SRS Air Bags

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

The air bags are installed in the following locations:

• The steering wheel hub (driver air bag)

• The front passenger instrument panel (front passenger air bag)

• Under the instrument panel (driver knee air bag)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Reduce the possibility of being thrown from your vehicle.

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

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

A child who is too small to use a seat belt must be properly secured using a child-restraint system (Search).

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.

 

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Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles:

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

 

Children should not ride in the front passenger seat:

Placing a child, 12 years or under, in the front seat is dangerous. The child could be hit by a deploying air bag and be seriously injured or even killed. A sleeping child is more likely to lean against the door and be hit by the side air bag in moderate collision to the front-passenger side of the vehicle. Whenever possible, always secure a child 12 years and under on the rear seats with an appropriate child-restraint system for the child's age and size.

Extreme Hazard! Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger seat with an air bag that could deploy:

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.

Even in a moderate collision, 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. If your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger air bag deactivation switch, always set the switch to the OFF position when installing a rear-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger seat.

 

Do not sit too close to the driver and front passenger air bags:

Sitting too close to the driver and front passenger air bag modules or placing hands or feet on them is extremely dangerous. The driver and front passenger air bags inflate with great force and speed. Serious injuries could occur if someone is too close. The driver should always hold onto only the rim of the steering wheel. The front seat passenger should keep both feet on the floor. Front seat occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.

Sit in the centre of the seat and wear seat belts properly:

Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them, or sleeping up against the door or hanging out the windows is extremely dangerous. The side and curtain air bags inflate with great force and speed directly expanding along the door on the side the car is hit. Serious injury could occur if someone is sitting too close to the door or leaning against a window, or if rear seat occupants grab the sides of the front seatbacks. Give the side and curtain air bags room to work by sitting in the centre of the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.

Do not attach objects on or around the area where driver and front passenger air bags deploy:

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

Do not attach objects on or around the area where a side air bag deploys:

Attaching objects to the front seat in such a way as to cover the outboard side of the seat in any way is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the side air bag, which inflates from the outboard side of the front seats, impeding the added protection of the side air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open releasing the gas.

Do not hang net bags, map pouches or backpacks with side straps on the front seats. Never use seat covers on the front seats. Always keep the side air bag modules in your front seats free to deploy in the event of a side collision.

Do not attach objects on or around the area where a curtain air bag deploys:

Attaching objects to the areas where the curtain air bag activates such as on the windscreen glass, side door glass, front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge and assist grips is dangerous. In an accident the object could interfere with the curtain air bag, which inflates from the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge, impeding the added protection of the curtain air bag system or redirecting the air bag in a way that is dangerous. Furthermore, the bag could be cut open releasing the gas.

Do not place hangers or any other objects on the assist grips. When hanging clothes, hang them on the coat hook directly. Always keep the curtain air bag modules free to deploy in the event of a side collision or roll-over accident.

Do not touch the components of the supplementary restraint system after the air bags have inflated:

Touching the components of the supplementary restraint system after the air bags have inflated is dangerous. Immediately after inflation, they are very hot. You could get burned.

Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:

Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar, bull bar, push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow, or winches, is dangerous. The air bag crash sensor system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate unexpectedly, or it could prevent the air bags from inflating during an accident. Front occupants could be seriously injured.

Do not modify the suspension:

Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the suspension is modified, the vehicle will be unable to accurately detect a collision or roll-over accident resulting in incorrect or unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.

Do not modify a front door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an expert repairer (we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer) inspect a damaged front door:

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

Do not modify the supplementary restraint system:

Modifying the components or wiring of the supplementary restraint system is dangerous. You could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Do not make any modifications to the supplementary 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 expert repairer (we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer) can provide the special care needed in the removal and installation of front seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and connections to assure that the bags do not accidentally deploy, and that the driver seat slide position sensor is not damaged and the seats retain an undamaged air bag connection.

Do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats:

Placing luggage or other objects under the front seats is dangerous. The components essential to the supplementary 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 supplementary restraint system, do not place luggage or other objects under the front seats.

Do not operate a vehicle with damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system components:

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

Do not remove interior air bag parts:

Removing any components such as the front seats, front instrument panel, the steering wheel or parts on the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge, containing air bag parts or sensors is dangerous. These parts contain essential air bag components. The air bag could accidentally activate and cause serious injuries. Always have an expert repairer (we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer) 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 expert repairer (we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer) safely dispose of the air bag system or scrap an air bag equipped vehicle.

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• When an air bag deploys, a loud inflation noise can be heard and some smoke will be released. Neither is likely to cause injury, however, the texture of the air bags may cause light skin injuries on body parts not covered with clothing through friction.

• Should you sell your Mazda, we urge you to tell the new owner of its air bag systems and that familiarization with all instructions about them, from the Owner's Manual, is important.

• This highly-visible label warns against the use of a rear-facing child-restraint system on the front passenger seat.

  

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Do not deactivate the front passenger air bag unnecessarily:

Unnecessary deactivation of the front passenger air bag is dangerous. If turned off unnecessarily, the front passenger will not receive the added protection of the air bag. Serious injuries or even death could occur. With the exception of installing a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat, do not turn the air bag deactivation switch to the OFF position.

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The front passenger air bag deactivation switch should be used to deactivate the front passenger front and side air bags and also the front passenger seat belt pretensioner system if installing a child-restraint system on the front passenger seat.

When the ignition is switched ON, both front passenger air bag deactivation indicator lights illuminate regardless of the front passenger air bag deactivation switch position. The indicator light turns off after a specified period of time, then turns on/off depending on the conditions as indicated in the following table.

Front Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch	Front Passenger Seat/Side Air Bag, Front Passenger Seat Belt Pretensioner Operation Condition	Front Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Indicator Light
OFF position	Deactivate
ON position	Ready	Turns off after a short period of time.

 

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Have the front passenger air bag deactivation switch inspected by an expert repairer (we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer) if any of these conditions occur:

• The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not illuminate for a specified period of time when the ignition is switched ON.

• The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn off after a short period of time when the ignition is switched ON (front passenger air bag deactivation switch is in ON position).

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Before driving, always confirm that the front passenger air bag deactivation switch is in the appropriate position using the auxiliary key according to your requirements.

 

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Do not leave the key in the front passenger air bag deactivation switch:

Unintentional deactivation of the front passenger air bag is dangerous. In an accident, the front passenger will not be properly protected. Serious injuries or even death could occur. To avoid unintentional deactivation, always use the auxiliary key stored in the transmitter body currently being used to operate the front passenger air bag deactivation switch. After deactivating the air bag, put the auxiliary key back into the transmitter body. That way you will not leave the key in the front passenger air bag deactivation switch.

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After operating the front passenger air bag deactivation switch, put the auxiliary key back into the transmitter body.

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OFF

Front passenger front air bag, side air bag and front passenger seat belt pretensioners do not operate.

Switching to OFF position

1. Insert the key into the front passenger air bag deactivation switch and turn the key clockwise until the key points to OFF.

2. Remove the key.

3. Make sure the air bag deactivation indicator light remains illuminated when the ignition is switched ON.

The front passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system will remain deactivated until the front passenger air bag deactivation switch is turned to the ON position.

ON

Front passenger front air bag, side air bag and front passenger seat belt pretensioners operate. Activate the system only when a child-restraint system is not installed on the front passenger seat.

Switching to ON position

1. Insert the key into the front passenger air bag deactivation switch and turn the key anticlockwise until the key points to ON.

2. Remove the key.

3. Make sure the air bag deactivation indicator light remains illuminated when the ignition is switched ON. The air bag deactivation indicator light turns off after a short period of time.

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.

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 (Search).

Front

The front seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near frontal collisions.

In addition,the pretensioners operate when a side collision or a roll-over accident is detected.

Rear Outboard

The rear outboard seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near frontal collisions.

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" (Search).

The inflation of the driver's dual-stage air bag is controlled in two energy stages depending on the driver's seat position. The driver's seat slide position sensor is located under the driver's seat. The sensor determines whether the driver's seat is forward of or behind a reference position and sends the seat position to the diagnostic module (SAS unit). The SAS unit is designed to control the deployment of the driver's air bag depending on how close the driver's seat is to the steering wheel.

During an impact of moderate severity, the driver's air bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during more severe impacts and when the driver's seat is behind the reference position, it deploys with more energy.

The front passenger air bag is mounted in the front passenger instrument panel.

The inflation mechanism for the front 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" (Search).

The knee air bag is equipped under the instrument panel.

If the air bag crash sensors receive a frontal impact of greater than moderate force, the knee air bag deploys immediately to reduce impact to the driver's legs.

For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria" (Search).

The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the front 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 front passenger's 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" (Search).

The curtain air bags are mounted in the front and rear window pillars, and the roof edge along both sides.

When the air bag crash sensors detect a side impact of greater than moderate force, the curtain air bag inflates quickly and helps to reduce injury mainly to the driver and front and rear outboard passengers' heads 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" (Search).

In a side impact:

Greater than moderate impact to one side of the vehicle will cause the curtain air bag on that side only to inflate.

Only one side curtain air bag will deploy on the side of the vehicle that receives the force of an impact.

In a roll-over:

In response to a vehicle roll-over, both curtain air bags inflate.

Both curtain air bags will deploy after the roll-over accident is detected.

A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.

Refer to Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Indication/Warning Light (Search).

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 equipment	Types of collision
	A severe frontal/near frontal collision	A severe side collision	A roll-over/near roll-over*2	A rear collision
Front seat belt pretensioner	X*1	X*1	X*1	No air bag and seat belt pretensioner will be activated in a rear collision.
Rear seat belt pretensioner (Some Models)	X	X	X
Driver air bag	X	―	―
Front passenger air bag	X*1	―	―
Knee air bag	X	―	―
Side air bag	―	X*1 (impact side only)	―
Curtain air bag	―	X (impact side only)	X (both sides)

X: The SRS air bag equipment deploys in a collision.

―:The SRS air bag equipment does not deploy in a collision.

1. (With Front Passenger Air Bag Deactivation Switch)

   The front passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner are designed to deploy depending on the status of the front passenger air bag deactivation switch.

2. In a roll-over accident, the seat belt pretensioners and the curtain air bags deploy.

 

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

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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

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

Limitations to roll-over detection:

The following illustration is an example of an accident that may not be detected as a roll-over accident. Therefore, the front seat belt pretensioners and curtain air bags may not deploy.

Pitch end over end

The following components of the air bag systems are monitored by a diagnostic system:

• Front air bag sensors

• Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)

• Side crash sensors

• Air bag modules

• Seat belt pretensioners

• Air bag/Seat belt pretensioner system warning light

• Related wiring

• Driver seat slide position sensor

• Front passenger air bag deactivation switch

• Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light

The diagnostic module continuously monitors the system's readiness. This begins when the ignition is switched ON and continues while the vehicle is being driven.