2018 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK seats

When transporting cargo, do not allow the
cargo to exceed the height of the
seatback(s).
Transporting cargo stacked higher than the
seatback(s) 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 seatback(s)
CAUTION
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. Lower or remove the head restraint
on the rear outboard seat if necessary.
(4–Door)
1.(Split-folding type seat)
Open the trunk lid and pull the lever of
the seatback you want to fold down.
(One-piece folding type seat)
Open the trunk lid and pull the lever of
the seatback.

*1: With split-folding
type seat only *1
2. Open a rear door and fold the rear seat
forward.
(5–Door)
Press the push knob to fold down the
seatback.

To return the seatback to its upright
position:
WA R N I N G
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-8
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

When returning a seatback to its upright
position, make sure that it is firmly locked
and the red indication is not visible (5–
Door).
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.

Locked position
Unlocked position Red indication
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.
(4–Door)

Seat belt guides
(5–Door)

Red indication
Seat belt guide
2. Press the seatback rearward and lock it in place. After returning the seatback
to its upright posit ion, make sure it is
securely locked.
▼ Armrest*
The rear armrest in the center of the rear
seatback can be used (no occupant in the
center seat) or placed upright.

WA R N I N G
Never put your hands and fingers around
the moving parts of the seat and armrest:
Putting your hands and fingers around the
moving parts of the seat and armrest is
dangerous as they
could get injured.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
*Some models.2-9
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

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.
WA R N I N G
Always drive with the head restraints
installed when seats are being used and
make sure they are properly adjusted:
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
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.
Adjust the head restra int so that the center
is even with the top of the passenger's
ears.

Front outboard seat

Rear outboard seat

Rear center seat

Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-10
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

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.
WA R N I N G
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
2-11
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

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/sh oulder belts out of the way when
not in use.
The driver's seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint sy stems 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 b elt retractors operate in two
modes: emergency locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode.
While we recommend you put all chi ldren in the rear seats, if you must use the front
passenger seat for a child, slide the front passenger seat as f ar back as possible and make
sure any child-restraint sy stem is secured properly.

(Mexico)
All the seats have lap/shoulder belts. These belts have retract ors 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.
WA R N I N G
Always wear your seat belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained:
Not wearing a seat belt is extremely dangerou s. During a collision, occupants not wearing
seat belts could hit someone or things inside th e 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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-12
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

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 specific requ irements regarding the safety
of children riding in your vehicle.

Whatever child-restraint system you consider, please pick the a ppropriate 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-r estraint 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 confirm 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 le ast preferred seat for other
child-restraint systems.

(With Front Passenger Occupa nt Classification System)
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the fr ont passenger air bag, the
front passenger occupant classification 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 passenge r 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 sy stem, 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-rest raint 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 classification sensor" (page 2-61).

Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
2-20
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat is dangerous under
certain conditions (With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System):
Your vehicle is equipped with front passenger occupant classification sensor. Even with the
front passenger occupant classification 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.
 The front passenger air bag deactivation indicato r light does not illuminate when seating a
child in the child-restraint system.
 Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint system.
 A rear passenger or luggage pushing or pulling 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.
The designated positions with seat belts on th e rear seats are the safest places for children.
Always use seat belts and child restraints.
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 inflation from a side or curtain air bag could cause serious injury or death to an out of
position child. Furthermore, leaning over or ag ainst 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 ou t of the front seat, the rear seat is always a
better location for children. Take special care no t to allow a child to lean over or against the
side window, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
2-23
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21

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.
NOTE
Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower an chors 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 "U sing LATCH Lower Anchor" (page 2-40).
Essential Safety Equipment
Child-Restraint
2-24
Mazda3_8GE4-EA-17F_Edition1 2017-4-7 11:59:21