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).
Anchor Bracket Overview
Anchor brackets for securing child-restraint systems are equipped in the vehicle. Locate each anchor position using the illustration.
To install a child-restraint system, if the seat is equipped with a head restraint, remove it. Always follow the instruction manual accompanying the child-restraint system.
Anchor bracket location
Use the indicated anchor bracket locations when installing a child-restraint system equipped with a tether.
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For right
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For center (Except Mexico)
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For left
How to Use the Automatic Locking Mode (Except Mexico)
Follow the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions carefully. If you are not sure whether you have a LATCH system or tether, check in the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions and follow them accordingly. Depending on the type of child-restraint system, it may use LATCH system instead of seat belts or if the belt goes across the child's chest, may recommend against using automatic locking mode.
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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).
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Make sure the seatback is securely latched by pushing it back until it is fully locked.
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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).
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Secure the child-restraint system with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt. See the manufacturer's instructions on the child-restraint system for belt routing instructions.
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To get the retractor into the automatic locking mode, pull the shoulder belt portion of the seat belt until the entire length of the belt is out of the retractor.
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Push the child-restraint system firmly into the vehicle seat. Be sure the belt retracts as snugly as possible. A clicking noise from the retractor will be heard during retraction if the system is in the automatic locking mode. If the belt does not lock the seat down tight, repeat this step.
Inspect this function before each use of the child-restraint system. You should not be able to pull the shoulder belt out of the retractor while the system is in the automatic locking mode. When you remove the child-restraint system, be sure the belt fully retracts to return the system to emergency locking mode before occupants use the seat belts.
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If your child-restraint system requires the use of a tether strap, refer to the manufacturer's instructions to hook and tighten the tether strap.
Warnings and Cautions for Using the ISOFIX Lower Anchor (Mexico)/LATCH Lower Anchor (Except Mexico)
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the use of the child-restraint system.
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 the child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions.
Never attach two child-restraint systems to the same ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchor.
Attaching two child-restraint systems to the same ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchor is dangerous. In a collision, one anchor may not be strong enough to hold two child-restraint system attachments, and it may break, causing serious injury or death. If you use the seat position for another child-restraint system when an outboard ISOFIX/LATCH*1 position is occupied, use the center seat belts instead, and the tether if tether-equipped.
Make sure the child-restraint system is properly secured.
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. Follow the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions on belt routing to secure the seat just as you would with a child in it so that nobody is tempted to put a child in an improperly secured seat later on. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or fasten it with a seat belt, or attach it to BOTH ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors for ISOFIX/LATCH*1 child-restraint systems.
Make sure there are no seat belts or foreign objects near or around the ISOFIX/LATCH*1 child-restraint system.
Not following the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions when installing the child-restraint system is dangerous. If seat belts or a foreign object prevent the child-restraint system from being securely attached to the ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors and the child-restraint system is installed improperly, the child-restraint system could move in a sudden stop or collision causing serious injury or death to the child or other occupants. When installing the child-restraint system, make sure there are no seat belts or foreign objects near or around the ISOFIX/LATCH*1 lower anchors. Always follow the child-restraint system manufacturer's instructions.
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ISOFIX (Mexico)/LATCH (Except Mexico)
