Mazda 3 Hatchback (2018 year). Manual — part 3

Do not allow a child or anyone to lean over
or against the side window of a vehicle
with side and curtain air bags:
It is dangerous to allow anyone to lean over
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 or against the
front door could block the side and curtain
air bags and eliminate the advantages of
supplemental protection. With the front air
bag and the additional side air bag that
comes out of the front seat, the rear seat is
always a better location for children. Take
special care not to allow a child to lean
over or against the side window, even if the
child is seated in a child-restraint system.

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 2-10.

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

1. Make sure the ignition is switched off.
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.

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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.



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 2-61).

Essential Safety Equipment

Child-Restraint

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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 2-61). 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 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 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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▼ Using LATCH Lower Anchor

Your Mazda is equipped with LATCH lower anchors for attachment of specially designed
LATCH 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 LATCH 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 LATCH lower anchor:
Attaching two child-restraint systems to the same LATCH 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 LATCH 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 latch it down to
BOTH LATCH lower anchors for LATCH child-restraint systems.

Make sure there are no seat belts or foreign objects near or around the LATCH 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 LATCH lower 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
LATCH lower anchors. Always follow the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions.

Essential Safety Equipment

Child-Restraint

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Installation on rear outboard seats

1. First, adjust the front seat to allow

clearance between the child-restraint
system and the front seat (page 2-5).

2. Make sure the seatback is securely

latched by pushing it back until it is
fully locked.

3. Expand the area between the seat

bottom and the seatback slightly to
verify the locations of the LATCH
lower anchors.

NOTE
The markings above the LATCH lower
anchors indicate the locations of the
LATCH lower anchors for the
attachment of a child-restraint system.

4. 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 2-10.

5. Secure the child-restraint system using

BOTH LATCH lower anchors,
following the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instruction. Pull on the
child-restraint to be sure both anchors
are engaged.

6. If your child-restraint system came

equipped with a tether, that 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.

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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Always remove the head restraint and set
the tether strap (except when installing a
backless booster seat):
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.

Anchor bracket

Tether strap

(4-Door)

Tether strap

Forward

(5-Door)

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 2-10.

Installation on rear center seat

The LATCH lower anchors at the center of
the rear seat are much further apart than
the sets of LATCH lower anchors for
child-restraint system installation at other
seating positions. Child-restraint systems
with rigid LATCH attachments cannot be
installed on the center seating position.
Some LATCH equipped child-restraint
systems can be placed in the center
position and will reach the nearest LATCH
lower anchors which are 443 mm (17.4 in)
apart. LATCH compatible child-restraint
systems (with attachments on belt
webbing) can be used at this seating
position only if the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions state that the
child-restraint system can be installed to
LATCH lower anchors that are 443 mm
(17.4 in) apart. Do not attach two
child-restraint systems to the same
LATCH lower anchor. If your
child-restraint system has a tether, it must
also be used for your child's optimum
safety.

The procedure for installation on the rear
outboard seats is the same.

Essential Safety Equipment

Child-Restraint

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LATCH lower anchor location

WARNING

Always remove the head restraint and set
the tether strap (except when installing a
backless booster seat):
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.

Anchor bracket

Tether strap

(4-Door)

Tether strap

Forward

(5-Door)

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 2-10.

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Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions

The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include different types of air bags.
Please verify the different types of air bags which are equipped on your vehicle by
locating the “SRS AIRBAG” location indicators. These indicators are visible in the area
where the air bags are installed.
The air bags are installed in the following locations:



The steering wheel hub (driver air bag)



The front passenger dashboard (front passenger air bag)



The outboard sides of the front seatbacks (side air bags)

*



The front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides (curtain air bags)

*

Vehicles with the Front Passenger Occupant Classification System have a sensor which
detects an impending roll-over accident.

The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection
in certain situations so seat belts are always important in the following ways:

Without seat belt usage, the air bags cannot provide adequate protection during an accident.
Seat belt usage is necessary to:



Keep the occupant from being thrown into an inflating air bag.



Reduce the possibility of injuries during an accident that is not designed for air bag
inflation, such as rear impact.



Reduce the possibility of injuries in frontal, near frontal or side collisions or roll-over
accidents that are not severe enough to activate the air bags.



Reduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.



Reduce the possibility of injuries to lower body and legs during an accident because the
air bags provide no protection to these parts of the body.



Hold the driver in a position which allows better control of the vehicle.

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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If your vehicle is also equipped with a front passenger occupant classification system,
refer to the Front Passenger Occupant Classification System (page 2-61) for details.
If your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification system, the front
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specified 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 2-20).

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 inflate
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.

SRS Air Bags

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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
inflate 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 driver and front passenger air bags
deploy:
Attaching an object to the driver and front passenger air bag modules or placing something
in front of them is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere with air bag inflation
and injure the occupants.

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:
Attaching objects to the front seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the seat in
any way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side air bag, which
inflates from the outboard side of the front seats, impeding the added protection of the side
air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag
could be cut open releasing the gas.
Do not hang net bags, map pouches or backpacks with side straps on the front seats. Never
use seat covers on the front seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your front seats free
to deploy in the event of a side collision.

Do not attach objects on or around the area where a curtain air bag deploys:
Attaching objects to the areas where the curtain air bag activates such as on the windshield
glass, side door glass, front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge and assist grips is
dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the curtain air bag, which inflates
from the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge, impeding the added
protection of the curtain air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is dangerous.
Furthermore, the bag could be cut open releasing the gas.
Do not place hangers or any other objects on the assist grips. When hanging clothes, hang
them on the coat hook directly. Always keep the curtain air bag modules free to deploy in the
event of a side collision or roll-over accident.

Do not touch the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags have
inflated:
Touching the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags have
inflated is dangerous. Immediately after inflation, they are very hot. You could get burned.

Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar, bull bar,
push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The air bag crash
sensor system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate unexpectedly, or it could
prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident. Front occupants could be seriously
injured.

Do not modify the suspension:
Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the suspension is
modified, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision or roll-over accident
resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.

SRS Air Bags

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To prevent false detection by the air bag sensor system, heed the following:

Do not use tires or wheels other than those specified for your Mazda:

Use of any tire or wheel other than those specified for your Mazda (page 9-10) is
dangerous. Use of such wheels will prevent the vehicle's accident detections system from
accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in incorrect or unexpected air
bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.

Do not overload your vehicle:

Overloading your vehicle is dangerous as it could prevent the air bag crash sensor system
from accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in incorrect or
unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries. The gross axle weight
rating (GAWR) and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) for your vehicle are on the Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard Label on the driver's door frame. Do not exceed these ratings.

Do not drive the vehicle off-road:

Driving your Mazda off-road is dangerous because the vehicle has not been designed to do
so. Driving the vehicle off-road could prevent the air bag crash sensor system from
accurately detecting a collision or roll-over accident resulting in incorrect or unexpected air
bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.

Do not modify a front door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect a damaged front door:
Modifying a front door or leaving any damage unrepaired is dangerous. Each front door has a
side crash sensor as a component of the supplemental restraint system. If holes are drilled in a
front door, a door speaker is left removed, or a damaged door is left unrepaired, the sensor
could be adversely affected causing it to not detect the pressure of an impact correctly during
a side collision. If a sensor does not detect a side impact correctly, the side and curtain air
bags and the front seat belt pretensioner may not operate normally which could result in
serious injury to occupants.

Do not modify the supplemental restraint system:
Modifying the components or wiring of the supplemental restraint system is dangerous. You
could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Do not make any modifications to the
supplemental restraint system. This includes installing trim, badges, or anything else over the
air bag modules. It also includes installing extra electrical equipment on or near system
components or wiring. An Authorized Mazda Dealer can provide the special care needed in
the removal and installation of front seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and
connections to assure that the bags do not accidentally deploy, and that the front passenger
occupant classification system and the seats retain an undamaged air bag connection.

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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Do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats:
Placing luggage or other objects under the front seats is dangerous. The components
essential to the supplemental restraint system could be damaged, and in the event of a side
collision, the appropriate air bags may not deploy, which could result in death or serious
injury. To prevent damage to the components essential to the supplemental restraint system,
do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats.

Do not operate a vehicle with damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system components:
Expended or damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system components must be replaced
after any collision which caused them to deploy or damage them. Only a trained Authorized
Mazda Dealer can fully evaluate these systems to see that they will work in any subsequent
accident. Driving with an expended or damaged air bag or pretensioner unit will not afford
you the necessary protection in the event of any subsequent accident which could result in
serious injury or death.

Do not remove interior air bag parts:
Removing any components such as the front seats, front dashboard, the steering wheel or
parts on the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge, containing air bag parts
or sensors is dangerous. These parts contain essential air bag components. The air bag could
accidentally activate and cause serious injuries. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer
remove these parts.

SRS Air Bags

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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 system modified to accommodate a person with certain medical conditions in
accordance with a certified physician, contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to
“Customer Assistance (U.S.A.)” (page 8-2).



When an air bag deploys, a loud inflation 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.

(Except Mexico)

(Mexico)

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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Supplemental Restraint System Components

(With Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)

SRS Air Bags

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(Without Front Passenger Occupant Classification System)

Driver/Front passenger inflators and air bags
Roll-over sensor

*

, crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)

Seat belt pretensioners (page 2-16)
Front air bag sensors
Side crash sensors

*

Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 4-24)
Side and curtain inflators and air bags

*

Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light

*

(page 2-61)

Front passenger occupant classification sensor

*

(page 2-61)

Front passenger occupant classification module

*

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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*Some models.

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