Page 73 of 624
Limitations to SRS Air Bag
In severe collisions such as those described previously in "SRS Air Bag Deployment
Criteria", the applicable SRS air bag equipment will deploy. However, in some accidents,
the equipment may not deploy depending on the type of collision and its severity.
Limitations to fron t/near front collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples of front/near front co llisions that may not be
detected as severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment.
Impacts involving trees or poles Frontal offset impact to the vehicle
Rear-ending or running under a truck's tail gate
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-59
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1
2017-4-7 11:59:21
Page 74 of 624
Limitations to side collision detection:
The following illustrations are e xamples of side collisions that may not be detected as
severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment.
Side impacts involving trees or poles Side impacts with two-wheeled vehicles
Roll-over (Without Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
(With Front Passenger Occupa
nt Classification System)
Limitations to roll-over detection:
The following illustration is an example of an accident that may not be detected as a
roll-over accident. Therefore, the front seat belt pretensioner s and curtain air bags may not
deploy.
Pitch end over end
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-60
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21
Page 75 of 624

Front Passenger Occupant Classification System*
First, please read "Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions" (page 2-44) carefully.
▼Front Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classi
fication sensor as a part of
the supplemental restraint system. This sensor is equipped in t he front passenger's seat
cushion. This sensor measures th e electrostatic capacity of the front passenger's seat. The
SAS unit is designed to prevent the front passenger front and s ide air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system from deployi ng if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light turns on.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the front passenger air bag, the
system deactivates the front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt
pretensioner system when the front passenger air bag deactivati on indicator light turns on.
Refer to the following table for the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
illumination conditions.
This system shuts off the front passenger front and side air ba gs and seat belt pretensioner
system, so make sure the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on
according to the following table.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light f lashes and the front passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible malfunction. If
this happens, the front passenger front and side air bags and s eat belt pretensioner system
will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
This indicator light turns on to r emind you that the front passenger front and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.
If the front passenger occupant classification sensor is normal, the indicator light turns on
when the ignition is switched ON. The light turns off after a f ew seconds. Then, the
indicator light turns on or is off under the following conditio ns:
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
*Some models.2-61
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21
Page 76 of 624

Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart
Condition detected by the front
passenger occupant classifica- tion system Front passenger air
bag deactivation indi- cator light Front passenger front
and side air bags Front passenger seat
belt pretensioner sys- tem
Empty (Not occupied) On Deactivated Deactivated
A child less than 1 year old is
seated in a child-restraint system On Deactivated Deactivated
Child
*1On or off Deactivated or ready Deactivated or ready
Adult
*2Off Ready Ready
*1 The occupant classification sens or may not detect a child seated on the seat, in a child-restraint system, or a
junior seat depending on the ch ild's physical size and seated posture.
*2 If a smaller adult sits on the front passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child
depending on the person's physique.
The curtain air bag is ready for inflating regardless of what the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart indicates.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light doe s not turn on when the ignition
is switched ON and does not turn on as indicated in the front p assenger air bag deactivation
indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an occupan t to sit in the front passenger
seat and consult an Authorized M azda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work
properly in an accident.
WA R N I N G
Do not allow an occupant in the front passenger's seat to sit with a posture which makes it
difficult for the front passenger occupant classification sensor to detect the occupant
correctly:
Sitting in the front passenger's seat with a posture which makes it difficult for the front
passenger occupant classification sensor to detect the occupant correctly is dangerous. If the
front passenger occupant classification sensor cann ot detect the occupant sitting on the front
passenger's seat correctly, the front passenger front and side air bags and pretensioner system
may not operate (non-deploy) or they may oper ate (deploy) accidentally. The front passenger
will not have the supplementary protection of the air bags or the accidental operation
(deployment) of the air bags could result in serious injury or death.
Under the following conditions, the front passe nger occupant classification sensor cannot
detect a passenger sitting on the front pa ssenger's seat correctly and the deployment/
non-deployment of the air bags cannot be controlled as indicated in the front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart. For example:
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-62
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21
Page 77 of 624

A front passenger is seated as shown in the following
figure:
A rear passenger pushes up on the front passenger seat with their feet.
Luggage or other items placed under the front passenger seat or between the front
passenger seat and driver seat that pu sh up the front passenger seat bottom.
An object, such as a seat cushion, is put on the front passenger's seat or between the
passenger's back and the seatback.
A seat cover is put on the front passenger's seat.
Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint system.
A rear passenger or luggage push or pull 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.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-63
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21
Page 78 of 624

The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner systems will deactivate
if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.
CAUTION
To assure proper deployment of the front air bag and to prevent damage to the sensor in
the front seat cushion:
Do not place sharp objects on the front seat cushion or leave heavy luggage on them.
Do not spill any liquids on the front seats or under the front seats.
To allow the sensors to function pr operly, always perform the following:
Adjust the front seats as far back as possibl e and always sit upright against the seatbacks
with seat belts worn properly.
If you place your child on the front passenger seat, secure the child-restraint system
properly and slide the fron t passenger seat as far back as possible (page 2-33).
NOTE
The system requires about 10 seconds to alte rnate between turning the front passenger
front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicato r light may turn on repeatedly if luggage
or other items are put on the front passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's
interior changes suddenly.
The front passenger air bag deactivation indicato r light may turn on for 10 seconds if the
electrostatic capacity on the front passenger seat changes.
The air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning light might turn on if the front
passenger seat receives a severe impact.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on after installing
a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat, first, re-install your child-restraint
system according to the procedure in this owner's manual. Then, if the front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light still does not tu rn on, install the child-restraint system on
the rear seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
If the front passenger air bag deactivation i ndicator light turns on when an occupant is
seated directly in the front passenger seat, have the passenger re-adjust their posture by
sitting with their feet on the floor, and th en re-fastening the seat belt. If the front
passenger air bag deactivation i ndicator light remains turned on, move the passenger to
the rear seat. If sitting in the rear seat is no t possible, slide the front passenger seat as far
back as possible. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-64
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21
Page 79 of 624
Constant Monitoring
The following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagnostic system:
Front air bag sensors
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Side crash sensors
Air bag modules
Front seat belt pretensioners
Air bag/Front seat belt pretensioner system warning light
Related wiring
(With Front Passenger Occupa nt Classification System)
Front passenger occupant classification sensor
Front passenger occupant classification module
Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
The diagnostic module continuously monitors the system's readin ess. This begins when the
ignition is switched ON and contin ues while the vehicle is being driven.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-65
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21
Page 80 of 624
MEMO
2-66
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition12017-4-7 11:59:21