Mazda MX-5 (2018 year). Instruction - part 3

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions

The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include different types of air bags.
Please verify which kinds of air bags 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 passenger dashboard (passenger air bag)



The outboard sides of the seatbacks (side air bags)

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 roll-over or rear impact.



Reduce the possibility of injuries in frontal, near frontal or side collisions 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 passenger occupant classification system, refer
to the Passenger Occupant Classification System (page 2-40) for details.
If your vehicle is equipped with a passenger occupant classification system, the 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 2-15).

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.
Do not use a child-restraint system which employs an upper tether because there is no
appropriate means to anchor the tether.

WARNING

Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles:
Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous. Alone, air
bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appropriate air bags can be expected to inflate
only in the first accident, such as frontal, near frontal or side collisions that are at least
moderate. Vehicle occupants should always wear seat belts.

Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated when
using a child-restraint system (With Passenger Occupant Classification 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 Occupant Classification System on page 2-40.

SRS Air Bags

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Do not sit too close to the driver and passenger air bags:
Sitting too close to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing hands or feet on them
is extremely dangerous. The driver and 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 passenger should keep both feet on the floor. Seat
occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.

Do not sit too close to a door or lean against doors in vehicles with side air bags:
Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them is extremely
dangerous. A side air bag inflates with great force and speed directly out of the outboard
shoulder of the seat and expands 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 in the seats.
Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the driver-side window while
driving could block the side air bag and eliminate the advantages of supplemental
protection. Give the side air bags room to work by sitting in the center of the seat while the
vehicle is moving 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 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. Give the side 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 passenger air bags deploy:
Attaching an object to the driver and 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.

Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:
Attaching objects to the 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 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 seats. Never use
seat covers on the seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your seats free to deploy in
the event of a side collision.

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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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. 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 resulting in incorrect or
unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.

Do not modify a door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer inspect a damaged door:
Modifying a door or leaving any damage unrepaired is dangerous. Each door has a side crash
sensor as a component of the supplemental restraint system. If holes are drilled in a 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 air bags and the 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 seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and
connections to assure that the bags do not accidentally deploy, and that the passenger
occupant classification system and the seats retain an undamaged air bag connection.

Do not place luggage or other objects under the seats:
Placing luggage or other objects under the 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 seats.

SRS Air Bags

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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 seats, front dashboard, the steering wheel, 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.

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.



Vehicles with a passenger air bag have a warning label attached as shown in the
following.
(Except Mexico)
This warning label is displayed in compliance with regulations.

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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(Mexico)
This warning label reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the
passenger seat at any time.

SRS Air Bags

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Supplemental Restraint System Components

(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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(Without Passenger Occupant Classification System)

Driver/Passenger inflators and air bags
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Seat belt pretensioners (page 2-11)
Front air bag sensors
Side crash sensors
Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 4-26)
Side inflators and air bags
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light

(page 2-40)

Passenger occupant classification sensor

(page 2-40)

Passenger occupant classification module

SRS Air Bags

*Some models.

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How the SRS Air Bags Work

Your Mazda is equipped with the following types of SRS air bags. SRS air bags are
designed to work together with the seat belts to help to reduce injuries during an accident.
The SRS air bags are designed to provide further protection for passengers in addition to the
seat belt functions. Be sure to wear seat belts properly.

▼ Seat Belt Pretensioners

The seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near frontal
collisions.
In addition, during a side collision, the pretensioner operates on the side in which the
collision occurs. The pretensioners operate differently depending on what types of air bags
are equipped. For more details about seat belt pretensioner operation, refer to the SRS Air
Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-37).

▼ Driver Air Bag

The driver's air bag is mounted in the steering wheel.
When air bag crash sensors detect a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, the
driver's air bag inflates quickly helping to reduce injury mainly to the driver's head or chest
caused by directly hitting the steering wheel.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-37).
(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
The driver's dual-stage air bag controls air bag inflation in two energy stages. During an
impact of moderate severity, the driver's air bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, it deploys with more energy.

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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▼ Passenger Air Bag

The passenger air bag is mounted in the passenger dashboard.
The inflation mechanism for the passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-37).
(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the 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 system (page 2-40).

SRS Air Bags

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▼ Side Air Bags

The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the seatbacks.
When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the
system inflates the side air bag only on the side in which the vehicle was hit. The side air
bag inflates quickly to reduce injury to the driver or passenger's head and chest caused by
directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-37).
(With Passenger Occupant Classification System)
In addition, the passenger side 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 system (page 2-40).

▼ Warning Light/Beep

A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-26.
Refer to Warning Sound is Activated on page 7-49.

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria

This chart indicates the applicable SRS equipment that will deploy depending on the type of
collision.
(The illustrations are the representative cases of collisions.)

SRS equip-

ment

Types of collision

A severe frontal/near frontal collision

A severe side collision

A rear collision

Seat belt

pretensioner

(both sides)

(impact side only)

No air bag and seat belt

pretensioner will be activat-

ed in a rear collision.

Driver air

bag

Passenger

air bag

Side air bag

(impact side only)

X : The SRS air bag equipment is designed to deploy in a collision.

1 (Passenger Occupant Classification System)

The passenger front and side air bags and the seat belt pretensioner are designed to deploy when the passenger
occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the passenger's seat.

2 In a side collision, the seat belt pretensioners and the side air bags deploy (only on the side in which the

collision occurs).

NOTE

In a frontal offset collision, the equipped air bags and pretensioners may all deploy depending on the direction,
angle, and rate of impact.

SRS Air Bags

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Limitations to SRS Air Bag

In severe collisions such as those described previously in "SRS Air Bag Deployment
Criteria", the applicable SRS air bag equipment will deploy. However, in some accidents,
the equipment may not deploy depending on the type of collision and its severity.

Limitations to front/near front collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples of front/near front collisions that may not be
detected as severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment.

Impacts involving trees or poles

Frontal offset impact to the vehicle

Rear-ending or running under a truck's tail gate

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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Limitations to side collision detection:
The following illustrations are examples of side collisions that may not be detected as
severe enough to deploy the SRS air bag equipment.

Side impacts involving trees or poles

Side impacts with two-wheeled vehicles

Roll-over

SRS Air Bags

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Passenger Occupant Classification System

First, please read "Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions" (page 2-26) carefully.

▼ Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor

Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger occupant classification sensor as a part of the
supplemental restraint system. This sensor is equipped in the passenger's seat cushion. This
sensor measures the electrostatic capacity of the passenger's seat. The SAS unit is designed
to prevent the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from
deploying if the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the system
deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system
when the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on. Refer to the following table
for the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illumination conditions.

This 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 turns on according to the
following table.

The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible malfunction. If this
happens, the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not
deploy.

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light

This indicator light turns on to remind you that the passenger front and side air bags and seat
belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.

If the passenger occupant classification sensor is normal, the indicator light turns on when
the ignition is switched ON. The light turns off after a few seconds. Then, the indicator light
turns on or is off under the following conditions:

Essential Safety Equipment

SRS Air Bags

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Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart

Condition detected by the pas-

senger occupant classification

system

Passenger air bag de-

activation indicator

light

Passenger front and

side air bags

Passenger seat belt

pretensioner system

Empty (Not occupied)

Deactivated

A child is seated in a child-re-
straint system

Deactivated

Adult

Off

Ready

1 The occupant classification sensor may not detect a child seated on the seat, in a child-restraint system, or a

junior seat depending on the child's physical size and seated posture.

2 If a smaller adult sits on the passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child depending on

the person's physique.

If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on when the ignition is
switched ON and does not turn on as indicated in the passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an occupant to sit in the passenger seat
and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work
properly in an accident.

WARNING

Do not allow an occupant in the passenger's seat to sit with a posture which makes it difficult
for the passenger occupant classification sensor to detect the occupant correctly:
Sitting in the passenger's seat with a posture which makes it difficult for the passenger
occupant classification sensor to detect the occupant correctly is dangerous. If the passenger
occupant classification sensor cannot detect the occupant sitting on the passenger's seat
correctly, the passenger front and side air bags and pretensioner system may not operate
(non-deploy) or they may operate (deploy) accidentally. The passenger will not have the
supplementary protection of the air bags or the accidental operation (deployment) of the air
bags could result in serious injury or death.
Under the following conditions, the passenger occupant classification sensor cannot detect a
passenger sitting on the passenger's seat correctly and the deployment/non-deployment of
the air bags cannot be controlled as indicated in the passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light on/off condition chart. For example:

SRS Air Bags

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