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How the SRS Air Bags Work
Your 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.
▼ Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
The front seat belt pretensioner
s are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near
frontal collisions.
In addition, the pretensioners operate when a side collision or a roll-over accident is
detected. The pretensioners operate differently depending on what types of air bags are
equipped. For more details about seat belt pret ensioner operation, refer to the SRS Air Bag
Deployment Criteria (page 2-81).
▼ Driver Air Bag
The 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 mainly 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 2-81).
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
The driver's dual-stage air bag controls air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity, the driver's ai r bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, it de ploys with more energy.
▼Front Passenger Air Bag
The front passenger air bag is mounted in the front passenger dashboard.
The inflation mechanism for the front passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag.
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SRS Air Bags
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For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-81).
(With Front Passenger Occupa nt Classification System)
In addition, the front passenger air bag is de signed to only deploy when the front passenger
occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the front passenger's seat. For
details, refer to the front passenger occupant classification system (page 2-84).
▼ Side Air Bags
The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the front seatbacks.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the
system inflates the side air bag only on the side in which the vehicle was hit. The side air
bag inflates quickly to reduce
injury to the driver or front passenger's chest caused by
directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-81).
(With Front Passenger Occupa nt Classification System)
In addition, the front passenger side air bag is designed to only deploy when the front
passenger occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the front passenger's
seat. For details, refer to the front passenger occupant classification system (page 2-84).
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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▼Curtain Air Bags
The curtain air bags are mounted in the front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge
along both sides.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the
curtain air bag inflates quickly and helps to
reduce injury mainly to the rear outboard
passenger's head caused by directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-81).
In a side impact:
Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle will cause the curtain air bag on that
side only to inflate.
Only one side curtain air bag will deploy on the
side of the vehicle that receives the force of an
impact.
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In a roll-over:
In response to a vehicle roll-over, both curtain air bags inflate.
Both curtain air bags will deploy after
the roll-over accident is detected.
▼ Warning Light/Beep
A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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Refer to Contact Authorized Mazda Dealer and Have Vehicle Inspected on page 7-31.
Refer to Warning Sound is Activated on page 7-47.
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SRS Air Bags
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SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria
This chart indicates the applicable SRS equipment that will deploy depending on the type of
collision.
(The illustrations are the representative cases of collisions.)
SRS equip-ment Types of collision
A severe frontal/n ear frontal colli-
sion A severe side colli-
sion
*2A roll-over/nearroll-over*3A rear collision
Front seat
belt preten- sioner X*1X*1X*1
No air bag and
front seat belt pre-
tensioner will be
activated in a rear
collision.
Driver air
bag X
Front pas- senger air bag X
*1
Side air bag
X*1 (impact side
only)
Curtain air bag X (impact side on-
ly) X (both sides)
X: The SRS air bag equipment is designed to deploy in a collision.*1
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
The front passenger front and side air bags and the seat belt pretensioner are designed to deploy when the front
passenger occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the front passenger's seat.
*2 In a side collision, the seat belt pretensioners and the side/curtain air bags deploy.*3(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In a roll-over accident, the seat belt pretensioners and the curtain air bags deploy.
NOTE
In a frontal offset collision, the equipped air bags and pretensioners may all deploy
depending on the direction, angle, and rate of impact.
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SRS Air Bags
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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 front/near front collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples of front/near front collisions 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
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SRS Air Bags
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Limitations to side collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples 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 Occupant 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 pretensioners and curtain air bags may not
deploy.
Pitch end over end
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SRS Air Bags
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Front Passenger Occupant Classification System*
First, please read "Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions" (page 2-69) carefully.
▼Front Passenger Occupant
Classification Sensor
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification sensor as a part of
the supplemental restraint system. This sensor is equipped in the front passenger's seat
cushion. This sensor measures the electrostatic capacity of the front passenger's seat. The
SAS unit is designed to prevent the front pass enger front and side air bags and seat belt
pretensioner system from deploying if the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light turns on.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by de ployment 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 deactivation indicator light turns on.
Refer to the following table for the front pa ssenger air bag deactivation indicator light
illumination conditions.
This system shuts off the front passenger front and side air bags 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 flashes 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 seat belt pretensioner system
will not deploy.
Front passenger air bag de activation indicator light
This indicator light turns on to remind you that the front passenger front and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner wi ll not deploy during a collision.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-84*Some models.
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