2021 MAZDA MODEL 3 SEDAN child seat

If your vehicle is also equipped with a
front passenger occupant
classification system, refer to the Front
Passenger Occupant Classi fication
System (page 2-70) for details.
If your vehicle is equipped with a front
passenger occupant classi fication
system, the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates
for a speci fied time after the ignition is
switched ON.


Small children must be protected by a
child-restraint system as stipulated by
law in every state and province. In
certain states and provinces, larger
children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-32).

Carefully consider which child-restraint
system is necessary for your child and
follow the installation directions in this
Owner's Manual as well as the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions.
WARNING
Seat belts must be worn in air bag
equipped vehicles:
Depending only on the air bags for
protection during an accident is
dangerous. Alone, air bags may not
prevent serious injuries. The
appropriate air bags can be expected
to in flate only in the first accident, such
as frontal, near frontal or side collisions
or roll-over accidents that are at least
moderate. Vehicle occupants should
always wear seat belts.

Children should not ride in the front
passenger seat:
Placing a child, 12 years or under, in
the front seat is dangerous. The child
could be hit by a deploying air bag and
be seriously injured or even killed. A
sleeping child is more likely to lean
against the door and be hit by the side
air bag in moderate collision to the
front-passenger side of the vehicle.
Whenever possible, always secure a
child 12 years and under on the rear
seats with an appropriate
child-restraint system for the child's
age and size.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-56
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

Never use a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the front seat with an air
bag that could deploy:
Rear-facing child-restraint systems on
the front seat are particularly
dangerous even though you may feel
assured that a front passenger air bag
will not deploy based on the fact that
the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates.
The child-restraint system can be hit by
a deploying air bag and moved
violently backward resulting in serious
injury or death to the child.
Do not sit too close to the driver and
front passenger air bags:
Sitting too close to the driver and front
passenger air bag modules or placing
hands or feet on them is extremely
dangerous. The driver and front
passenger air bags inflate with great
force and speed. Serious injuries could
occur if someone is too close. The
driver should always hold onto only the
rim of the steering wheel. The front
seat passenger should keep both feet
on the floor. Front seat occupants
should adjust their seats as far back as
possible and always sit upright against
the seatbacks with seat belts worn
properly.
Sit in the center of the seat and wear
seat belts properly:
Sitting too close to the side air bag
modules or placing hands on them, or
sleeping up against the door or
hanging out the windows is extremely
dangerous. The side and curtain air
bags in flate with great force and speed
directly expanding along the door on
the side the car is hit. Serious injury
could occur if someone is sitting too
close to the door or leaning against a
window, or if rear seat occupants grab
the sides of the front seatbacks. Give
the side and curtain air bags room to
work by sitting in the center of the seat
while the vehicle is moving with seat
belts worn properly.
Do not attach objects on or around
the area where air bags deploy:
Attaching objects to the air bags or
placing something in the area where
the air bags deploy is dangerous. In an
accident, an object could interfere with
air bag in flation and injure the
occupants. Furthermore, the bag could
be damaged causing gases to release.
Always keep the deployment area of
the air bag modules free of any
obstructions.
For example, you should not do any of
the following as it may interfere with
air bag deployment.
 Do not put a covering on or lean
anything against areas such as the
dashboard and lower portion of the
instrument panel that blocks the
passenger front air bag and knee air
bags.
 Do not use seat covers on the front
seats and rear seats equipped with
in-seat side air bags.
 Do not hang any backpacks, bags or
pouches that cover the sides of the
seats that block the side air bags.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-57
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

Properly dispose of the air bag
system:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a
vehicle with live air bags in it can be
extremely dangerous. Unless all safety
procedures are followed, injury could
result. Have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer safely dispose of the air bag
system or scrap an air bag equipped
vehicle.
NOTE
If it becomes necessary to have the
components or wiring system for the
supplementary restraint systemmodi fied to accommodate a person
with certain medical conditions in
accordance with a certi fied
physician, contact an Authorized
Mazda Dealer, refer to “Customer
Assistance (U.S.A.)” (page 8-2).
When an air bag deploys, a loud in flation noise can be heard and
some smoke will be released.
Neither is likely to cause injury,
however, the texture of the air bags
may cause light skin injuries on body
parts not covered with clothing
through friction.
Should you sell your Mazda, we urge
you to tell the new owner of its air
bag systems and that familiarization
with all instructions about them,
from the Owner's Manual, is
important.
This highly-visible label is displayed
which warns against the use of a
rear-facing child-restraint system on
the front passenger seat.

(Mexico)

(Except Mexico)

Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-60
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

If the front passenger weight sensors
are normal, the indicator light
illuminates when the ignition is
switched ON. The light turns off after a
few seconds. Then, the indicator light
illuminates or is o ff under the following
conditions:
Front passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light on/off condition chart
Condition
detected by the
front pas-
senger oc- cupant
classifi ca-
tion sys- tem Front pas-
senger air
bag deacti-
vation indi- cator light Front pas-
senger
front and side andknee air
bags Front
passen-
ger seat
belt pre-
tensioner
system
Empty
(Not occu-
pied) On
Deactivat-
ed Deacti-
vated
Child or
child-re-
straint sys-
tem
*1
On Deactivat-
ed Deacti-
vated
Adult
*2Off Ready Ready
*1 If a larger child sits on the front passenger
seat, the sensors might detect the child as
being an adult depending on the child's
physique.
*2 If a smaller adult sits on the front passengerseat, the sensors might detect the person as
being a child depending on the person's
physique.
The curtain air bag is ready for in flating
regardless of what the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light on/o ff condition
chart indicates.

If the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does not
illuminate when the ignition is
switched ON and does not illuminate
as indicated in the front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light on/o ff
condition chart, do not allow a child to
sit in the front passenger seat and
consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible. The system may
not work properly in an accident.
WARNING
Do not decrease the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat:
When an adult or large child sits on the
front passenger seat, decreasing the
total seated weight on the front
passenger seat required for air bag
deployment is dangerous. The front
passenger seat weight sensors will
detect the reduced total seated weight
condition and the front passenger front
and side air bags and knee air bags,
and the seat belt pretensioner system
will not deploy during an accident. The
front passenger will not have the
supplementary protection of the air
bag, which could result in serious
injury. Decreasing the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat
could result in an air bag not deploying
under the following conditions, for
example:
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-72
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

A front passenger is seated as shown
in the following figure:
A rear passenger pushes up on the
front passenger seat with their feet.
Luggage or other items placed under
the front passenger seat or between
the front passenger seat and driver
seat that push up the front passenger
seat bottom.
 Any accessories which might
decrease the total seated weight on
the front passenger seat are attached
to the front passenger seat.
The front passenger front and side air
bags and knee air bags, and the seat
belt pretensioner system will
deactivate if the front passenger air
bag deactivation indicator light
illuminates.

Do not increase the total seated
weight on the front passenger seat:
When an infant or small child sits on
the front passenger seat, increasing the
total seated weight on the front
passenger seat is dangerous. The front
passenger seat we ight sensors will
detect the increased total seated
weight, which could result in the
unexpected deployment of the front
passenger front and side air bags and
knee air bags, and seat belt
pretensioner system in an accident and
may cause serious injury. Increasing the
total seated weight on the front
passenger seat could result in the front
passenger front and side air bags and
knee air bags, and seat belt
pretensioner system deployment in an
accident under the following
conditions, for example:
 Luggage or other items are placed on
the seat with the child in the
child-restraint system.
 A rear passenger or luggage push or
pull down on the front passenger
seatback.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-73
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

A rear passenger steps on the front
passenger seat rails with their feet.
 Luggage or other items are placed on
the seatback or hung on the head
restraint.
 Heavy items are placed in the
seatback map pocket.
 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.
 Any accessories which might increase
the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat are attached to the
front passenger seat.
CAUTION
To assure proper deployment of the
front air bag and to prevent damage
to the sensors in the front seat
bottoms:
 Do not place sharp objects on the
front seat bottoms or leave heavy
luggage on them.
 Do not spill any liquids on the
front seats or under the front seats.
 To allow the sensors to function
properly, always perform the
following:
 Adjust the front seats as far back as
possible and always sit upright
against the seatbacks with seat
belts worn properly.
If you place your child on the front
passenger seat, secure the
child-restraint system properly and
slide the front passenger seat as far
back as possible (page 2-47).
NOTE
The system requires about 10
seconds to alternate between turning
the front passenger front and side air
bags and knee air bags, and seat belt
pretensioner system on or o ff.
The front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light may
illuminate repeatedly if luggage or
other items are put on the front
passenger seat, or if the temperature
of the vehicle's interior changes
suddenly.
The front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light may
illuminate for 10 seconds if the total
seated weight on the front passenger
seat changes.
The air bag/front seat belt
pretensioner system warning light
might illuminate if the front
passenger seat receives a severe
impact.
If the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does not
illuminate after installing a
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat,
first, re-install your
child-restraint system according to
the procedure in this owner's
manual. Then, if the front passenger
air bag deactivation indicator light
still does not illuminate, install the
child-restraint system on the rear seat
and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-74
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

▼Rear Door Child Safety Locks
Rear doors that have been locked
using the child safety lock switched to
the lock side cannot be opened from
inside the vehicle.
For child safety, switch the child safety
lock on both rear doors to the lock
side.
When opening a rear door with the
child safety lock switched to the lock
side, pull the outer door handle with
the lock knob inside the vehicle
switched to the unlock side.
1. Auxiliary key (page 3-2)
2. Lock
3. Unlock
Liftgate/Trunk Lid
▼Liftgate/Trunk Lid
WARNING
Never allow a person to ride in the
luggage compartment/trunk:
Allowing a person to ride in the
luggage compartment/trunk is
dangerous. The person in the luggage
compartment/trunk could be seriously
injured or killed during sudden braking
or a collision.
Do not drive with the liftgate/trunk
lid open:
Exhaust gas in the cabin of a vehicle is
dangerous. An open liftgate/trunk lid
in a moving vehicle will cause exhaust
gas to be drawn into the cabin. This
gas contains CO (carbon monoxide),
which is colorless, odorless, and highly
poisonous, and it can cause loss of
consciousness and death. Moreover,
an open liftgate/trunk lid could cause
occupants to fall out in an accident.
Do not stack or leave loaded luggage
unsecured in the luggage
compartment:
Otherwise, the luggage may move or
collapse, resulting in injury or an
accident. In addition, do not load
luggage higher than the seatbacks. It
may a
ffect the side or rear field of view.
Additionally, if the air bags deploy, the
cargo may scatter which could result in
serious injury or death.
Before Driving
Doors and Locks
3-19
Mazda3_8JM2-EA -20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34

Inside Trunk ReleaseLever (4-door)
*
▼Inside Trunk Release Lever
Your vehicle is equipped with an inside
trunk release lever that provides a
means of escape for children and
adults in the event they become locked
inside the trunk.

No matter how careful adults might be
with keys and locking their cars,
parents should be aware that children
may be tempted to play around
vehicles and use the trunk as a hiding
place.

Adults are advised to familiarize
themselves with the operation and
location of the inside trunk release
lever so that all children can be told
about it in an appropriate way, keeping
in mind that most vehicles do not have
such levers.
WARNING
Close the trunk lid, be sure the seat
backs are latched and do not allow
children to play inside the vehicle:
Leaving the trunk lid open or leaving
children in the vehicle with the keys is
dangerous. Children could open the
trunk lid and climb inside resulting in
possible injury or death from heat
exposure.
Always keep the car from being a
tempting place to play by latching the
rear seats, doors and the trunk, and
keeping the keys where children can
not play with them:
Leaving children or animals unattended
in a parked vehicle is dangerous.
Babies left sleeping and children who
lock themselves in cars or trunks can
die very quickly from heat prostration.
Do not leave your children or pets
alone in a car at any time. Do not leave
the car, the rear folding seats or the
trunk unlocked.
▼
Opening the Trunk Lid from the
Inside
Slide the inside trunk release lever in
the direction of the arrow. The lever is
made of material that will glow for
hours in the darkness of the trunk
following a brief exposure to ambient
light.

The inside trunk release lever is located
on the inside of the trunk lid.
Before Driving
Doors and Locks
3-24*Some models.
Mazda3_8JM2-EA
-20H_Edition1_new 2020-7-10 17:21:34