SRS Air Bags

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

The air bags are installed in the following locations:

• The steering wheel hub (driver air bag)

• The front passenger dashboard (front passenger air bag)

• Under the instrument panel (driver and front passenger knee air bags)

• The outboard sides of the front seatbacks (side air bags for driver and front passenger)

• The rear pillars (side air bags for rear passengers)

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

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

Refer to the Front Passenger Occupant Classification System (Search) for details.

The front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specified time after the power switch 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 (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.

Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system in the front seat with an air bag that could deploy:

Rear-facing child-restraint systems on the front seat are particularly dangerous even though you may feel assured that a front passenger air bag will not deploy based on the fact that the front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates. The child-restraint system can be hit by a deploying air bag and moved violently backward resulting in serious injury or death to the child.

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

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

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

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

Do not attach objects on or around the area where air bags deploy:

Attaching objects to the air bags or placing something in the area where the air bags deploy is dangerous. In an accident, an object could interfere with air bag inflation and injure the occupants. Furthermore, the bag could be damaged causing gases to release. Always keep the deployment area of the air bag modules free of any obstructions.

For example, you should not do any of the following as it may interfere with air bag deployment.

• Do not put a covering on or lean anything against areas such as the dashboard and lower portion of the instrument panel that blocks the passenger front air bag and knee air bags.

• Do not use seat covers on the front seats and rear seats equipped with in-seat side air bags.

• Do not hang any backpacks, bags or pouches that cover the sides of the seats that block the side air bags.

• Do not place any objects on the assist grips.  Only hang clothes directly on the coat hooks.

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

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

Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:

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

Do not modify the suspension:

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

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

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

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

• Do not overload your vehicle:

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

• Do not drive the vehicle off-road:

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

Do not modify a front door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer inspect a damaged front door:

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

Do not modify the supplemental restraint system:

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

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

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

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

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

Do not remove interior air bag parts:

Removing any components such as the front seats, front dashboard, the steering wheel or parts on the front and rear window pillars and along the roof edge, containing air bag parts or sensors is dangerous. These parts contain essential air bag components. The air bag could accidentally activate and cause serious injuries. Always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer remove these parts.

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.

Close Warning

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• 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.)” (Search).

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

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

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

 

Close Note

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1. Side and curtain inflators and air bags

2. Side crash sensors

3. Roll-over sensor, crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)

4. Driver/Front passenger inflators and air bags

5. Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning indication/warning light (Search)

6. Driver/Front passenger knee inflators and air bags

7. Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (Search)

8. Front air bag sensors

9. Seat belt pretensioners (Search)

10. Front passenger seat weight sensors (Search)

11. Front passenger seat weight sensor control module

12. Driver and front passenger seat belt buckle switches (Search)

13. Driver seat slide position sensor (Search)

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.

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

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 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.

The front passenger air bag is mounted in the front passenger dashboard.

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).

In addition, the front 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 driver and front passenger occupant classification system (Search).

The knee air bags are equipped under the instrument panel.

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

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

There are 2 types of side air bags including the side air bags for the driver and front passenger and rear passengers.

Front seat side air bags

The front seat 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).

In addition, the front passenger side air bag is designed to only deploy in accordance with the total seated weight on the front passenger seat. For details, refer to the driver and front passenger occupant classification system (Search).

Rear seat side air bags

The rear seat side air bags are installed in the rear pillars. The rear seat side air bags on the side where the vehicle is hit deploys regardless of whether or not an occupant is seated.

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	X	X	X
Driver air bag	X	―	―
Front passenger air bag	X*1	―	―
Knee air bag	X*1	―	―
Side air bags for driver and front passenger	―	X*1 (impact side only)	―
Side air bags for rear passengers (Some Models)	―	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. The front and side air bags for the front passenger and seat belt pretensioner and knee air bag are designed to deploy depending on the condition of the total seated weight on the front passenger seat.

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.

• Some airbags and the pretensioners may not deploy depending on the level of the impact.

Close Note

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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 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 occupant classification sensor

• Front passenger occupant classification module

• Front passenger air bag deactivation indicator light

• Front passenger seat belt buckle switch

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