2023 MAZDA CX3 Owners Manual

Installing Child-RestraintSystems
▼Installing Child-Restraint Systems
Accident statistics reveal that a child is
safer in the rear seat. The front
passenger's seat is clearly the worst
choice for any child under 12, and
with rear-facing child-restraint systems
it is clearly unsafe due to air bags.

NOTE
Even if your vehicle is equipped with
front passenger occupant classification
sensor (page 2-67), which
automatically deactivates the front
passenger air bag , a rear seat is the
safest place for a child of any age or
size.

Some child-restraint systems now
come with tethers and therefore must
be installed on the seats that take
tethers to be effective. In your Mazda,
tethered child-restraint systems can
only be accommodated in the three
positions on the rear seat.

Some child-restraint systems also
employ specially designed ISOFIX/
LATCH
*1 attachments; refer to "Using
ISOFIX Lower Anchor (Mexico)/Using
LATCH Lower Anchor (Except
Mexico)" (page 2-47).
*1 ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except Mexico)
WARNING
Tethered Child-Restraint Systems
Work Only on Tether-Equipped Rear
Seats:
Installation of a tether equipped
child-restraint system in the front
passenger's seat defeats the safety
design of the system and will result in
an increased chance of serious injury if
the child-restraint system goes forward
without benefit of being tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.
▼ Anchor Bracket
Anchor brackets for securing
child-restraint systems are equipped in
the vehicle. Locate each anchor
position using the illustration.
To install a child-restraint system,
remove the head restraint. 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.
1. For right
2. For center (Except Mexico)
3. For left
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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 remove the head restraint and
install child-restraint system:
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.
(Except Mexico)
1. Tether strap
2. Anchor bracket
3. Forward
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 2-16.
▼Using Automatic Locking Mode
(Except Mexico)
Follow these instructions when using a
child-restraint system, unless you are
attaching a LATCH-equipped
child-restraint system to the rear
LATCH lower anchors. Refer to “Using
LATCH Lower Anchor” (page 2-47).
NOTE
Follow the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions carefully. If
you are not sure whether you have a
LATCH system or tether, check in the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions and follow them
accordingly. Depending on the type of
child-restraint system, it may use
LATCH system instead of seat belts or if
the belt goes across the child's chest,
may recommend against using
automatic locking mode.
1. Make sure the seatback is securely
latched by pushing it back until it is
fully locked.
2. 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.
Refer to Head Restraints on page
2-16.
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Child Restraint
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3. Secure the child-restraint systemwith 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 systemfirmly 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 the
automatic locking mode. If the belt
does not lock the seat down tight,
repeat this step.
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. If your child-restraint system requires the use of a tether strap,
refer to the manufacturer's
instructions to hook and tighten the
tether strap.
WARNING

Use the tether and tether anchor only
for a child-restraint system:
Using the tether or tether anchor to
secure anything but a child-restraint
system is dangerous. This could
weaken or damage the tether or tether
anchor and result in injury.
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Child Restraint
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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.
(Except Mexico)

1. Tether strap
2. Anchor bracket
3. Forward
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 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 2-16.
▼If You Must Use the Front Seat for
Children
If you cannot put all children in the
rear seat, at least put the smallest
children in the rear and be sure the
largest child up fron
t uses the shoulder
belt over the shoulder.
NEVER put a rear-facing child-restraint
system on the front passenger seat
whether your vehicle is equipped with
an occupant classification sensor or
not.
This seat is also not set up for tethered
child-restraint systems, put them in
one of the rear seat positions set up
with tether anchors.
Likewise the ISOFIX/LATCH
*1
child-restraint system cannot be
secured in the front passenger's seat
and should be used in the rear seat.
Do not allow anyone to sleep against
the side window since your vehicle has
side and curtain air bags, it could
cause serious injuries to an out of
position occupant. As children more
often sleep in cars, it is better to put
them in the rear seat. If installing the
child-restraint system on the front seat
is unavoidable, follow these
instructions when using a front-facing
child-restraint system in the front
passenger's seat.
*1ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except Mexico)
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Child Restraint
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NOTE
To check if your front seats have side
air bags:
Mazda vehicles equipped with side
air bag will have a "SRS AIRBAG" tag
on the outboard shoulder of the
front seats.
To check if your vehicle has curtain
air bags:
Mazda vehicles equipped with
curtain air bag will have an "SRS
AIRBAG" marking on the window
pillars along the roof edge.
WARNING
Always move the front passenger seat
as far back as possible if installing a
front-facing child-restraint system on
it is unavoidable:
As your vehicle has front air bags and
doubly so because your vehicle has
side air bags, a front-facing
child-restraint system should be put on
the front passenger seat only when it is
unavoidable.
Even if the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates,
always move the seat as far back as
possible, because the force of a
deploying air bag could cause serious
injury or death to the child.
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 in a moderate collision, 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. Even though you
may feel assured that the front
passenger air bag will not deploy
based on the fact that the front
passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light illuminates, you should
not use a rear-facing child-restraint
system in the front seat.
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.
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Child Restraint
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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 2-16.
Front Passenger's Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation (With Front
Passenger Occupant Classification
System)
1. Make sure the ignition is switchedoff.
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.
5. 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.
6. 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 locking 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.
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Child Restraint
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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.
7. Seat your child safely in the child-restraint system and secure
the child according to the
instructions from the child-restraint
system manufacturer.
8. Switch the ignition ON and make sure the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light
illuminates after installing a
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat.
If the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does
not illuminate, remove the
child-restraint system, switch the
ignition to OFF, and then re-install
the child-restraint system (page
2-67).WARNING
Do not seat a child in a child-restraint
system on the front passenger seat if
the front passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light does not
illuminate:
While it is always better to install any
child-restraint system on the rear seat,
it is imperative that a child-restraint
system ONLY be used on the front
passenger seat if the deactivation
indicator light illuminates when the
child is seated in the child-restraint
system (page 2-67). Seating a child in
a child-restraint system installed on the
front passenger seat with the front
passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light not illuminated is
dangerous. If this indicator light does
not illuminate, this means that the
front passenger front and side air bags,
and knee air bags, and seat belt
pretensioners are ready for
deployment. If an accident were to
deploy an air bag , a child in a
child-restraint system sitting in the
front 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
front passenger seat, seat a child in a
child-restraint system on the rear seat
and consult an Authorized Mazda
Dealer as soon as possible.
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Child Restraint
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▼Using ISOFIX Lower Anchor
(Mexico)/Using LATCH Lower
Anchor (Except Mexico)
Your Mazda is equipped with ISOFIX/
LATCH*1 lower anchors for attachment
of specially designed ISOFIX/LATCH*1
child-restraint systems in the rear seats.
Both anchors must be used, otherwise
the seat will bounce around and put
the child in danger. Most ISOFIX/
LATCH
*1 child-restraint systems must
also be used in conjunction with a
tether to be effective. If they have a
tether you must use it to better assure
your child's safety.
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 the
child-restraint system is properly
secured in place according to the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions.
Never attach two child-restraint
systems to the same ISOFIX/LATCH*1
lower anchor:
Attaching two child-restraint systems
to the same ISOFIX/LATCH
*1 lower
anchor is dangerous. In a collision, one
anchor may not be strong enough to
hold two child-restraint system
attachments, and it may break, causing
serious injury or death. If you use the
seat position for another child-restraint
system when an outboard ISOFIX/
LATCH
*1 position is occupied, use the
center seat belts instead, and the
tether if tether-equipped.
Make sure the child-restraint system is
properly secured:
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. Follow the child-restraint
system manufacturer's instructions on
belt routing to secure the seat just as
you would with a child in it so that
nobody is tempted to put a child in an
improperly secured seat later on.
When not in use, remove it from the
vehicle or fasten it with a seat belt, or
attach it to BOTH ISOFIX/LATCH
*1
lower anchors for ISOFIX/LATCH*1
child-restraint systems.
Essential Safety Equipment
Child Restraint
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