2018 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 Owners Manual (in English)

Seat Belt Warning Systems
If it detects that the occupant seat belt is
unfastened, the warning light or beep
alerts the occupant.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-26.
Refer to Seat Belt Warning Beep on page
7-49.
Seat Belt Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems
For optimum protectio n, the driver and
passenger seat belts are equipped with
pretensioner and load limiting systems.
For both these systems to work properly
you must wear the seat belt properly.

Pretensioners:
When a collision is detected, the
pretensioners deploy simultaneously with
the air bags.
For deployment details, refer to the SRS
Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-
37).
The seat belt retractors remove slack
quickly as the air bags are expanding. Any
time the air bags and seat belt
pretensioners have fired they must be
replaced.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-26.
Refer to Air Bag/Sea t Belt Pretensioner
System Warning Beep on page 7-49.
(With Passenger Occupant
Classification System)
In addition, the pretensioner system for the
passenger, like the front and side
passenger air bag, is designed to only
deploy when the passenger occupant
classification sensor detects a passenger
sitting on the passenger's seat.
For details, refer to the passenger occupant
classification sensor (page 2-40).

Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-11
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

Load limiter:
The load limiting system releases belt
webbing in a controlled manner to reduce
belt force on the occupant's chest. While
the most severe load on a seat belt occurs
in frontal collisions, the load lim iter has an
automatic mechanical function and can
activate in any accident mode with
sufficient occupant movement.
Even if the pretensioners have not fired,
the load limiting func tion must be checked
by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
WA R N I N G
Wear seat belts only as recommended in
this owner's manual:
Incorrect positioning of the driver and
passenger seat belts is dangerous. Without
proper positioning, the pretensioner and
load limiting systems cannot provide
adequate protection in an accident and
this could result in serious injury. For more
details about wearing seat belts, refer to
"Fastening the seat belts" (page 2-10).
Have your seat belts changed immediately
if the pretensioner or load limiter has been
expended:
Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
immediately inspect the seat belt
pretensioners and air bags after any
collision. Like the air bags, the seat belt
pretensioners and load limiters will only
function once and must be replaced after
any collision that caused them to deploy. A
seat belt with an expended pretensioner or
load limiter is still better than wearing no
seat belt at all; howe ver, if the seat belt
pretensioners and load limiters are not
replaced, the risk of injury in a collision will
increase.
Do not modify the components or wiring,
or use electronic testing devices on the
pretensioner system:
Modifying the components or wiring of the
pretensioner system, including the use of
electronic testing devices is dangerous. You
could accidentally activate it or make it
inoperable which would prevent it from
activating in an accident. The occupants or
repairers could be seriously injured.
Properly dispose of the pretensioner
system:
Improper disposal of the pretensioner
system or a vehicle with non-deactivated
pretensioners is dangerous. Unless all
safety procedures are followed, injury could
result. Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
safely dispose of the pretensioner system or
scrap a pretensioner system equipped
vehicle.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-12
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

NOTE
The pretensioner system may not
operate depending on the type of the
collision. For details, refer to the SRS
Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-
37).
Some smoke (non-toxic gas) will be
released when the air bags and
pretensioners deploy. This does not
indicate a fire. This gas normally has no
effect on occupants, however, those with
sensitive skin may experience light skin
irritation. If residue from the
deployment of the air bags or the
pretensioner system gets on the skin or
in the eyes, wash it off as soon as
possible.
Seat Belt Extender
If your seat belt is not long enough, even
when fully extended, a seat belt extender
may be available to you at no charge from
your Authorized Mazda Dealer.
This extender will be only for you and for
the particular vehicle and seat. Even if it
plugs into other seat belts, it may not hold
in the critical moment of a crash.
When ordering an extender, only order one
that provides the necessary additional
length to fasten the seat belt properly.
Please contact your Authorized Mazda
Dealer for more information.
WA R N I N G
Do not use a seat belt extender unless it is
necessary:
Using a seat belt extender when not
necessary is dangerous. The seat belt will
be too long and not fit properly. In an
accident, the seat belt will not provide
adequate protection and you could be
seriously injured. Only use the extender
when it is required to fasten the seat belt
properly.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-13
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

Do not use an improper extender:
Using a seat belt extender that is for
another person or a different vehicle or seat
is dangerous. The seat belt will not provide
adequate protection and the user could be
seriously injured in an accident. Only use
the extender provided for you and for the
particular vehicle and seat. NEVER use the
extender in a different vehicle or seat. If you
sell your Mazda, do not leave your seat belt
extender in the vehicle. It could be used
accidentally by the new owner of the
vehicle. After removing the seat belt
extender, discard it. Never use the seat belt
extender in any other vehicle you may own
in the future.
Do not use an extender that is too long:
Using an extender that is too long is
dangerous. The seat belt will not fit
properly. In an accide nt, the seat belt will
not provide adequate protection and you
could be seriously injured. Do not use the
extender or choose one shorter in length if
the distance between the extender's buckle
and the center of the user's body is less
than 15 cm (6 in).Do not leave a seat belt extender
connected to the buckle:
Leaving a seat belt extender connected to
the buckle without using the seat belt is
dangerous. When the seat belt extender is
connected to the driver's seat belt buckle
(or passenger's seat belt buckle), the SRS
driver's (or passenger's) air bag system will
determine that the driver (or passenger) is
wearing the seat belt even if the driver (or
passenger) is not wearing it. This condition
could cause the driver's (or passenger's) air
bag to not activate correctly and result in
death or serious injury in the event of
collision. Always wear the seat belt with the
seat belt extender.
Do not use the seat belt extender when
installing a child-restraint system on the
passenger seat:
Using a seat belt extender to fasten a
child-restraint system on any seat is
dangerous. Always follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
installation instructions and never use a
seat belt extender.
NOTE
When not in use, remove the seat belt
extender and store it in the vehicle. If the
seat belt extender is left connected, the
seat belt extender might get damaged as it
will not retract with the rest of the seat belt
and can easily fall out of the door when
not in use and be damaged. In addition,
the seat belt warning light will not
illuminate and function properly.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-14
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

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 pro vincial laws for specific requirements 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-restraint systems should use sea t belts, both lap and
shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses the neck or face, move t he child closer to the center of
the vehicle.

A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER be used on the passenger seat with the
air bag system activated.

(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the
passenger occupant classification sensor work as a part of the supplemental restraint system.
This system deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat belt
pretensioner system when the passenger air bag deactivation ind icator light illuminates.

When an infant or small child sits on the passenger seat, the s ystem shuts off the passenger
front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so m ake sure the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates.

For more details, refe r to "Passenger occupant classification s ensor" (page 2-40).

WA R N I N G
Use the correct size child-restraint system:
For effective protection in ve hicle accidents and sudden stop s, a child must be properly
restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending on age and size. If not, the
child could be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-15
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

Follow the manufacturer's instructions and always keep the child-restraint system buckled
down:
An unsecured child-restraint system is dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it could move
causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Make sure any child-restraint
system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or fasten it with a seat belt.
Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint system:
Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No matter
how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a sudden stop or collision
and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Even in a
moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag forces that could result in serious
injury or death to the child, or the child may be slammed into an adult, causing injury to both
child and adult.
Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated when
using a child-restraint 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 Passenger Occupant Classification System on page 2-40.
(Except Mexico)
Vehicles with a passenger air bag have the fo llowing warning label. The warning label is
displayed in compliance with regulations.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-16
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

(Mexico)
NEVER use a rearward facing child restraint on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front
of it, DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can occur.
Vehicles with a passenger air bag have the following warning label. The warning label
reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the passenger seat at any time.

Before installing child-restraint system on the passenger seat, move the passenger seat as far
back as possible:
In a collision, the force of a deploying air bag could cause serious injury or death to the child.
Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the passenger seat is dangerous under certain
conditions (With Passenger Occupant Classification System):
Your vehicle is equipped with passenger occupant classification sensor. Even with the
passenger occupant classification sensor, if you must use the passenger seat to seat a child,
using a child-restraint system on the passenger seat under the following conditions increases
the danger of the passenger air bag deploying and could result in serious injury or death to
the child.
 The passenger air bag deactivation indicator ligh t 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.
 The seat is washed.
 Liquids are spilled on the seat.
 The passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items placed behind
it.
 Luggage or other items are placed between the passenger seat and driver seat.
 An electric device is put on the passenger's seat.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-17
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27

An additional electrical device , such as a seat warmer is installed to the surface of the
passenger seat.
Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over or against the side window of a vehicle with side
air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over or against the side window, the area of the
passenger seat from which the side air bags depl oy, even if a child-restraint system is used.
The impact of inflation from a side air bag co uld cause serious injury or death to an out of
position child. Furthermore, leaning over or ag ainst the door could block the side air bags and
eliminate the advantages of su pplemental protection. Because the side air bag deploys from
the outboard shoulder of the seat, do not allow the child to lean over or against the side
window, even if the child is seated in a child-restraint system.
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.
Always use a child-restraint system designed for use without a tether or the LATCH lower
anchor:
Using a child-restraint system that requires a tether or the LATCH lower anchor is dangerous.
Your Mazda does not have a child-restraint tether or the LATCH lower anchor. The
child-restraint system cannot be properly secured . In a collision, it could move and injure
other occupants as well as result in serious injuries or death to the child.
CAUTION
A seat belt or child-restraint system can beco me 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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-18
MX-5_8GF7-EA-17J_Edition2 2017-10-31 14:07:27