Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner and Load Limiting Systems
▼Front Seat Belt Pretensioner and
Load Limiting Systems
For optimum protection, the driver and
front 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 vehicles with the front passenger
occupant classification system, the
pretensioners deploy simultaneously
with the air bags when a roll-over is
also detected.
For deployment details, refer to the
SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page
2-67).
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 Air Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning
Indication/Warning Light on page
7-32.
(With Front Passenger Occupant
Classi fication System)
In addition, the pretensioner system
for the front passenger, like the front
and side passenger air bag , is designed
to only deploy in accordance with the
total seated weight on the front
passenger seat.
For details, refer to the front passenger
seat weight sensors (page 2-71).
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 limiter has an automatic
mechanical function and can activate
in any accident mode with su fficient
occupant movement.
Even if the pretensioners have not
fired, the load limiting function must
be checked by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.
WARNING
Wear seat belts only as recommended
in this owner's manual:
Incorrect positioning of the 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 Belt"
(page 2-26).
Essential Safety Equipment
Seat Belt Systems
2-28
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34
Child-RestraintPrecautions
▼ 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 speci
fic
requirements regarding the safety of
children riding in your vehicle.
Whatever child-restraint system you
consider, please pick the appropriate
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 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 con firm 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
least preferred seat for other
child-restraint systems.
(With Front Passenger Occupant
Classi fication System)
To reduce the chance of injuries
caused by deployment of the front
passenger air bag, the front passenger
seat weight sensors occupant
classi fication sensor works as a part of
the supplemental restraint system. This
system deactivates the front passenger
front and side air bags and knee air
bags, and also the front passenger seat
belt pretensioner system when the
front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates.
When an infant or small child sits on
the front passenger seat, the system
shuts o ff the front passenger front and
side air bags and knee air bags, and
seat belt pretensioner system, so make
sure the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates.
Even if the front passenger air bag is
shut o ff, Mazda strongly recommends
that children be properly restrained
and child-restraint 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 seat weight sensors" (page
2-71).
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-32
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34
(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 front passenger air bag
have the following warning label. The
warning label reminds you not to put a
rear-facing child-restraint system on
the front passenger seat at any time.
(Except Mexico)
Vehicles with a front passenger air bag
have the following warning label. The
warning label reminds you not to put a
rear-facing child-restraint system on
the front passenger seat at any time.
Do not install a front-facing
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat unless it is
unavoidable:
In a collision, the force of a deploying
air bag could cause serious injury or
death to the child. If installing a
front-facing child-restraint system on
the front passenger seat is
unavoidable, move the front passenger
seat as far back as possible.
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 seat weight sensors. Even
with the front passenger seat weight
sensors, 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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-34
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34
The front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator 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.
Any accessories, which might
increase the total seated weight on
the front passenger seat, are
attached to the front passenger seat.
The designated positions with seat
belts on the 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 to or against the side
window of a vehicle with side and
curtain air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean
over to 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 in flation from a side or
curtain air bag could cause serious
injury or death to an out of position
child. Furthermore, leaning over to or
against the front door could block the
side and curtain air bags and eliminate
the advantages of supplemental
protection. Because the front seats are
equipped with fron t air bags, the rear
seat is always a better location for
children. Take special care not to allow
a child to lean over to 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.
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.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-35
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34
Child-Restraint System Installation
▼Categories of Child-Restraint Systems
NOTE
When purchasing, ask the manufacturer of the child-restraint system which type of
child-restraint system is appropriate for your child and vehicle.
(Mexico)
Child-restraint systems are classi
fied into the following 5 groups according to the
UN -R 44 regulation.
Group Age WeightSize Classi
fication/
Fixture (CRF)
0 Up to about 9 months old Up to 10 kg (up to 22 lb) ISO/L1
ISO/L2
ISO/R1
0+ Up to about 2 years old Up to 13 kg (up to 29 lb) ISO/R1
ISO/R2
ISO/R3
1 About 8 months to 4 years old 9 kg ― 18 kg (20 lb ― 40 lb) ISO/R2
ISO/R3
ISO/F2
ISO/F2X ISO/F3
2 About 3 to 7 years old 15 kg ― 25 kg (33 lb ― 55 lb) ―
3 About 6 to 12 years old 22 kg ― 36 kg (48 lb ― 79 lb) ―
(Except Mexico)
Please comply with the legal regulations concerning the use of child-restraint
systems in your country.
▼Child-Restraint System Types
In this owner's manual, explanation of
child-restraint systems is provided for
the following three types of popular
child-restraint systems: infant seat,
child seat, booster seat.
NOTE
Installation position is determined by
the type of child-restraint system.
Always read the manufacturer's
instructions and this owner's manual
carefully.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-37
Mazda3_8JM2-EA
-20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34
Do not allow a child or anyone to
lean over to or against the side
window of a vehicle with side and
curtain air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean
over to 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 to or
against the front door could block the
side and curtain air bags and eliminate
the advantages of supplemental
protection. Because the front seats are
equipped with fron t air bags, the rear
seat is always a better location for
children. Take special care not to allow
a child to lean over to or against the
side window, even if the child is seated
in a child-restraint system.
Always remove the head restraint and
install child-restraint system (except
when installing a backless booster
seat):
Installing a child-restraint system
without removing the head restraint is
dangerous. The child-restraint system
cannot be installed correctly which
may result in death or injury to the
child in a collision.Always install the head restraint and
adjust it to the appropriate position
after removing the child-restraint
system:
Driving with the head restraint
removed is dangerous as impact to the
occupant's head cannot be prevented
during emergency braking or in a
collision, which could result in a
serious accident, injury or death.
Refer to Head Restraints on page 2-17.
Front Passenger's Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation (With Front
Pa s s e n g e r O cc u p a n t Classification
System)
1. Make sure the ignition is switched
off.
2. Slide the seat as far back as possible.
3. Remove the head restraint.However, when installing a backless
booster seat, always install the
vehicle head restraint to the seat
where the backless booster seat is
installed.
4. Place the child-restraint system on
the seat without putting your
weight on the seat and fasten the
seat belt. See the manufacturer's
instructions on the child-restraint
system for belt routing instructions.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
2-48
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34
Do not place any objects on the
assist grips. Only hang clothes
directly on the coat hooks.
Do not touch the components of the
supplemental restraint system after
the air bags have in flated:
Touching the components of the
supplemental restraint system after the
air bags have infl ated is dangerous.
Immediately after inflation, they are
very hot. You could get burned.
Never install any front-end equipment
to your vehicle:
Installation of front-end equipment,
such as frontal protection bar
(kangaroo bar, bull bar, push bar, or
other similar devices), snowplow, or
winches, is dangerous. The air bag
crash sensor system could be a ffected.
This could cause air bags to inflate
unexpectedly, or it could prevent the
air bags from inflating during an
accident. Front occupants could be
seriously injured.
Do not modify the suspension:
Modifying the vehi cle suspension is
dangerous. If the vehicle's height or
the suspension is modi fied, the vehicle
will be unable to accurately detect a
collision or roll-over accident resulting
in incorrect or unexpected air bag
deployment and the possibility of
serious injuries.To prevent false detection by the air
bag sensor system, heed the
following:
Do not use tires or wheels other than
those speci fied for your Mazda:
Use of any tire or wheel other than
those specified for your Mazda (page
9-10) is dangerous. Use of such
wheels will prevent the vehicle's
accident detections system from
accurately detecting a collision or
roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag
deployment and the possibility of
serious injuries.
Do not overload your vehicle:
Overloading your vehicle is
dangerous as it could prevent the air
bag crash sensor system from
accurately detecting a collision or
roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag
deployment and the possibility of
serious injuries. The gross axle
weight rating (GAWR) and the gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for
your vehicle are on the Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard Label on the
driver's door frame. Do not exceed
these ratings.
Do not drive the vehicle o ff-road:
Driving your Mazda off-road is
dangerous because the vehicle has
not been designed to do so. Driving
the vehicle o ff-road could prevent
the air bag crash sensor system from
accurately detecting a collision or
roll-over accident resulting in
incorrect or unexpected air bag
deployment and the possibility of
serious injuries.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-58
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34
Supplemental Restraint System Components
▼Supplemental Restraint System Components
(With Front Passenger Occupant Classifi
cation System)
1. Side and curtain inflators and air bags
2. Side crash sensors
3. Roll-over sensor, crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
4. Driver/Front passenger in flators and air bags
5. Air bag/front seat belt pretensioner system warning indication/warning light (page 7-32)
6. Driver/Front passenger knee in flators and air bags
7. Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-71)
8. Front air bag sensors
9. Seat belt pretensioners (page 2-28)
10.Front passenger seat we ight sensors (page 2-71)
11.Front passenger seat weight sensor control module
12.Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (page 2-75)
13.Driver seat slide position sensor (page 2-70)
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-61
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34