the temperature set before switching
off the ignition. 
Use the seat warmer when the engine
is running. Leaving the seat warmer
on for long periods with the engine not
running could cause the battery power
to be depleted. 
The temperature of the seat warmer
cannot be adjusted beyond High, Mid
and Low because the seat warmer is
controlled by a thermostat.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 5 2016/08/11 20:28:21

2 –6 Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Head Restraints Non-Adjustable Head RestraintsYour vehicle is equipped with non-adjustable head restraints on the driver's and passenger's
seatbacks. The non-adjustable head restraints consist of a trimmed foam covering over the
upper structure of the seatbacks and are intended to help protect you and the passenger from
neck injury. Adjust the seatbacks to their upright, on-road positions so that the head restraint
is positioned as close as possible to the back of your head.
WARNINGMake sure the seatbacks are properly adjusted to their upright, on-road positions
before the vehicle is driven:
Driving with the seatbacks not adjusted properly is dangerous. With no support behind
your head, your neck could be seriously injured in a collision.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 6 2016/08/11 20:28:21

2 –7 Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Seat Belt PrecautionsSeat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden
stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and 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 passenger's seat lap/shoulder belt retractor operates in two modes: emergency
locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode. If you must use the
passenger seat for a child, slide the 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.
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 7 2016/08/11 20:28:21

2 –10 Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
Seat BeltWARNINGAlways wear the seat belt with it
correctly routed in its guide:
Wearing a seat belt without the seat
belt routed in its guide is dangerous
because the seat belt would not be
able to provide adequate protection
in an accident, which could result in
serious injury. Seat belt guide Fastening the Seat Belt Seat belt tongue
Seat belt buckle
Position the lap belt as low as possible,
not on the abdominal area, then adjust the
shoulder belt so that it fits snugly against
your body.
Keep low on
hip bone Take up slack
Too high
MX-5_8FR4-EA-16J_Edition1.indb 10 2016/08/11 20:28:22