2021 MAZDA MODEL 3 HATCHBACK Owners Manual

Pay special attention to removing salt,
dirt, mud, and other foreign material
from the underside of the fenders, and
make sure the drain holes in the lower
edges of the doors and rocker panels
are clean.

Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial fallout, and similar deposits
can damage the finish if not removed
immediately. When prompt washing
with plain water is ineffective, use a
mild soap made for use on vehicles.

Thoroughly rinse o ff all soap with
lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow
soap to dry on the finish.

After washing the vehicle, dry it with a
clean chamois to prevent water spots
from forming.
WARNING
Dry o ff brakes that have become wet
by driving slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the
brake performance returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
a ff ected.
When using an automatic car wash
Retract the door mirrors.The automatic car wash brushes
could reduce the paint lustre or
hasten paint deterioration.
When using a high water pressure car
wash
High water temperature and high
water pressure car washers are
available depending on the type of car
wash machine. If the car washer nozzle
is put too close to the vehicle, the
force of the spray could damage or
deform the molding , aff ect the
sealability of parts, and allow water to
penetrate the interior. Keep a su fficient
space (30 cm (12 in) or more)
between the nozzle and the vehicle. In
addition, do not spend too much time
spraying the same area of the vehicle,
and be very careful when spraying
between gaps in doors and around
windows.
Waxing
Your vehicle needs to be waxed when
water no longer beads on the finish.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing it. In addition to the vehicle
body, wax the metal trim to maintain
its luster.

1. Use wax which contains no abrasives.
Wax containing abrasives will
remove paints and could damage
bright metal parts.
2. Use a good grade of natural wax for metallic, mica, and solid colors.
3. When waxing, coat evenly with the sponge supplied or a soft cloth.
4. Wipe o ff the wax with a soft cloth.
NOTE
A spot remover to remove oil, tar, and
similar materials will usually also take
o ff the wax. Rewax these areas even if
the rest of the vehicle does not need it.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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▼Repairing Damage to the Finish
Deep scratches or chips on the
finish
should be repaired promptly. Exposed
metal quickly rusts and can lead to
major repairs.
CAUTION
If your Mazda is damaged and needs
metal parts repaired or replaced, make
sure the body shop applies
anti-corrosion materials to all parts,
both repaired and new. This will
prevent them from rusting.
▼ Bright-Metal Maintenance
Use tar remover to remove road tar
and insects. Never do this with a
knife or similar tool.
To prevent corrosion on bright-metal
surfaces, apply wax or chrome
preservative and rub it to a high
luster.
During cold weather or in coastal
areas, cover bright-metal parts with a
coating of wax or preservative
heavier than usual. It would also help
to coat them with noncorrosive
petroleum jelly or some other
protective compound.
CAUTION
Do not use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing highly alkaline or caustic
agents on chrome-plated or anodized
aluminum parts. This may result in
damage to the protective coating and
cause discoloration or paint
deterioration.
▼ Underbody Maintenance
Road chemicals and salt used for ice
and snow removal and solvents used
for dust control may collect on the
underbody. If not removed, they will
speed up rusting and deterioration of
such underbody parts as fuel lines,
frame,
floor pan, and exhaust system,
even though these parts may be coated
with anti-corrosive material.

Thoroughly flush the underbody and
wheel housings with lukewarm or cold
water at the end of each winter. Try
also to do this every month.

Pay special attention to these areas
because they easily hide mud and dirt.
It will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without
removing it.

The lower edges of doors, rocker
panels, and frame members have drain
holes that should not be clogged.
Water trapped there will cause rusting.
WARNING
Dry off brakes that have become wet
by driving slowly, releasing the
accelerator pedal and lightly applying
the brakes several times until the
brake performance returns to normal:
Driving with wet brakes is dangerous.
Increased stopping distance or the
vehicle pulling to one side when
braking could result in a serious
accident. Light braking will indicate
whether the brakes have been
a ff ected.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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▼Aluminum Wheel Maintenance*
A protective coating is provided over
the aluminum wheels. Special care is
needed to protect this coating.
CAUTION
Do not use any detergent other than
mild detergent. Before using any
detergent, verify the ingredients.
Otherwise, the product could discolor
or stain the aluminum wheels.
NOTE
Do not use a wire brush or any
abrasive cleaner, polishing
compound, or solvent on aluminum
wheels. They may damage the
coating.
Always use a sponge or soft cloth to
clean the wheels.
Rinse the wheels thoroughly with
lukewarm or cold water. Also, be
sure to clean the wheels after driving
on dusty or salted roads to help
prevent corrosion.
Avoid washing your vehicle in an
automatic car wash that uses
high-speed or hard brushes.
▼Plastic Part Maintenance
When cleaning the plastic lenses of
the lights, do not use gasoline,
kerosene, recti
fied spirit, paint,
thinner, highly acidic detergents, or
strongly alkaline detergents.
Otherwise, these chemical agents
can discolor or damage the surfaces
resulting in a signi ficant loss in
functionality. If plastic parts become
inadvertently exposed to any of these
chemical agents, flush with water
immediately.
If plastic parts such as the bumpers
become inadvertently exposed to
chemical agents or fluids such as
gasoline, oil, engine coolant, or
battery fluid, it could cause
discoloration, staining , or paint
peeling. Wipe o ff any such chemical
agents or fluids using a soft cloth
immediately.
High water temperature and high
water pressure car washers are
available depending on the type of
high pressure car washer device. If
the car washer nozzle is put too
close to the vehicle or aimed at one
area for an extended period of time,
it could deform plastic parts or
damage the paint.
Do not use wax containing
compounds (polish). Otherwise, it
could result in paint damage.
In addition, do not use an electrical
or air tool to apply wax. Otherwise,
the frictional heat generated could
result in deformation of plastic parts
or paint damage.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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Interior Care
▼Interior Care
WARNING
Do not spray water into the vehicle
cabin:
Spraying water into the vehicle cabin is
dangerous as electrical devices such as
the audio and switches could get wet
resulting in a malfunction or vehicle
fire.
NOTE
Do not wipe the interior using
alcohol, chlorine bleach, or organic
solvents such as thinner, benzene,
and gasoline. Otherwise, it may
cause discoloration or stains.
Rubbing hard with a sti
ff brush or
cloth may cause damage.
If the vehicle interior becomes soiled
by any of the following, wipe it o ff
immediately using a soft cloth.
Leaving it uncleaned could cause
discoloration, stains, cracks, or peeling
of the coating , and it will make it hard
to wipe o ff later.
Beverage or fragranceGrease or oilSoiling
▼ Seat Belt Maintenance
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly
dabbing it with a soft cloth soaked
in a mild detergent (approx. 5%)
diluted with water.
2. Wipe o ff the remaining detergent
using a cloth soaked in clean water
and wrung out well.
3. Before retracting seat belts which have been pulled out for cleaning,
dry them o ff thoroughly and make
sure there is no remaining moisture
on them.
WARNING
If a seat belt appears frayed or has
abrasions, have it replaced by an
Authorized Mazda Dealer:
If a seat belt is used under such a
condition, it cannot function at its full
capacity which could result in serious
injury or death.
Use a mild detergent to remove
soiling from a seat belt:
If organic solvents are used for cleaning
the seat belts or they become stained
or bleached, there is the possibility of
them becoming weakened and as a
result, they may not function at their
full capacity which could cause serious
injury or death.
NOTE
Clean seat belts diligently if they get
dirty. Leaving them uncleaned will
make it di fficult to clean them later,
and it may aff ect the smooth retracting
of the seat belt.
▼ Vinyl Upholstery Maintenance
Remove dust and dirt from the vinyl
upholstery using a brush or vacuum.
Remove soiling from vinyl upholstery
using a leather and vinyl upholstery
cleaner.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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▼Upholstery Maintenance
1. Clean the soiled area by lightly
dabbing it with a soft cloth soaked
in a mild detergent (approx. 5%)
diluted with water.
2. Wipe off the remaining detergent
using a cloth soaked in clean water
and wrung out well.
▼ Leather Upholstery Maintenance*
1. Remove dust and sand using a
vacuum cleaner.
2. Wipe off the soiled area with a soft
cloth and a suitable, special cleaner
or a soft cloth soaked in a mild
detergent (about 5%) diluted with
water.
3. Wipe off the remaining detergent
using a cloth soaked in clean water
and wrung out well.
4. Remove moisture with a dry, soft cloth and allow the leather to
further dry in a well-ventilated,
shaded area. If the leather gets wet
such as from rain, remove the
moisture and dry it as soon as
possible.
NOTE
Because genuine leather is a natural
material, its surface is not uniform
and it may have natural scars,
scratches, and wrinkles.
To maintain the quality for as long as
possible, periodical maintenance,
about twice a year, is recommended.
If the leather upholstery comes into
contact with any of the following,
clean it immediately.
Leaving it uncleaned could cause
premature wear, mold, or stains.
Sand or dirtGrease or oil, such as hand creamAlcohol, such as in cosmetic or
hair dressing items
If the leather upholstery gets wet,
promptly remove moisture with a dry
cloth. Remaining moisture on the
surface may cause deterioration such
as hardening and shrinkage.
Exposure to direct sunlight for long
periods may cause deterioration and
shrinkage. When parking the car
under direct sunlight for long
periods, shade the interior using
sunshades.
Do not leave vinyl products on the
leather upholstery for long periods.
They may a ffect the leather quality
and coloring. If the cabin
temperature becomes hot, the vinyl
may deteriorate and adhere to the
genuine leather.
▼ Plastic Part Maintenance
CAUTION
Do not use polishing agents.
Depending on the product ingredients,
they could cause discoloration, stains,
cracks or peeling of the coating.
▼Instrument Panel Top (Soft pad)
Maintenance
Extremely soft materi
al is used for the
soft pad surface. If the soft pad surface
is rubbed harshly with a dry cloth, it
could result in the surface being
damaged and leaving white scratch
marks.
1. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth soaked in a mild detergent
(approx. 5%) diluted with water.
2. Wipe o ff the remaining detergent
using a cloth soaked in clean water
and wrung out well.
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
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▼Active Driving Display
Maintenance*
The dust-proof sheet has a coating.
When cleaning , do
not use a hard or
rough-surface cloth, or cleaning
detergent. In addition, if a chemical
solvent gets on the active driving
display, wipe it o ff immediately. The
dust-proof sheet could be damaged
and the surface coating could be
scratched. Use a fine, soft cloth such as
those used for cleaning eyeglasses.
NOTE
Use of compressed air when cleaning
the dust-proof sheet is recommended.
▼ Panel Maintenance
If a panel becomes soiled, wipe it o
ff
with a soft cloth soaked in clean water
and thoroughly wrung out.
If some areas require further cleaning ,
use the following procedure:
1. Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth soaked in a mild detergent
(approx. 5 %) diluted with water.
2. Wipe o ff the remaining detergent
using a cloth soaked in clean water
and wrung out well.
NOTE
Be particularly careful when cleaning
shiny surface panels and metallic parts
such as plating as they can be
scratched easily.
▼ Cleaning the Window Interiors
If the windows become covered with
an oily, greasy, or waxy
film, clean
them with glass cleaner. Follow the
directions on the container.
CAUTION
 Do not scrape or scratch the inside
of the window glass. It could
damage the thermal filaments and
the antenna lines.
 When washing the inside of the
window glass, use a soft cloth
dampened in lukewarm water, gently
wiping the thermal filaments and the
antenna lines.
Use of glass cleaning products could
damage the thermal filaments and
the antenna lines.
▼ Cleaning the Floor Mats
Rubber
floor mats should be cleaned
with mild soap and water only.
WARNING
Do not use rubber cleaners, such as
tire cleaner or tire shine, when
cleaning rubber floor mats:
Cleaning the rubber floor mats with
rubber cleaning products makes the
fl oor mats slippery.
This may cause an accident when
depressing the accelerator, brake, or
clutch (Manual transmission) pedal or
when getting in or out of the vehicle.
After removing the floor mats for
cleaning, always reinstall them securely
(page 3-46).
Maintenance and Care
Appearance Care
6-56*Some models.
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7If Trouble Arises
Helpful information on what to do if a problem arises with the
vehicle.
Parking in an Emergency............ 7-2 Parking in an Emergency......... 7-2
Flat Tire................................... 7-3 Spare Tire and Tool Storage ..........
............................................ 7-3
Changing a Flat Tire................7-7
Battery Runs Out..................... 7-17 Jump-Starting...................... 7-17
Emergency Starting................. 7-20 Starting a Flooded Engine..... 7-20
Push-Starting....................... 7-20
Overheating........................... 7-21 Overheating........................ 7-21
Emergency Towing.................. 7-23 Towing Description.............. 7-23
Tiedown Hooks
*.................. 7-24
Warning/Indicator Lights and
Warning Sounds..................... 7-27If a Warning Light Turns On or
Flashes................................ 7-27
Message Indicated on Multi-
information Display............. 7-39
Warning Sound is
Activated.............................7-42
When Liftgate/Trunk Lid Cannot be
Opened................................. 7-48 When Liftgate/Trunk Lid Cannot
be Opened..........................7-48
Active Driving Display Does Not
Operate................................. 7-50 If the Active Driving Display Does
Not Operate
*....................... 7-50
Windshield Wipers Operate at High
Speed.................................... 7-51 Windshield Wipers Operate at
High Speed......................... 7-51
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Parking in an Emergency
▼Parking in an Emergency
The hazard warning lights should
always be used when you stop on or
near a roadway in an emergency.

The hazard warning lights warn other
drivers that your vehicle is a tra
ffic
hazard and that they must take
extreme caution when near it.

Depress the hazard warning flasher
and all the turn signals will flash. The
hazard warning indicator lights in the
instrument cluster flash simultaneously.
NOTE
The turn signals do not work when
the hazard warning lights are on.
Check local regulations about the
use of hazard warning lights while
the vehicle is being towed to verify
that it is not in violation of the law.
If Trouble Arises
Parking in an Emergency
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