2021 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK warning lights

The BSM will not operate under the
following circumstances.
The vehicle speed falls below
about 10 km/h (6.3 mph) even
though the i-ACTIVSENSE warning
indication/warning light is turned
off.
The shift lever (manual
transmission)/selector lever
(automatic transmission) is shifted
to reverse (R) and the vehicle is
reversing.
The turning radius is small (making
a sharp turn, turning at
intersections).
In the following cases, the
i-ACTIVSENSE warning indication/
warning light turns on and operation
of the system is stopped. If the
i-ACTIVSENSE warning indication/
warning light remains illuminated,
have the vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
Some problem with the system
including the BSM warning
indicator lights is detected.
A large deviation in the installation
position of a rear side radar sensor
on the vehicle has occurred.
There is a large accumulation of
snow or ice on the rear bumper
near a rear side radar sensor.
Remove any snow, ice or mud on
the rear bumper.
Driving on snow-covered roads for
long periods.
The temperature near the rear side
radar sensor becomes extremely
hot due to driving for long periods
on slopes during the summer.
The battery voltage has decreased.Under the following conditions, the
rear side radar sensor cannot detect
target objects or it may be di fficult to
detect them.
The rear bumper around the rear
side radar sensor is deformed.
Radio wave interference from a
radar sensor equipped on a nearby
vehicle.
The approaching vehicle is any of
the following shapes.
a) The size of the vehicle body is
extremely small.
b) The vehicle height is extremely low or high.
c) A special type of vehicle with a complex shape.
A vehicle is in the detection area at
the rear in an adjacent driving lane
but it does not approach. The BSM
determines the condition based on
radar detection data.
A vehicle is traveling alongside
your vehicle at nearly the same
speed for an extended period of
time.
Vehicles approaching in the
opposite direction.
A vehicle in an adjacent driving
lane is attempting to pass your
vehicle.
A vehicle is in an adjacent lane on
a road with extremely wide driving
lanes. The detection area of the
rear side radar sensor is set at the
road width of expressways.
In the following case, the flashing of
the BSM warning indicator light, and
the activation of the warning sound
and the warning screen indicator
display may not occur or they may be
delayed.
A vehicle makes a lane change
from a driving lane two lanes over
to an adjacent lane.
Driving on steep slopes.Crossing the summit of a hill or
mountain pass.
When Driving
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When there is a difference in the
height between your driving lane
and the adjacent lane.
Directly after the BSM system
becomes operable by changing the
setting.
If the road width is extremely
narrow, vehicles two lanes over may
be detected. The detection area of
the rear side radar sensor is set
according to the road width of
expressways.
The BSM warning indicator light may
turn on and the vehicle detection
screen may be displayed in the
display in reaction to stationary
objects (guardrails, tunnels,
sidewalls, and parked vehicles) on
the road or the roadside.
1. Objects such as guardrails and concrete walls running alongside
the vehicle.

1. Places where the width between guardrails or walls on each side of
the vehicle narrows.

1. The walls at the entrance and exits of tunnels, turnouts.

A BSM warning indicator light may
fl ash or the warning beep may be
activated several times when making
a turn at a city intersection.
Tu r n off the BSM while pulling a
trailer or while an accessory such as a
bicycle carrier is installed to the rear
of the vehicle. Otherwise, the radar’s
radio waves will be blocked causing
the system to not operate normally.
In the following cases, it may be
diffi cult to view the
illumination/
fl ashing of the BSM warning
indicator lights equipped on the
door mirrors.
Snow or ice is adhering to the door
mirrors.
The front door glass is fogged or
covered in snow, frost or dirt.
When Driving
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The rear side radar sensor of the BSM
may be regulated under the radio
wave related laws of the country
where the vehicle is driven. If this
system is used abroad, it may be
necessary to turn off the system.
Refer to Rear Side Radar Sensor on
page 4-211.
The system switches to the Rear
Cross Tra ffic Alert (RCTA) function
when the shift lever (manual
transmission) or the selector lever
(automatic transmission) is shifted to
the reverse (R) position.
Refer to Rear Cross Tra ffic Alert
(RCTA) on page 4-116.
▼ Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Warning Indicator Lights/Display
Indicator/Blind Spot Monitoring
(BSM) Warning Beep
The BSM system noti
fies the driver of
the presence of vehicles in adjacent
lanes or at the rear of the vehicle using
the BSM warning indicator light, the
warning sound and the display
indicator while the systems are
operational.
BSM warning indicator lights
The BSM warning indicator lights are
equipped on the left and right door
mirrors. The warning indicator lights
turn on when a vehicle approaching
from the rear in an adjacent lane is
detected.
When the ignition is switched ON, the
warning indicator light turns on
momentarily and then turns o ff after a
few seconds.
Function for canceling illumination
dimmer
If the BSM warning indicator lights turn
on when the parking lights are turned
on, the brightness of the BSM warning
indicator lights is dimmed.
If the BSM warning indicator lights are
di fficult to see due to glare from
surrounding brightness when traveling
on snow-covered roads or under foggy
conditions, press the dimmer
cancellation button to cancel the
dimmer and increase the brightness of
BSM warning indicator lights when
they turn on.
Refer to Dashboard Illumination on
page 4-18.
Display indicator
The detected approaching vehicle and
warning are displayed in the
multi-information display and active
driving display (vehicles with active
driving display).
Multi-information Display
When Driving
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The front side radar sensor of the
FCTA may be regulated under the
radio wave related laws of the
country where the vehicle is driven.
If this system is used abroad, it may
be necessary to turn off the system.
Refer to Front Side Radar Sensor
on page 4-209.
▼ Canceling Operation of Front
Cross Tra
ffic Alert (FCTA)
The FCTA can be set to inoperable.
(If only the FCTA is turned
off)
Refer to the Settings section in the
Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
(If the FCTA is turned o ff by
operating the i-ACTIVSENSE OFF
switch)
Refer to i-ACTIVSENSE OFF Switch
on page 4-89.
NOTE
If the ignition is switched OFF while
you have canceled the system using the
i-ACTIVSENSE OFF switch, the system
is automatically enabled the next time
the ignition is switched ON. However,
if the system is canceled using the
personalization features, the system is
not automatically enabled.
Rear Cross Tra ffic Alert
(RCTA)
*
▼ Rear Cross Traffi
c Alert (RCTA)
The RCTA system is designed to assist
the driver in checking the area to the
rear left and right sides of your vehicle
while your vehicle is reversing by
alerting the driver to the presence of
vehicles approaching the rear of your
vehicle.
The RCTA system detects vehicles
approaching from the rear left and
right sides of your vehicle and the rear
of your vehicle while your vehicle is
being reversed out of a parking space,
and notifies the driver of possible
danger using the Blind Spot Monitoring
(BSM) warning indicator lights and the
warning buzzer.
1. Your vehicle
2. Detection areas
When Driving
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WARNING
Always check the surrounding area
visually before actually putting the
vehicle in reverse:
The system is only designed to assist
you in checking for vehicles at the rear
when putting the vehicle in reverse.
Due to certain limitations with the
operation of this system, the Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) warning indicator
lights may not flash or it might be
delayed even though a vehicle is
behind your vehicle. Always make it
your responsibility as a driver to check
the rear.
RCTA operation
1. The RCTA system operates when the shift lever (manual
transmission) or the selector lever
(automatic transmi ssion) is shifted
to the reverse (R) position.
2. If there is the possibility of a collision with an approaching
vehicle, the Blind Spot Monitoring
(BSM) warning indicator lights
flashes and the warning beep is
activated simultaneously.
Rear view monitor (vehicles with
Rear view monitor)
The RCTA warning indication in the
rearview monitor also synchronizes
with the Blind Spot Monitoring
(BSM) warning indicator light on
the door mirrors.
360°view monitor (vehicles with
360°view monitor)
The RCTA warning indication in the
360°view monitor also
synchronizes with the Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) warning
indicator light on the door mirrors.
Function for canceling illumination
dimmer
If the BSM warning indicator lights turn
on when the parking lights are turned
on, the brightness of the BSM warning
indicator lights is dimmed.
If the BSM warning indicator lights are
di fficult to see due to glare from
surrounding brightness when traveling
on snow-covered roads or under foggy
conditions, press the dimmer
cancellation button to cancel the
dimmer and increase the brightness of
BSM warning indicator lights when
they turn on.
Refer to Dashboard Illumination on
page 4-18.
NOTE
The system may operate under the
following conditions even if a vehicle
is not approaching.
An object that re flects the radio
waves of the radar such as a
parked vehicle, guardrail, or wall is
directly next to your vehicle.
A vehicle approaching from the
rear left and right side of your
vehicle slows down.
When Driving
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A vehicle approaching from the
rear left and right side of your
vehicle makes a right or left turn
directly in front of your vehicle.
A vehicle overtakes your vehicle
while it is stopped.
Your vehicle is in an area where
strong radio waves or electrical
noise may occur such as near a
television tower or power plant.
In the following cases, the
i-ACTIVSENSE warning indication/
warning light turns on and operation
of the system is stopped. If the
i-ACTIVSENSE warning indication/
warning light remains illuminated,
have the vehicle inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as
possible.
Some problem with the system
including the Blind Spot
Monitoring (BSM) warning
indicator lights has occurred.
A large deviation in the installation
position of a rear side radar sensor
on the vehicle has occurred.
There is a large accumulation of
snow or ice on the rear bumper
near a rear side radar sensor.
Driving on snow-covered roads for
long periods.
The temperature near the radar
sensors becomes extremely hot
due to driving for long periods on
slopes during the summer.
The battery voltage has decreased.Under the following conditions, the
rear side radar sensor cannot detect
approaching vehicles or it might bedi fficult to detect them, and the
system may not operate normally.
The vehicle speed when reversing
is about 15 km/h (9 mph) or
faster.
The rear side radar sensor
detection area is obstructed by a
nearby wall or parked vehicle.
(Reverse the vehicle to a position
where the radar sensor detection
area is no longer obstructed.)
1. Your vehicle
A vehicle is approaching directly
from the rear of your vehicle.
1. Your vehicle
The vehicle is parked at an angle.
1. Your vehicle
Directly after the RCTA system
becomes operable using the
personalization feature.
Radio wave interference from a
radar sensor equipped on a nearby
parked vehicle.
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In the following cases, it may be
difficult to view the illumination/
fl ashing of the Blind Spot Monitoring
(BSM) warning indicator lights
equipped on the door mirrors.
Snow or ice adheres to the door
mirrors.
The front door glass is fogged or
covered in snow, frost or dirt.
Tu r n o ff the RCTA system while
pulling a trailer or while an accessory
such as a bicycle carrier is installed to
the rear of the vehicle. Otherwise,
the radio waves emitted by the radar
will be blocked causing the system to
not operate normally.
The rear side radar sensor of the
RCTA may be regulated under the
radio wave related laws of the
country where the vehicle is driven. If
this system is used abroad, it may be
necessary to turn o ff the system.
Refer to Rear Side Radar Sensor on
page 4-211.
▼ Canceling Operation of Rear Cross
Tra
ffic Alert (RCTA)
The RCTA can be set to inoperable.
(If only the RCTA is turned
off)
Refer to the Settings section in the
Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
(If the RCTA is turned o ff by
operating the i-ACTIVSENSE OFF
switch)
Refer to i-ACTIVSENSE OFF Switch
on page 4-89.
NOTE
If the ignition is switched OFF while
you have canceled the system using the
i-ACTIVSENSE OFF switch, the system
is automatically enabled the next time
the ignition is switched ON. However,
if the system is canceled using the
personalization features, the system is
not automatically enabled.
When Driving
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Slippery roads such as ice or
snow-bound roads (Tires could spin
causing you to lose vehicle control,
or the stop hold control may not
operate.)
 Long, descending slopes (to
maintain distance between vehicles,
the system automatically and
continuously applies the brakes
which could result in the loss of
brake power.)
 Slopes with a steep gradient (The
vehicle ahead may not be detected
correctly.)
 Two-wheeled vehicles such as
motorcycles or bicycles are ahead.
For safety purposes, switch the MRCC
system o ff when it is not being used.
Leaving the MRCC system turned on
when it is not in use is dangerous as it
could operate unexpectedly, resulting
in an accident.
CAUTION
 Turn the system
off when the vehicle
is running on a chassis roller.
 If your vehicle is towed or you are
towing something , switch the MRCC
system o ff to prevent an unexpected
operation.
NOTE
The MRCC system does not detect
the following as physical objects.
Vehicles approaching in the
opposite direction
Pe d e s t r i a n sStationary objects (stopped
vehicles, obstructions)
If a vehicle ahead is traveling at an
extremely low speed, the system
may not detect it correctly.
If there is a structure on the road or
an object (such as a monorail) at a
low height o ff the ground in front of
the vehicle, the system may operate.
Therefore, do not use the MRCC.
Do not use the MRCC system under
conditions in which close proximity
warnings are frequently activated.
During headway control travel, the
system accelerates and decelerates
your vehicle in conjunction with the
speed of the vehicle ahead.
However, if it is necessary to
accelerate for a lane change or if the
vehicle ahead brakes suddenly
causing you to close in on the vehicle
rapidly, accelerate using the
accelerator pedal or decelerate using
the brake pedal depending on the
conditions.
While the MRCC system is in use, it
does not cancel even if the shift lever
is operated and any intended engine
braking will not occur. If deceleration
is required, lower the vehicle speed
setting or depress the brake pedal.
While braking by the MRCC control
is operating, you might hear an
operation sound, however, this does
not indicate a problem.
The brake lights turn on while
braking by the MRCC control is
operating , however, they may not
turn on while the vehicle is on a
down slope at the set vehicle speed
or traveling at a constant speed and
following a vehicle ahead.
Stop the headway control function to
switch the system to the cruise
control function.
Refer to the Settings section in the
Mazda Connect Owner's Manual.
When Driving
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