Mazda MX-5 (2018 year). Manual

Seat Belt

WARNING

Always wear the seat belt with it correctly
routed in its guide:
Wearing a seat belt without the seat belt
routed in its guide is dangerous because
the seat belt would not be able to provide
adequate protection in an accident, which
could result in serious injury.

Seat belt guide

▼ Fastening the Seat Belt

Seat belt tongue

Seat belt buckle

Position the lap belt as low as possible, not
on the abdominal area, then adjust the
shoulder belt so that it fits snugly against
your body.

Keep low on
hip bone

Take up slack

Too high

▼ Unfastening the Seat Belt

Depress the button on the seat belt buckle.
If the belt does not fully retract, pull it out
and check for kinks or twists. Then make
sure it remains untwisted as it retracts.

Button

NOTE
If a belt does not fully retract, inspect it
for kinks and twists. If it is still not
retracting properly, have it inspected at an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

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Seat Belt Warning Systems

If it detects that the occupant seat belt is
unfastened, the warning light or beep
alerts the occupant.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-26.
Refer to Seat Belt Warning Beep on page
7-49.

Seat Belt Pretensioner and

Load Limiting Systems

For optimum protection, the driver and
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 deployment details, refer to the SRS
Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-
37).
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 Warning/Indicator Lights on page
4-26.
Refer to Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner
System Warning Beep on page 7-49.
(With Passenger Occupant
Classification System)
In addition, the pretensioner system for the
passenger, like the front and side
passenger air bag, is designed to only
deploy when the passenger occupant
classification sensor detects a passenger
sitting on the passenger's seat.
For details, refer to the passenger occupant
classification sensor (page 2-40).

Seat Belt Systems

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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
sufficient 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 driver and
passenger 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 belts" (page 2-10).

Have your seat belts changed immediately
if the pretensioner or load limiter has been
expended:
Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
immediately inspect the seat belt
pretensioners and air bags after any
collision. Like the air bags, the seat belt
pretensioners and load limiters will only
function once and must be replaced after
any collision that caused them to deploy. A
seat belt with an expended pretensioner or
load limiter is still better than wearing no
seat belt at all; however, if the seat belt
pretensioners and load limiters are not
replaced, the risk of injury in a collision will
increase.

Do not modify the components or wiring,
or use electronic testing devices on the
pretensioner system:
Modifying the components or wiring of the
pretensioner system, including the use of
electronic testing devices is dangerous. You
could accidentally activate it or make it
inoperable which would prevent it from
activating in an accident. The occupants or
repairers could be seriously injured.

Properly dispose of the pretensioner
system:
Improper disposal of the pretensioner
system or a vehicle with non-deactivated
pretensioners is dangerous. Unless all
safety procedures are followed, injury could
result. Have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
safely dispose of the pretensioner system or
scrap a pretensioner system equipped
vehicle.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

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NOTE



The pretensioner system may not
operate depending on the type of the
collision. For details, refer to the SRS
Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-
37).



Some smoke (non-toxic gas) will be
released when the air bags and
pretensioners deploy. This does not
indicate a fire. This gas normally has no
effect on occupants, however, those with
sensitive skin may experience light skin
irritation. If residue from the
deployment of the air bags or the
pretensioner system gets on the skin or
in the eyes, wash it off as soon as
possible.

Seat Belt Extender

If your seat belt is not long enough, even
when fully extended, a seat belt extender
may be available to you at no charge from
your Authorized Mazda Dealer.
This extender will be only for you and for
the particular vehicle and seat. Even if it
plugs into other seat belts, it may not hold
in the critical moment of a crash.
When ordering an extender, only order one
that provides the necessary additional
length to fasten the seat belt properly.
Please contact your Authorized Mazda
Dealer for more information.

WARNING

Do not use a seat belt extender unless it is
necessary:
Using a seat belt extender when not
necessary is dangerous. The seat belt will
be too long and not fit properly. In an
accident, the seat belt will not provide
adequate protection and you could be
seriously injured. Only use the extender
when it is required to fasten the seat belt
properly.

Seat Belt Systems

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Do not use an improper extender:
Using a seat belt extender that is for
another person or a different vehicle or seat
is dangerous. The seat belt will not provide
adequate protection and the user could be
seriously injured in an accident. Only use
the extender provided for you and for the
particular vehicle and seat. NEVER use the
extender in a different vehicle or seat. If you
sell your Mazda, do not leave your seat belt
extender in the vehicle. It could be used
accidentally by the new owner of the
vehicle. After removing the seat belt
extender, discard it. Never use the seat belt
extender in any other vehicle you may own
in the future.

Do not use an extender that is too long:
Using an extender that is too long is
dangerous. The seat belt will not fit
properly. In an accident, the seat belt will
not provide adequate protection and you
could be seriously injured. Do not use the
extender or choose one shorter in length if
the distance between the extender's buckle
and the center of the user's body is less
than 15 cm (6 in).

Do not leave a seat belt extender
connected to the buckle:
Leaving a seat belt extender connected to
the buckle without using the seat belt is
dangerous. When the seat belt extender is
connected to the driver's seat belt buckle
(or passenger's seat belt buckle), the SRS
driver's (or passenger's) air bag system will
determine that the driver (or passenger) is
wearing the seat belt even if the driver (or
passenger) is not wearing it. This condition
could cause the driver's (or passenger's) air
bag to not activate correctly and result in
death or serious injury in the event of
collision. Always wear the seat belt with the
seat belt extender.

Do not use the seat belt extender when
installing a child-restraint system on the
passenger seat:
Using a seat belt extender to fasten a
child-restraint system on any seat is
dangerous. Always follow the
child-restraint system manufacturer's
installation instructions and never use a
seat belt extender.

NOTE
When not in use, remove the seat belt
extender and store it in the vehicle. If the
seat belt extender is left connected, the
seat belt extender might get damaged as it
will not retract with the rest of the seat belt
and can easily fall out of the door when
not in use and be damaged. In addition,
the seat belt warning light will not
illuminate and function properly.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

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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 specific 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 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.

A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER be used on the passenger seat with the
air bag system activated.

(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the
passenger occupant classification sensor work as a part of the supplemental restraint system.
This system deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger seat belt
pretensioner system when the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates.

When an infant or small child sits on the passenger seat, the system shuts off the passenger
front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so make sure the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates.

For more details, refer to "Passenger occupant classification sensor" (page 2-40).

WARNING

Use the correct size child-restraint system:
For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, a child must be properly
restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending on age and size. If not, the
child could be seriously injured or even killed in an accident.

Child Restraint

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Follow the manufacturer's instructions and always keep the child-restraint system buckled
down:
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 child-restraint system manufacturer's
instructions. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or fasten it with a seat belt.

Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint system:
Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No matter
how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a sudden stop or collision
and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. Even in a
moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag forces that could result in serious
injury or death to the child, or the child may be slammed into an adult, causing injury to both
child and adult.

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 serious injuries or even death to the child seated
in the child-restraint system. Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light is illuminated.
Refer to Passenger Occupant Classification System on page 2-40.
(Except Mexico)
Vehicles with a passenger air bag have the following warning label. The warning label is
displayed in compliance with regulations.

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

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(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 passenger air bag have the following warning label. The warning label
reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the passenger seat at any time.

Before installing child-restraint system on the passenger seat, move the passenger seat as far
back as possible:
In a collision, the force of a deploying air bag could cause serious injury or death to the child.

Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the passenger seat is dangerous under certain
conditions (With Passenger Occupant Classification System):
Your vehicle is equipped with passenger occupant classification sensor. Even with the
passenger occupant classification sensor, if you must use the passenger seat to seat a child,
using a child-restraint system on the passenger seat under the following conditions increases
the danger of the passenger air bag deploying and could result in serious injury or death to
the child.

The 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.
The seat is washed.
Liquids are spilled on the seat.
The passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items placed behind

it.

Luggage or other items are placed between the passenger seat and driver seat.
An electric device is put on the passenger's seat.

Child Restraint

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An additional electrical device, such as a seat warmer is installed to the surface of the

passenger seat.

Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over or against the side window of a vehicle with side
air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over or against the side window, the area of the
passenger seat from which the side air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint system is used.
The impact of inflation from a side air bag could cause serious injury or death to an out of
position child. Furthermore, leaning over or against the door could block the side air bags and
eliminate the advantages of supplemental protection. Because the side air bag deploys from
the outboard shoulder of the seat, do not allow the child to lean over 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.

Always use a child-restraint system designed for use without a tether or the LATCH lower
anchor:
Using a child-restraint system that requires a tether or the LATCH lower anchor is dangerous.
Your Mazda does not have a child-restraint tether or the LATCH lower anchor. The
child-restraint system cannot be properly secured. In a collision, it could move and injure
other occupants as well as result in serious injuries or death to the child.

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

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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 classified into the following 5 groups according to the UNECE
44 regulation.

Group

Age

Weight

Up to about 9 months old

Up to 10 kg (up to 22 lb)

Up to about 2 years old

Up to 13 kg (up to 29 lb)

About 8 months to 4 years old

9 kg ― 18 kg (20 lb ― 40 lb)

About 3 to 7 years old

15 kg ― 25 kg (33 lb ― 55 lb)

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.



Due to variations in the design of
child-restraint systems, vehicle seats
and seat belts, all child-restraint systems
may not fit all seating positions. Before
purchasing a child-restraint system, it
should be tested in the specific vehicle
seating position (or positions) where it
is intended to be used. If a previously
purchased child-restraint system does
not fit, you may need to purchase a
different one that will.

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Child-Restraint System Suitability for Various Seat

Positions Table

(Mexico)
Provided information in the table shows your child-restraint system suitability for various
seating position. For installation suitability of other manufacturer child-restraint system,
carefully consult the manufacturer's instructions which accompany the child-restraint system.

LATCH lower anchor-secured child-restraint systems

When installing a child-restraint system to the passenger seat, refer to the child-restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's instructions.

Mass group

Size Class

Fixture

Seat Positions

Vehicle LATCH positions

Passenger seat

Carrycot

ISO/L1

ISO/L2

(1)

GROUP 0 Up to 10 kg (up to 22 lb)

ISO/R1

(1)

GROUP 0 Up to 13 kg (up to 29

lb)

ISO/R1

ISO/R2

ISO/R3

(1)

GROUP 1 9 kg ― 18 kg (20 lb ―

40 lb)

ISO/R2

ISO/R3

ISO/F2

ISO/F2X

ISO/F3

(1)

GROUP 2 15 kg ― 25 kg (33 lb ―

55 lb)

(1)

GROUP 3 22 kg ― 36 kg (48 lb ―

79 lb)

(1)

(1) For the CRS which do not carry the ISO/XX size class identification (A to G), for the applicable mass group,
the car manufacturer shall indicate the vehicle specific LATCH child-restraint system(s) recommended for each
position.
Key of letters to be inserted in the above table:
These LATCH CRS are those of the “specific vehicle”, “restricted” or “semi-universal” categories.
X = LATCH position not suitable for LATCH child-restraint systems in this mass group and/or this size class.

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i-Size child-restraint systems

An i-Size child-restraint system can be installed to the specified seat as follows:

Passenger seat

i-Size child-restraint systems

Key of letters to be inserted in the above table:
X = Seating position not suitable for i-Size “universal” child-restraint systems.

NOTE
An i-Size child-restraint system refers to a child-restraint system which has acquired i-Size
category certification for the UNECE 129 regulation.

Seat belt-secured child-restraint systems

System group

Age group

Weight group

Child-restraint

system type

Passenger seat

GROUP 0

Up to about 9

months old

Up to 10 kg (up

to 22 lb)

Infant seat

GROUP 0

Up to about 2

years old

Up to 13 kg (up

to 29 lb)

Infant seat

GROUP 1

About 8 months

to 4 years old

9 kg ― 18 kg (20

lb ― 40 lb)

Child seat

GROUP 2

About 3 to 7

years old

15 kg― 25 kg

(33 lb ― 55 lb)

Booster seat

GROUP 3

About 6 to 12

years old

22 kg ― 36 kg

(48 lb ― 79 lb)

Booster seat

Key of letters to be inserted in the above table:
L = For the child restraint systems categorized in this weight group, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer.
Regarding child-restraint systems which can be installed, refer to the accessories catalog.
X = Seat position not suitable for children in this mass group.
(Refer to the “Accessories Catalog” for installing a Mazda genuine child-restraint system.)

(Except Mexico)
Please comply with the legal regulations concerning the use of child-restraint systems in
your country.

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

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Installing Child-Restraint

Systems

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.

WARNING

Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over
or against the side window of a vehicle
with side air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean
over or against the side window, the area
of the passenger seat from which the side
air bags deploy, even if a child-restraint
system is used. The impact of inflation from
a side air bag could cause serious injury or
death to an out of position child.
Furthermore, leaning over or against the
door could block the side air bags and
eliminate the advantages of supplemental
protection. Because the side air bag
deploys from the outboard shoulder of the
seat, do not allow the child to lean over 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 held, the seat will move
suddenly and could cause injury.

Passenger's Seat Child-Restraint
System Installation (With Passenger
Occupant Classification System)

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off.

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2. Slide the seat as far back as possible.

3. Place the child-restraint 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 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.

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 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 2-40).

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 (With Passenger
Occupant Classification System):
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.

Child Restraint

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Mazda MX-5 (2018 year). Manual - part 2