2021 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF Owners Manual

Seat Precautions
WA R N I N G
Make sure the adjustable components of a seat are locked in place:
Adjustable seats and seatbacks that are not securely locked are dangerous. In a sudden stop
or collision, the seat or seatback could move, causing injury. Make sure the adjustable
components of the seat are locked in place by attempting to slide the seat forward and
backward and rocking the seatback.
Never allow children to adjust a seat:
Allowing children to adjust a seat is dangerous as it could result in serious injury if a child's
hands or feet become caught in the seat.
Do not drive with the seatback unlocked:
All of the seatbacks play an important role in your protection in a vehicle. Leaving the
seatback unlocked is dangerous as it can a llow passengers to be ejected or thrown around
and baggage to strike occupants in a sudden stop or collision, resulting in severe injury. After
adjusting the seatback at any time, even when there are no other passengers, rock the
seatback to make sure it is locked in place.
Adjust a seat only when the vehicle is stopped:
If the seat is adjusted while the vehicle is being driven, the seating posture may become
unstable and the seat could move unexpectedly resulting in injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats:
Modifying or replacing the seats such as repl acing the upholstery or loosening any bolts is
dangerous. The seats contain air bag components essential to the supplemental restraint
system. Such modifications could damage the supplemental restraint system and result in
serious injury. Consult an Author ized Mazda Dealer if there is any need to remove or reinstall
the seats.
Do not drive with damaged seats:
Driving with damaged seats, such as seat cushions torn or damaged down to the urethane, is
dangerous. A collision, even one not strong enou gh to inflate the air bags, could damage the
seats which contain essential air bag components. If there was a subsequent collision, an air
bag may not deploy which could lead to injuri es. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
inspect the seats, seat belt pretensioners and air bags after a collision.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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Do not drive with either seats reclined:
Sitting in a reclined position while the vehicle is moving is dangerous because you do not get
the full protection from seat belts. During sudden braking or a collision, you can slide under
the lap belt and suffer serious internal injuri es. For maximum protection, sit well back and
upright.
Do not place an object such as a cushion between the seatback and your back:
Putting an object such as a cushion between the seatback and your back is dangerous
because you will be unable to maintain a safe driving posture and the seat belt cannot
function at its full capacity in a collision, wh ich could result in a serious accident, injury or
death.
Do not place objects under the seat:
The object could get stuck and cause the seat to not be fixed securely, and result in an
accident.
Do not stack cargo higher than the seatbacks:
Stacking luggage or other cargo higher than the seatbacks is dangerous. During sudden
braking or a collision, objects can fly around and become projectiles that may hit and injure
passengers.

Make sure luggage and cargo is secured before driving:
Not securing cargo while driving is dangerous as it could move or be crushed during sudden
braking or a collision and cause injury.
Additionally, if the air bags deploy, the cargo may scatter which could result in serious injury
or death.
Always leave your car locked and keep the car keys safely away from children:
Leaving your car unlocked or the keys in reach of children is dangerous. Children who find
their way into the trunk through an open trunk can become accidentally locked in the trunk.
This could result in death or brain damage from heat prostration, particularly in the summer.
Always lock the doors and the trunk.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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CAUTION
When operating a seat, be careful not to put yo ur hands or fingers near the moving parts of
the seat or on the side trim to prevent injury.
 When moving the seats, make sure there is no cargo in the surrounding area. If the cargo
gets caught it could damage the cargo.
 When moving the seats forward and rearward or returning a rear-reclined seatback to its
upright position, make sure you hold onto the seatback with your hand while operating. If
the seatback is not held, the seat will move suddenly and could cause injury.
 When inserting your hand under the seat to clean the cabin or pick up something you
dropped under the seat, be careful not to hurt yourself. If you contact the moving parts of
the seat rail or seat frame, it could result in injury.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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Seat
▼Adjusting the Driver's Seat
Using the driving position set up procedure recommended by Mazd
a allows you to maintain
a relaxed posture, drive the vehicle for longer periods without feeling tired, and make quick
operations naturally.
Also, you can be assured of a clear view in the forward directi on to help you drive more
safely and comfortably.
The adjustments for the driving position recommended by Mazda a re done using the
following procedures.
1. Moving the steering wheel and seat to their default positions .
2. Adjusting the seatback angle.
3. Adjusting the seat position forward and back.
4. Adjusting the steering wheel position.
Seat Slide
To move a seat forward or backward, raise the lever and slide t he seat to the desired position
and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to i ts original position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and backward.
Height Adjustment for Front Edge of Seat Bottom
To adjust the height for front e dge of the seat bottom, rotate the dial to the desired position.
Seat Recline
To change the seatback angle, lean forward slightly while raisi ng the lever. Then lean back
to the desired position and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to i ts original position and the seatback is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and backward.
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Seats
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Before making adjustments to the driving position recommended by Mazda
Before making adjustments, move the steering wheel and seat to their default positions.
How to move the steering wheel to its default position
WA R N I N G
Never adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving:
Adjusting the steering wheel while the vehicle is moving is dangerous. Moving it can very
easily cause the driver to abruptly turn to the left or right. This can lead to loss of control or an
accident.
After adjusting the steering wheel position, make sure it is securely locked by trying to move it
up and down:
Driving with the steering wheel not securely locked in position is dangerous. If the steering
wheel moves unexpectedly while driving, you coul d lose control of the steering resulting in an
accident.
Lower the lever, move the steerin g wheel to the lowest position, and then push it down and
all the way back.
Lock release lever
How to move a driver’s seat to its default position
1. Slide the seat all the way back.
2. Sit squarely in the seat and rest your back against the seatb ack.
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Seats
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Seat adjustment procedure for the driving position recommended by Mazda
Adjusting the seatback angle (reclining)
Adjust the seatback to the angle providing a comfortable seated posture.
1. With your posture slightly slouched, move the seatback forwar d to the angle where your
waist feels sli ghtly cramped.
2. Move the seatback backward to a comfortable seated posture wi thout any feeling of
cramping in your waist.
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Seats
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Adjusting the seat position forward and back (sliding)
Adjust the seat to the position best for operating the accelera tor and brake pedals.
1. Place your left foot on the fo otrest, your right foot between the accelerator and brake
pedals, and position your heel to the position allowing easy sw itching between the
pedals.
2. With your heel set on the fl oor, set your right foot on the b rake pedal and move the seat
forward as far as possible until you feel a slight cramping in your ankle.
3. With your right foot set on the brake pedal, move the seat ba ck until you no longer feel
cramping in your ankle.
4. With your heel set on the floor, make sure you can move your foot between the brake
pedal and accelerator pedal smoothly.
5. Depress the accelerator pedal completely with your heel set o n the floor and make sure
that your ankle does not feel over-stretched.
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Adjusting the steering wheel position
Adjust the steering wheel to the position where it can be opera ted easily and the gauges can
be viewed easily.
1. With your back resting against the seatback, extend both arms , place them on the top of
the steering wheel, and pull the steering wheel towards you to the position of your
wrists.
2. Adjust the steering wheel height so that the gauges can be vi ewed easily.
3. Raise the lever to securely lock the steering wheel.
Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
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