Mazda 3 Hatchback (2018 year). Instruction

Front Seat

▼ Seat Operation

*1: With power operation seat only

Power operation

Seat Slide

(Manual Seat)
To move a seat forward or backward, raise the lever and slide the seat to the desired position
and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original position and the seat is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and backward.
(Power Seat)
To slide the seat, move the slide lifter switch on the outside of the seat to the front or back
and hold it. Release the switch at the desired position.

Height Adjustment (Driver's Seat)

(Manual Seat)
To adjust the seat height, move the lever up or down.
(Power Seat)
To adjust the seat height, move the switch up or down.

Seat Recline

(Manual Seat)

Seats

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To change the seatback angle, lean forward slightly while raising the lever. Then lean back
to the desired position and release the lever.
Make sure the lever returns to its original position and the seatback is locked in place by
attempting to push it forward and backward.
(Power Seat)
To change the seatback angle, press the front or rear side of the reclining switch. Release the
switch at the desired position.

Lumbar Support Adjustment (Driver's Seat)

To increase the seat firmness, move the lever downward. Move the lever upward to decrease
firmness.

▼ Seat Warmer

The front seats are electrically heated. The
ignition must be switched ON.
Press the seat warmer switch while the
ignition is switched ON to operate the seat
warmer. The indicator lights turn on to
indicate that the seat warmer is operating.
The mode changes as follows each time
the seat warmer switch is pressed.

OFF

High

Mid

Low

WARNING

Be careful when using the seat warmer:
The heat from the seat warmer may be too
hot for some people, as indicated as
follows, and could cause a
low-temperature burn.

Infants, small children, elderly people,

and physically challenged people

People with delicate skin
People who are excessively fatigued
People who are intoxicated
People who have taken sleep-inducing

medicine such as sleeping pills or cold
medicine

Do not use the seat warmer with anything
having high moisture-retention ability such
as a blanket or cushion on the seat:
The seat may be heated excessively and
cause a low-temperature burn.

Do not use the seat warmer even when
taking a short nap in the vehicle:
The seat may be heated excessively and
cause a low-temperature burn.

Do not place heavy objects with sharp
projections on the seat, or insert needles or
pins into it:
This could cause the seat to become
excessively heated and result in injury from
a minor burn.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

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CAUTION

Do not use organic solvents to clean the
seat. It may damage the seat surface and
the heater.

NOTE



If the ignition is switched off while the
seat warmer is operating (High, Mid or
Low) and then switched ON again, the
seat warmer will automatically operate
at the temperature set before switching
off the ignition.



Use the seat warmer when the engine is
running. Leaving the seat warmer on for
long periods with the engine not running
could cause the battery power to be
depleted.



The temperature of the seat warmer
cannot be adjusted beyond High, Mid
and Low because the seat warmer is
controlled by a thermostat.

Rear Seat

▼ Split/One-piece Folding the

Seatback

By lowering the rear seatback(s) the
luggage compartment space can be
expanded.

WARNING

Do not drive the vehicle with occupants on
folded down seatback(s) or in the luggage
compartment.
Putting occupants in the luggage
compartment is dangerous because seat
belts cannot be fastened which could lead
to serious injury or death during sudden
braking or a collision.

Do not allow children to play inside the
vehicle with the seatback(s) lowered.
Allowing children to play in the vehicle with
the seatback(s) folded down is dangerous.
If a child enters the luggage compartment
and the seatback(s) were raised back up,
the child may become trapped in the
luggage compartment which could lead to
an accident.

Tightly secure cargo in the luggage
compartment when it is transported with
the seatback(s) folded down.
Driving without tightly securing cargo and
luggage is dangerous as it could move and
become an obstruction to driving during
emergency braking or a collision resulting
in an unexpected accident.

Seats

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When transporting cargo, do not allow the
cargo to exceed the height of the
seatback(s).
Transporting cargo stacked higher than the
seatback(s) is dangerous as visibility to the
rear and sides of the vehicle is reduced
which could interfere with driving
operations and lead to an accident.

Lowering the seatback(s)

CAUTION

Check the position of a front seat before
folding a rear seatback.
Depending on the position of a front seat, it
may not be possible to fold a rear seatback
all the way down because it may hit the
seatback of the front seat which could
scratch or damage the front seat or its
pocket. Lower or remove the head restraint
on the rear outboard seat if necessary.

(4–Door)

1. (Split-folding type seat)

Open the trunk lid and pull the lever of
the seatback you want to fold down.
(One-piece folding type seat)
Open the trunk lid and pull the lever of
the seatback.

*1: With split-folding

type seat only

2. Open a rear door and fold the rear seat

forward.

(5–Door)

Press the push knob to fold down the
seatback.

To return the seatback to its upright
position:

WARNING

When returning a seatback to its upright
position, make sure the 3-point seat belt is
not caught in the seatback and the 3-point
seat belt is not twisted.
If the seat belt is used while it is twisted and
caught in the seatback, the seat belt
cannot function at its full capacity, which
could cause serious injury or death.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

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When returning a seatback to its upright
position, make sure that it is firmly locked
and the red indication is not visible (5–
Door).
If the red indication is visible behind the
push knob, it means the seatback is not
locked. If the vehicle is driven without the
seatback locked, it could fold down
suddenly and cause an accident.

Locked position

Unlocked position

Red indication

1. Make sure that the seat belt passes

through the seat belt guide correctly
and it is not twisted, then raise the
seatback while preventing the seat belt
from being caught in the seatback.

(4–Door)

Seat belt guides

(5–Door)

Red indication

Seat belt guide

2. Press the seatback rearward and lock it

in place. After returning the seatback
to its upright position, make sure it is
securely locked.

▼ Armrest

The rear armrest in the center of the rear
seatback can be used (no occupant in the
center seat) or placed upright.

WARNING

Never put your hands and fingers around
the moving parts of the seat and armrest:
Putting your hands and fingers around the
moving parts of the seat and armrest is
dangerous as they could get injured.

Seats

*Some models.

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Head Restraints

Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints on all outboard seats and the rear
center seat. The head restraints are
intended to help protect you and the
passengers from neck injury.

WARNING

Always drive with the head restraints
installed when seats are being used and
make sure they are properly adjusted:
Driving with the head restraints adjusted
too low or removed is dangerous. With no
support behind your head, your neck could
be seriously injured in a collision.

Height adjustment

To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the
desired position.
To lower the head restraint, press the
stop-catch release, then push the head
restraint down.
Adjust the head restraint so that the center
is even with the top of the passenger's
ears.

Front outboard seat

Rear outboard seat

Rear center seat

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

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Removal/Installation

To remove the head restraint, pull it up
while pressing the stop-catch.
To install the head restraint, insert the legs
into the holes while pressing the
stop-catch.

WARNING

Always drive with the head restraints
installed when seats are being used and
make sure they are properly installed:
Driving with the head restraints not
installed is dangerous. With no support
behind your head, your neck could be
seriously injured in a collision.

Seats

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Seat Belt Precautions

Seat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden
stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and all passengers always wear seat belts.

(Except Mexico)
All of the seat belt retractors are designed to keep the lap/shoulder belts out of the way when
not in use.
The driver's seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint systems and has only an
emergency locking mode. The driver may wear it comfortably, and it will lock during a
collision.
However, the front passenger's seat and all rear lap/shoulder belt retractors operate in two
modes: emergency locking mode, and for child-restraint systems, automatic locking mode.
While we recommend you put all children in the rear seats, if you must use the front
passenger seat for a child, slide the front passenger seat as far back as possible and make
sure any child-restraint system is secured properly.

(Mexico)
All the seats have lap/shoulder belts. These belts have retractors with inertia locks that keep
them out of the way when not in use. The locks allow the belts to remain comfortable on
users, but they will lock in position during a collision.

WARNING

Always wear your seat belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained:
Not wearing a seat belt is extremely dangerous. During a collision, occupants not wearing
seat belts could hit someone or things inside the vehicle or even be thrown out of the vehicle.
They could be seriously injured or even killed. In the same collision, occupants wearing seat
belts would be much safer.

Do not wear twisted seat belts:
Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt is not available to
absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt, which could cause
serious injury or death. So, if your seat belt is twisted, you must straighten the seat belt to
remove any twists and to allow the full width of the belt to be used.

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.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

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Do not operate a vehicle with a damaged seat belt:
Using a damaged seat belt is dangerous. An accident could damage the belt webbing of the
seat belt in use. A damaged seat belt cannot provide adequate protection in a collision. Have
an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect all seat belt systems in use during an accident before
they are used again.

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.

Positioning the Shoulder Portion of the Seat Belt:
Improper positioning of the shoulder portion of the seat belt is dangerous. Always make sure
the shoulder portion of the seat belt is positioned across your shoulder and near your neck,
but never under your arm, on your neck, or on your upper arm.

Positioning the Lap Portion of the Seat Belt:
The lap portion of the seat belt worn too high is dangerous. In a collision, this would
concentrate the impact force directly on the abdominal area, causing serious injury. Wear the
lap portion of the belt snugly and as low as possible.

CAUTION

Belt retraction may become difficult if the belts and rings are soiled, so try to keep them clean.
For more details about cleaning the seat belts, refer to "Seat Belt Maintenance" (page 6-69).

Ring

Seat Belt Systems

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▼ Pregnant Women and Persons with Serious Medical Conditions

Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific
recommendations.
The lap belt should be worn SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS.
The shoulder belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the
stomach area.
Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your doctor
for any special instructions regarding specific medical conditions.

▼ Emergency Locking Mode

When the seat belt is fastened, it will always be in the emergency locking mode.
In the emergency locking mode, the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the
retractor will lock in position during a collision.
If the belt is locked and cannot be pulled out, retract the belt once, and then try pulling it out
slowly. If this fails, pull the belt strongly one time and loosen, then pull it out again slowly.
(Seat Belt with Automatic Locking Mode)
When the seat belt is fastened, it will always be in the emergency locking mode until it is
switched to automatic locking mode by pulling it all the way out to its full length. If the belt
feels tight and hinders comfortable movement while the vehicle is stopped or in motion, it
may be in the automatic locking mode because the belt has been pulled too far out. To return
the belt to the more comfortable emergency locking mode, wait until the vehicle has stopped
in a safe, level area, retract the belt fully to convert it back to emergency locking mode and
then extend it around you again.

▼ Automatic Locking Mode

Always use the automatic locking mode to keep the child-restraint system from shifting to
an unsafe position in the event of an accident. To enable seat belt automatic locking mode,
pull it all the way out and connect it as instructed on the child-restraint system. It will retract
down to the child-restraint system and stay locked on it. See the section on child restraint
(page 2-20).

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

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Seat Belt

▼ Fastening the Seat Belt

Seat belt
buckle

Seat belt tongue

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

Too high

Take up slack

▼ 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.

▼ Front Shoulder Belt Adjuster

To raise

To lower

Make sure the adjuster is locked.

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
4-23.
Refer to Seat Belt Warning Beep on page
7-38.

Front Seat Belt

Pretensioner and Load

Limiting Systems

For optimum protection, the driver and
front 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 vehicles with the front passenger
occupant classification system, the
pretensioners deploy simultaneously with
the air bags when a roll-over is also
detected.
For deployment details, refer to the SRS
Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-
58).
The front 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
4-23.
Refer to Air Bag/Front Seat Belt
Pretensioner System Warning Beep on
page 7-38.

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

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(With Front Passenger Occupant
Classification System)
In addition, the pretensioner system for the
front passenger, like the front and side
passenger air bag, is designed to only
deploy when the front passenger occupant
classification sensor detects a passenger
sitting on the front passenger's seat.
For details, refer to the front passenger
occupant classification sensor (page 2-
61).

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 front
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 2-15).

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.

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-
58).



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 front
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.

Essential Safety Equipment

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 front passenger's seat belt buckle), the
SRS driver's (or front passenger's) air bag
system will determine that the driver (or
front passenger) is wearing the seat belt
even if the driver (or front passenger) is not
wearing it. This condition could cause the
driver's (or front 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
front or rear 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.

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 sit in the rear and 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 in the outboard seats, and towards the buckle on the right if the
child is seated on the center seat.

Statistics confirm that the rear seat is the best place for all children up to 12 years of age,
and more so with a supplemental restraint system (air bags).

A rear-facing child-restraint system should NEVER be used on the front seat with the air
bag system activated. The front passenger's seat is also the least preferred seat for other
child-restraint systems.

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

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

Even if the front passenger air bag is shut off, Mazda strongly recommends that children be
properly restrained and child-restraint systems of all kinds are properly secured on the rear
seats which are the best place for children.

For more details, refer to "Front passenger occupant classification sensor" (page 2-61).

Essential Safety Equipment

Child-Restraint

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Mazda 3 Hatchback (2018 year). Instruction - part 1