Child-restraint Systems

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 sensor 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" (Search).

Using the ISOFIX Lower Anchor (Mexico)/LATCH Lower Anchor (Except Mexico)

Your Mazda is equipped with ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors for attachment of specially designed ISOFIX/LATCH*1 child-restraint systems in the rear seats. Both anchors must be used, otherwise the seat will bounce around and put the child in danger. Most ISOFIX/LATCH*1 child-restraint systems must also be used in conjunction with a tether to be effective. If they have a tether you must use it to better assure your child's safety.

  1. ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except Mexico)

How to Use the ISOFIX Lower Anchor (Mexico)/LATCH Lower Anchor (Except Mexico)

Installation on rear outboard seat

  1. First, adjust the front seat to allow clearance between the child-restraint system and the front seat.

    Refer to How to Use the Front Seats (Search).

  2. Make sure the seatback is securely latched by pushing it back until it is fully locked.

  3. Remove the cover of the child-restraint system's ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors to verify the locations of the ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors.

    1. ISOFIX/LATCH lower anchor*1

     


    • The ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors marking on the cover indicates the position of the ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors for the attachment of a child-restraint system.

  4. Remove the head restraint. However, when installing a backless booster seat, always install the vehicle head restraint to the seat where the backless booster seat is installed.

    Refer to How to Use the Head Restraints (Search).

  5. Secure the child-restraint system using BOTH ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors, following the child-restraint system manufacturer's instruction. Pull on the child-restraint to be sure both anchors are engaged.

  6. If your child-restraint system came equipped with a tether, that means it is very important to properly secure the tether for child safety. Please carefully follow the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions when installing tethers.

  1. ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except Mexico)

 

Installation on rear center seat

The ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors at the center of the second-row seat are much further apart than the sets of ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors for child-restraint system installation at other seating positions. Child-restraint systems with rigid ISOFIX/LATCH*1 attachments cannot be installed on the center seating position. Some ISOFIX/LATCH*1 equipped child-restraint systems can be placed in the center position and will reach the nearest ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors which are 415 mm (16.3 in) apart. ISOFIX/LATCH*1 compatible child-restraint systems (with attachments on belt webbing) can be used at this seating position only if the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions state that the child-restraint system can be installed to ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors that are 415 mm (16.3 in) apart. Do not attach two child-restraint systems to the same ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchor. If your child-restraint system has a tether, it must also be used for your child's optimum safety.

 

The procedure for installation on the rear outboard seats is the same.

  1. ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except Mexico)

ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchor location

  1. ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except Mexico)

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