2021 MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA RF child seat

Installing Child-RestraintSystems
The passenger lap/shoulder belt can easily
be converted into the automatic locking
mode, which must be done to hold the
child-restraint system.
NOTE
To check if your seats have side air
bags:
Mazda vehicles equipped with side air
bag will have an embossed "SRS
AIRBAG" marking on the outboard
shoulder of the seats.
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully.
Depending on the type of child-restraint
system, it may not employ seat belts
which are in automatic locking mode,
however if it uses an upper tether, it may
not be mounted properly in this vehicle
as there is no safe way to anchor the
tether. Confirm whether the
child-restraint system can be used with
seat belts by reading the child-restraint
system manufacturer's instructions.
WA R N I N G
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 door could block the
side and curtain air bags and eliminate the
advantages of supplemental protection.
Because the front seats are equipped with
front 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.
CAUTION
When moving the seats forward and
rearward, make sure you hold onto the
seatback with your hand while operating. If
the seatback is not he ld, the seat will move
suddenly and could cause injury.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Passenger's Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation (Except Mexico)
1. Make sure the ignition is switched off.
2. Slide the seat as far back as possible.
3. Place the child-res traint system on the
seat without putting your weight on the
seat and secure the child-restraint
system with the lap portion of the lap/
shoulder belt. See the manufacturer's
instructions on the child-restraint
system for belt routing instructions.
4. To get the retractor into the automatic
locking mode, pull the shoulder belt
portion of the seat belt until the entire
length of the belt is out of the retractor.
5. Push the child-restraint system firmly into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt
retracts as snugly as possible. A
clicking noise from the retractor will
be heard during retraction if the system
is in automatic lo cking mode. If the
belt does not lock the seat down tight,
repeat the previous step and also this
one.
NOTE
Inspect this function before each use
of the child-restraint system. You
should not be able to pull the
shoulder belt out of the retractor
while the system is in the automatic
locking mode. When you remove the
child-restraint system, be sure the
belt fully retracts to return the
system to emergency locking mode
before occupants use the seat belts.
6. Seat your child safely in the child-restraint system and secure the
child according to the instructions
from the child-restraint system
manufacturer.
7. Switch the ignition ON and make sure the passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates after
installing a child-restraint system on
the passenger seat.
If the passenger a ir bag deactivation
indicator light does not illuminate,
remove the child-restraint system,
switch the ignition to OFF, and then
re-install the chil d-restraint system
(page 2-49).

Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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WARNING
Do not seat a child in a child-restraint
system on the passenger seat if the
passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light does not illuminate (Except Mexico):
Seating a child in a child-restraint system
installed on the passenger seat with the
passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light not illuminated is dangerous. If this
indicator light does not illuminate, this
means that the passenger front and side air
bags, and seat belt pretensioner are ready
for deployment. If an accident were to
deploy an air bag, a child in a
child-restraint system sitting in the
passenger seat could be seriously injured or
killed. If the indicator light does not
illuminate after seating a child in a
child-restraint system on the passenger
seat consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer
as soon as possible.
▼Anchor Bracket (Mexico)
Anchor brackets for securing
child-restraint systems are equipped in the
vehicle. Locate anchor position using the
illustration.
To install a child-restraint system, always
follow the instruction manual
accompanying the child-restraint system.

Anchor bracket location
Use the indicated anchor bracket locations
when installing a child-restraint system
equipped with a tether.
Anchor bracket
WA R N I N G
Always attach the tether strap to the
correct tether anchor position:
Attaching the tether strap to the incorrect
tether anchor position is dangerous. In a
collision, the tether strap could come off
and loosen the child-restraint system. If the
child-restraint system moves it could result
in death or injury to the child.
Always route the tether strap between the
head restraint and the seatback:
Routing the tether strap on top of the head
restraint is dangerous. In a collision the
tether strap could slide
off the head
restraint and loosen the child-restraint
system. The child-restraint system could
move which may result in death or injury to
the child.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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CAUTION
When moving the seats forward and
rearward, 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.
1. Open the convertible top.
2. Slide the passenger seat as far back aspossible and then slide it forward about
10 notches (100 mm) so that your hand
can be placed behind it (page 2-10).
3. Remove the cover.

NOTE
Be careful not to lost the removed
cover.
4. Place the child- restraint on the
passenger seat.
5. Pass the tether strap under the head restraint and install it to the tether
anchor.
For the tether strap adjustment method,
refer to the child-restraint seat
manufacturer’s instructions.

▼ Using the Seat Belt (Mexico)
CAUTION
When moving the seats forward and
rearward, 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 installing a child-restraint system,
follow the installation instructions
included with the product.
Also, open the convertible top and slide
the seat as far back as possible, fold down
the seatback as far as possible.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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▼Using ISOFIX Anchor (Mexico)
WARNING
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for
the use of the child-restraint system:
An unsecured child-restraint system is
dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision it
could move causing serious injury or death
to the child or other occupants. Make sure
any child-restraint system is properly
secured in place according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
Make sure the child-restraint system is
properly secured:
A child-restraint system that is not secured
is dangerous. In a sudden stop or collision,
it can become a projectile and hit someone,
causing serious injury. When not in use,
remove it from the vehicle, put it in the
trunk or at least make sure it is securely
fastened to the ISOFIX anchors.
Make sure there are no seat belts or foreign
objects near or around the ISOFIX
anchor-secured child-restraint system:
Not following the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions when
installing the child-restraint system is
dangerous. If seat belts or a foreign object
prevent the child-restraint system from
being securely attached to the ISOFIX
anchors and the child-restraint system is
installed improperly, the child-restraint
system could move in a sudden stop or
collision causing serious injury or death to
the child or other occupants. When
installing the child-restraint system, make
sure there are no seat belts or foreign
objects near or around the ISOFIX anchors.
Always follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
CAUTION
When moving the seats forward and
rearward, make sure you hold onto the
seatback with your hand while operating. If
the seatback is not he
ld, the seat will move
suddenly and could cause injury.
1. Open the convertible top.
2. Make sure the ignition is switched off.
3. Slide the passenger seat as far back as
possible (page 2-10).
*1
*
1 You may need to move the seat forward slightly and recline the
back of the seat, in order to assist
in the fitment of some
child-restraint systems.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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4. Make sure the seatback is securelylatched by pushing it back until it is
fully locked.
5. Expand the area between the seat bottom and the seatback slightly to
verify the locations of the ISOFIX
anchor.

NOTE
The markings above the ISOFIX
anchors indicate the locations of the
ISOFIX anchors for the attachment of
a child-restraint system.
6. Secure the child-restraint system using
the ISOFIX anchor, following the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
instruction.
7. Switch the ignition ON and make surethe passenger air bag deactivation OFF
indicator light illuminates after
installing a child-restraint system on
the passenger seat.
If the passenger a ir bag deactivation
OFF indicator light does not
illuminate, remove the child-restraint
system, switch the ignition to OFF, and
then re-install th e child-restraint
system (page 2-49).

8. If your child-restraint system came
equipped with a tether, that probably
means it is very important to properly
secure the tether for child safety.
Please carefully follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions when installing tethers
(page 2-31).
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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WARNING
Always attach the tether strap to the
correct tether anchor position:
Attaching the tether strap to the incorrect
tether anchor position is dangerous. In a
collision, the tether strap could come off
and loosen the child-restraint system. If the
child-restraint system moves it could result
in death or injury to the child.
Always route the tether strap between the
head restraint and the seatback:
Routing the tether strap on top of the head
restraint is dangerous. In a collision the
tether strap could slide off the head
restraint and loosen the child-restraint
system. The child-restraint system could
move which may result in death or injury to
the child.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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Ty p e B

Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every
state and province. In certain s tates and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-21).

Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary fo r your child and follow the
installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the c hild-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
Do not use a child-restraint system which employs an upper teth er because there is no
appropriate means to anchor the tether.
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 appr opriate air bags can be expected to inflate
only in the first accident, such as frontal, near frontal or side collisions that are at least
moderate. Vehicle occupants shou ld always wear seat belts.

Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated when
using a child-restraint system:
Seating a child in a child-restraint system that is installed on the passenger seat with the
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light not illuminated is extremely dangerous. In an
accident, an air bag could inflate and cause seri ous injuries or even death to the child seated
in the child-restraint system. Always make su re the passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light is illuminated.
Refer to Occupant Classification System on page 2-49.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
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