Mazda 3 (2024 year). Manual in english

The pretensioners deploy
simultaneously with the air bags when
a roll-over is also detected.
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 Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner
System Warning Light on page 8-47.

(With Driver and 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 in accordance with the
total seated weight on the front
passenger seat.
For details, refer to the front passenger
seat weight sensors (page 3-18).

Load limiting system

If the vehicle receives a strong impact
from the front of the vehicle, the load
limiting system operates to prevent the
seat belts from applying an excessive
load. By maintaining the load applied
to the seat belt to a speciﬁed level, the
system reduces impact to an
occupant's chest.
Even if the pretensioners have not
ﬁred, the load limiting function must
be checked by an Authorized Mazda
Dealer.

NOTE



The pretensioner system operates if
the vehicle receives a strong impact
from the vehicle front or side
direction. The system may not
operate if the impact is weak.



Some smoke might be released
when the pretensioner system
operates, but this does not mean
there is a ﬁre. This gas normally has
no eﬀect on occupants. However,
those with sensitive skin may
experience light skin irritation. If
residue from the operation of the
pretensioner system gets on the skin
or in the eyes, wash it oﬀ as soon as
possible.

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Seat Belts

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Warnings and Cautions

for Using the Seat Belts

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.

In a rollover crash, an unbelted person
is signiﬁcantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.

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.

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.

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Seat Belts

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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.

Pregnant women and persons with a
medical condition should always wear
seat belts.

However, ask your doctor about
precautions in using a seat belt
because a strong impact might be
applied locally during sudden braking
or a collision. The lap portion of the
belt should ﬁt the pelvis as low as
possible avoiding abdominal area. In
addition, the shoulder portion should
be positioned on the shoulder and
ﬁtted to the chest avoiding the
abdominal area.

Wear seat belts only as recommended
in this owner's manual.

Incorrect positioning of the 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 "How to Use the Seat
Belts" (page 3-28).

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 person
making the modiﬁcation 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.

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Seat Belts

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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
9-54).

1. Ring

How to Use the Seat Belts

Fastening a Seat Belt

Before fastening a rear seat belt, make
sure that the seat belt passes through
the seat belt guide correctly and it is
not twisted.

1. Sit back in the seat with your back

upright.

2. Hold the plate and slowly pull out

the seat belt.

NOTE

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 seat belt strongly
one time and loosen it, then pull it
out again slowly.

3. Make sure that the belt is not

twisted.

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4. Insert the plate into the buckle until

it clicks.

5. The belt should ﬁt the pelvis as low

as possible.

6. The belt should not touch the neck,

jaw, or face and it should pass over
the shoulder.

Seat belt indicator light (rear seat)
(green)

The light turns on when the rear seat
belt is fastened while the vehicle
power is switched ON, and it turns oﬀ
after a certain period.

Unfastening a Seat Belt

Make sure that the seat belt is not
twisted, then let the seat belt retract
slowly.

Adjusting the Seat Belt Height

If the seat belt contacts your neck or it
slips oﬀ the shoulder, adjust the seat
belt height.

To raise the seat belt

To lower the seat belt

1. Hold the seat belt anchor adjuster

and press the knob down.

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2. Make sure that the seat belt anchor

adjuster is securely locked.

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.

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.

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Seat Belts

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Warnings and Cautions

for Using the Seat Belt

Extender

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.

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.

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Seat Belts

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Warnings and Cautions

for Using the Front Seats

WARNING

Never allow children to adjust a seat.

Allowing children to adjust a seat is
dangerous as it could result in serious
injury if a child's hands or feet become
caught in the seat.

Do not drive with the seatback
unlocked.

All of the seatbacks play an important
role in your protection in a vehicle.
Leaving the seatback unlocked is
dangerous as it can allow passengers
to be ejected or thrown around and
baggage to strike occupants in a
sudden stop or collision, resulting in
severe injury. After adjusting the
seatback at any time, even when there
are no other passengers, rock the
seatback to make sure it is locked in
place.

Do not modify or replace the front
seats.

Modifying or replacing the front seats
such as replacing the upholstery or
loosening any bolts is dangerous. The
front seats contain air bag components
essential to the supplemental restraint
system. Such modiﬁcations could
damage the supplemental restraint
system and result in serious injury.
Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer if
there is any need to remove or reinstall
the front seats.

Adjust a seat only when the vehicle is
stopped.

If the seat is adjusted while the vehicle
is being driven, the seating posture
may become unstable and the seat
could move unexpectedly resulting in
injury.

Do not drive with damaged front
seats.

Driving with damaged front seats, such
as seat cushions torn or damaged
down to the urethane, is dangerous. A
collision, even one not strong enough
to inﬂate the air bags, could damage
the front seats which contain essential
air bag components. If there was a
subsequent collision, an air bag may
not deploy which could lead to
injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer inspect the front seats,
front seat belt pretensioners and air
bags after a collision.

Do not drive with either front seats
reclined.

Sitting in a reclined position while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous because
you do not get the full protection from
seat belts. During sudden braking or a
collision, you can slide under the lap
belt and suﬀer serious internal injuries.
For maximum protection, sit well back
and upright.

Do not place an object such as a
cushion between the seatback and
your back.

Putting an object such as a cushion
between the seatback and your back is
dangerous because you will be unable
to maintain a safe driving posture and
the seat belt cannot function at its full
capacity in a collision, which could
result in a serious accident, injury or
death.

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Front Seats

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Do not place objects under the seat.

The object could get stuck and cause
the seat to not be ﬁxed securely, and
result in an accident.

Do not stack cargo higher than the
seatbacks.

Stacking luggage or other cargo higher
than the seatbacks is dangerous.
During sudden braking or a collision,
objects can ﬂy around and become
projectiles that may hit and injure
passengers.

Make sure the adjustable components
of a seat are locked in place.

Adjustable seats and seatbacks that are
not securely locked are dangerous. In a
sudden stop or collision, the seat or
seatback could move, causing injury.
Make sure the adjustable components
of the seat are locked in place by
attempting to slide the seat forward
and backward and rocking the
seatback.

Make sure luggage and cargo is
secured before driving.

Not securing cargo while driving is
dangerous as it could move or be
crushed during sudden braking or a
collision and cause injury.
Additionally, if the air bags deploy, the
cargo may scatter which could result in
serious injury or death.

Never allow a passenger to sit or
stand on the folded seatback while
the vehicle is moving.

Driving with a passenger on the folded
seatback is dangerous. Allowing a child
to sit up on the folded seatback while
the vehicle is moving is particularly
dangerous. In a sudden stop or even a
minor collision, a child not in a proper
seat or child-restraint system and seat
belt could be thrown forward, back or
even out of the vehicle resulting in
serious injuries or death. The child in
the baggage area could be thrown into
other occupants and cause serious
injury.

Never give the car keys to children
and do not allow them to play in the
vehicle (4–Door):

Playing with the folding rear seats is
dangerous. Once the seatbacks are
back up, a child in the trunk would not
be able to get out the way they had
entered. If you have small children,
keep the seatbacks locked.

Always leave your car locked and
keep the car keys safely away from
children (4–Door):

Leaving your car unlocked or the keys
in reach of children is dangerous.
Children who ﬁnd their way into the
trunk through an unlocked rear
seatback or an open trunk can become
accidentally locked in the trunk. This
could result in death or brain damage
from heat prostration, particularly in
the summer. Always lock the doors and
the trunk, and as an added measure,
keep the rear seatbacks locked,
whether you have children in your
home or not.

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Front Seats

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CAUTION



When operating a seat, be careful
not to put your hands or ﬁngers near
the moving parts of the seat or on
the side trim to prevent injury.



When moving the seats, make sure
there is no cargo in the surrounding
area. If the cargo gets caught it could
damage the cargo.



(Manual Seat)

When moving the seats forward and
rearward or returning a rear-reclined
seatback to its upright position,
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.



When inserting your hand under the
seat to clean the cabin or pick up
something you dropped under the
seat, be careful not to hurt yourself.
If you contact the moving parts and
surrounding parts around the seat
rail, seat frame, and the bottom of
the seat, it could result in injury.

How to Use the Front

Seats

Driver's Seat

Manual seat

1. Seat Slide
2. Height Adjustment
3. Height Adjustment for Front Edge

of Seat Bottom

4. Seat Recline

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Power seat

1. Seat Slide
2. Height Adjustment
3. Height Adjustment for Front Edge

of Seat Bottom

4. Seat Recline
5. Lumbar Support Adjustment

Passenger's seat

1. Seat Recline
2. Seat Slide

NOTE

(Power Seat)

The seat-bottom power adjustment is
operated by motors. Avoid extended
operation because excessive use can
damage the motors.



To prevent the battery from running
down, avoid using the power
adjustment when the engine is
stopped. The adjuster uses a large
amount of electrical power.



Do not use the switch to make more
than one adjustment at a time.

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Front Seats

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Driving Position Memory

The desired driving position can be
called up after programming the
position.



Driver’s seat position (Seat slide,
height adjustment, front edge of seat
bottom, seat recline)



Active driving display (Display
position, brightness level, display
information)



Outside mirror angle

Warnings and Cautions

for Using the Driving

Position Memory

CAUTION

Do not place hand, ﬁngers, or feet
around the bottom of the seat while
the seat memory function is operating.
The seat moves automatically while the
seat memory function is operating and
hand, ﬁngers, or feet could get
pinched and injured.

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How to Use the Driving

Position Memory

A driving position can be programmed
to the position memory switch and the
key.

Programming

1. Switch the vehicle power ON.
2. Adjust the following driving

positions to the desired positions.



Driver's seat



Active driving display



Outside mirrors

3. Continue pressing the SET switch

until a sound is activated.

4. Do the following operation within 5

seconds after the sound is activated
to program the driving position.



Programming to a position
memory button

Press the button you want to
program, either 1 or 2 button.



Programming to the transmitter

Press the unlock button on the
transmitter.

A sound is activated when the
operation is completed correctly.

Adjusting to the Programmed Driving
Position

Operation Using the Position Memory
Switch

Press either switch 1 or 2 that you
programmed to activate the seat
adjustment to your position.
A sound is activated when the
adjustment to the programmed driving
position is completed.

Operation Using the Key

1. Unlock the driver's door using one

of the following methods.



Touch the sensing area of the
door release touch sensor.



Press the key unlock button.

2. If the driver's door is opened within

a certain period of time after
unlocking, adjustment of the next
driving position starts.



Driver's seat



Active driving display



Outside mirrors

A sound is activated when the
adjustment to the programmed
driving position is completed.

Deleting a Programmed Position

Erasing the Position Stored in the
Position Memory Switch

Program a new driving position.

Deleting a Position Programmed to
the Key

1. Switch the vehicle power OFF.

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2. Continue pressing the SET switch

until a sound is activated.

3. Press the key lock button within 5

seconds after the sound is
activated.

NOTE



If the angle of the outer mirror is
adjusted close to the limits of its
range of motion, the angle of the
outer mirrors may not be
programmed correctly.



When the adjustment to the
programmed driving position has
been completed, a sound is not
activated.



Under the following conditions, the
driving position adjustment is
canceled.



The seat adjustment switch/SET
switch/outer mirrors/active driving
display for the driver's seat is
operated to adjust the position.



The key lock button or unlock
button is operated.



The vehicle moves.



(Manual transmission)

The parking brake is released.



(Automatic transmission)

The selector lever is shifted to a
position other than P.

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Front Seats

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Warnings and Cautions

for Using the Rear Seats

WARNING

Do not drive the vehicle with
occupants on folded down seatbacks
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 seatbacks
lowered.

Allowing children to play in the vehicle
with the seatbacks folded down is
dangerous. If a child enters the luggage
compartment and the seatbacks 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 seatbacks 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.

When transporting cargo, do not
allow the cargo to exceed the height
of the seatbacks.

Transporting cargo stacked higher than
the seatbacks 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.

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.

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, 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.

1. Locked position
2. Unlocked position
3. Red indication

CAUTION



(5–Door)

When folding the seatback forward,
always support the seatback with
your hand. If it is not supported by a
hand, ﬁngers or the hand pressing
the push knob could be injured.



Check the position of a front seat
before folding a rear seatback.

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Rear Seats

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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.

How to Use the Rear

Seats

Folding the seatbacks

(4–Door)

1. Open the trunk lid.
2.

3. Open a rear door and fold the rear

seat forward.

(5–Door)

Raising the seatbacks

1. Make sure that the seat belt passes

through the seat belt guide
correctly and it is not twisted.

2. Raise the seatback while preventing

the seat belt from being caught in
the seatback.

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Rear Seats

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(4–Door)

1. Seat belt guides

(5–Door)

1. Red indication
2. Seat belt guide

4. Push the seatback rearward until it

locks.

5. Make sure it is securely locked.

Warnings and Cautions

for Using the Armrests

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.

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Rear Seats

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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.

Warnings and Cautions

for Using the Head

Restraints

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.

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.

After installing a head restraint, try
lifting it to make sure that it does not
pull out.

Driving with an unsecured head
restraint is dangerous as the
eﬀectiveness of the head restraint will
be compromised which could cause it
to unexpectedly detach from the seat.

CAUTION



When installing a head restraint,
make sure that it is installed correctly
with the front of the head restraint
facing forward. If the head restraint is
installed incorrectly, it could detach
from the seat during a collision and
result in injury.

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Head Restraints

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

The head restraints on each of the
front and rear seats are specialized to
each seat. Do not switch around the
head restraint positions. If a head
restraint is not installed to its correct
seat position, the eﬀectiveness of the
head restraint during a collision will
be compromised which could cause
injury.

How to Use the Head

Restraints

Adjusting the Head Restraints

Adjust the head restraint so that the
center is even with the top of the
passenger's ears.

To Raise a Head Restraint

Pull up a head restraint.

To Lower a Head Restraint

Lower a head restraint while pressing
the lock knob.

Front seats

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Head Restraints

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Warnings and Cautions

for Using the Steering

Wheel

WARNING

Never adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving.

Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. Moving
it can very easily cause the driver to
abruptly turn to the left or right. This
can lead to loss of control or an
accident.

After adjusting the steering wheel
position, make sure it is securely
locked by trying to move it up and
down.

Driving with the steering wheel not
securely locked in position is
dangerous. If the steering wheel moves
unexpectedly while driving, you could
lose control of the steering resulting in
an accident.

How to Use the Steering

Wheel

2. Adjust the steering wheel to the

appropriate position.

3. Pull up the lever to securely lock the

steering wheel.

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Steering Wheel

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Child-restraint Systems

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
seat weight sensors works as a part of
the supplemental restraint system. This
system deactivates the front passenger
front and side air bags and knee 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 knee 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
system" (page 3-18).

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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Warnings and Cautions

For Child-restraint

Systems

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.

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, or attach it to BOTH ISOFIX/
LATCH

lower anchors for ISOFIX/

LATCH

child-restraint systems and

the corresponding tether anchor.

1 ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except

Mexico)

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.

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.

(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.

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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

(Except Mexico)

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

Do not install a front-facing
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat unless it is
unavoidable.

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

Seating a child in a child-restraint
system on the front passenger seat is
dangerous under certain conditions
(With Front Passenger Occupant
Classiﬁcation System).

Your vehicle is equipped with front
passenger seat weight sensors. Even
with the front passenger seat weight
sensors, if you must use the front
passenger seat to seat a child, using a
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat under the following
conditions increases the danger of the
front passenger air bag deploying and
could result in serious injury or death
to the child.



The front 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.



A rear passenger or luggage pushing
or pulling down on the front
passenger seatback.



Luggage or other items are placed on
the seatback or hung on the head
restraint.



The seat is washed.



Liquids are spilled on the seat.



The front passenger seat is moved
backward, pushing into luggage or
other items placed behind it.



The front passenger seatback
contacts the rear seat.



Luggage or other items are placed
between the front passenger seat
and driver seat.



An electric device is put on the front
passenger's seat.



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

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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

Any accessories, which might
increase the total seated weight on
the front passenger seat, are
attached to the front passenger seat.

The designated positions with seat
belts on the rear seats are the safest
places for children. Always use seat
belts and child restraints.

Never use one seat belt on more than
one person at a time.

Tethered Child-Restraint Systems
Work Only on Tether-Equipped Rear
Seats.

Installation of a tether equipped
child-restraint system in the front
passenger's seat defeats the safety
design of the system and will result in
an increased chance of serious injury if
the child-restraint system goes forward
without beneﬁt of being tethered.
Place tether equipped child-restraint
systems where there are tether
anchors.

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.

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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Types of Child-restraint Systems

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
UN-R 44 and UN-R 129 regulation.

Group

Age

Weight

Size Classiﬁcation/

Fixture (CRF)

Up to about 9 months old

Up to 10 kg (up to 22 lb)

ISO/L1

ISO/L2

ISO/R1

Up to about 2 years old

Up to 13 kg (up to 29 lb)

ISO/R1

ISO/R2

ISO/R3

About 8 months to 4 years old

9 kg

―

18 kg (20 lb

―

40 lb)

ISO/R2

ISO/R3

ISO/F2

ISO/F2X

ISO/F3

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.

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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

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.

Infant seat

An infant seat provides restraint by bracing the infant's head, neck and back against
the seating surface.
Equal to Group 0 and 0+ of the UN-R 44 and UN-R 129 regulation.

Child seat

A child seat restrains a child's body using the harness.
Equal to Group 1 of the UN-R 44 and UN-R 129 regulation.

Booster seat

A booster seat is a child restraint accessory designed to improve the ﬁt of the seat
belt system around the child's body.
Equal to Group 2 and 3 of the UN-R 44 and UN-R 129 regulation.

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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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.
When installing a child-restraint system, the following points must be observed:



Always remove the head restraint before installing a child-restraint system.
However, when installing a backless booster seat, always install the vehicle head
restraint to the seat where the backless booster seat is installed. In addition,
always use a tether strap and attach it securely. Refer to How to Use the Head
Restraints on page 3-44.



When installing a child-restraint system to the front passenger seat, adjust the seat
slide position as far back as possible.
Refer to How to Use the Front Seats on page 3-34.



When it is diﬃcult to install a child-restraint system to the front passenger seat, or
the seat belt cannot be secured to the child-restraint system, perform the
following operations to adjust the seat holding the child-restraint system so that
the seat belt can be secured completely to it.



Move the seat forward or back.



Move the seatback forward or back.



When installing a child-restraint system to the rear seat, adjust the front seat
position so that the front seat does not contact the child-restraint system.
Refer to How to Use the Front Seats on page 3-34.



When installing a child-restraint system equipped with a tether, remove the head
restraint.
Refer to How to Use the Head Restraints on page 3-44.



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

When installing a child-restraint system to the rear seat, refer to the child-restraint
system manufacturer's instructions and the Using the ISOFIX Lower Anchor
(Mexico)/LATCH Lower Anchor (Except Mexico) on page 3-66.

Seating position

Passenger

Rear (Left)

Rear (Center)

Rear (Right)

Seating position
suitable for univer-
sal belted (Yes/No)

Yes (UF)

Yes (U)

i-Size seating posi-
tion (Yes/No)

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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Seating position

Passenger

Rear (Left)

Rear (Center)

Rear (Right)

Largest suitable
rearward facing ﬁx-
ture (R1)

Yes (IL)

Largest suitable
rearward facing ﬁx-
ture (R2)

Yes (IL)

Largest suitable
rearward facing ﬁx-
ture (R2X)

Yes (IL)

Largest suitable
rearward facing ﬁx-
ture (R3)

Yes (IL)

Largest suitable for-
ward facing ﬁxture
(F2)

Yes (IUF)

Largest suitable for-
ward facing ﬁxture
(F2X)

Yes (IUF)

Largest suitable for-
ward facing ﬁxture
(F3)

Yes (IUF)

Largest suitable lat-
eral facing ﬁxture
(L1)

Largest suitable lat-
eral facing ﬁxture
(L2)

Largest suitable
booster ﬁxture (B2)

Yes (IUF)

Largest suitable
booster ﬁxture (B3)

Yes (IUF)

Non i-size compat-
ible with a support
leg (Yes/No)

Yes

Lower ISOFIX an-
chorages but with-
out Top Tether
(Yes/No)

U = Suitable for “universal” category restraints approved for use in all mass groups.
UF = Suitable for forward-facing “universal” category restraints approved for use in all mass groups.

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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IUF = Suitable for ISOFIX forward child restraints systems of universal category approved for use in the
mass group.
L = Suitable for particular child restraints given on attached list. These restraints may be of the “speciﬁc
vehicle”, “restricted” or “semi-universal” categories.
IL = Suitable for particular ISOFIX child restraint systems (CRS) given in the attached list. These ISOFIX CRS
are those of the “speciﬁc vehicle”, “restricted” or “semi-universal” categories.
i-U = Suitable for i-Size “universal” Child Restraint Systems forward and rearward facing.
i-UF = Suitable for forward-facing i-Size “universal” Child Restraint Systems only.
Yes = Child-restraint system can be secured on the seat.
No = Child-restraint system cannot be secured on the seat, or there is no ﬁxture.
X = Child-restraint system cannot be installed.

Child restraint system can only be installed in the forward-facing position.

A Mazda genuine child-restraint system can be installed. Regarding child-restraint systems which can be
installed, refer to the accessories catalog.

(Except Mexico)



Regarding child-restraint systems which can be installed to your Mazda, consult an
Authorized Mazda Dealer.



A child-restraint system with a support leg cannot be installed on the rear center
seat position.



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



For the CRS which do not carry the ISO/XX size class identiﬁcation (A to G), for
the applicable mass group, the child seat manufacturer shall indicate the vehicle
speciﬁc LATCH child-restraint systems recommended for each position.

Equipment to Protect Occupants/Pedestrians

Child-restraint Systems

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Mazda 3 (2024 year). Manual in english - page 2