SRS Air Bags

If the vehicle receives a strong impact from the front or side of the vehicle when the vehicle power is switched ON, the air bags inflate instantaneously and lessen the impact on the head or chest of the driver or passenger.

The SRS air bag system protects occupants together with the seat belts and they are not a substitute for the seat belts.

There are 3 types of air bags.

Vehicles have a sensor which detects an impending roll-over accident.

The air bag supplemental restraint systems are designed to provide supplemental protection in certain situations so seat belts are always important.

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.

Driver's air bag

The driver's air bag is stored in the center of 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.

(Except Mexico)

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.

Passenger's air bag

The passenger's air bag is stored in the dashboard.

The inflation mechanism for the passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag.

In addition, the passenger air bag is designed to only deploy when the passenger occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the passenger's seat.

Side air bags

The side air bags are installed in the outboard sides of the 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 passenger's head and chest caused by directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window.

In addition, the passenger side air bag is designed to only deploy when the passenger occupant classification sensor detects a passenger sitting on the passenger's seat.

In a roll-over:

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

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

Constant Monitoring

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

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

Passenger occupant classification sensor
Passenger occupant classification module
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.

Warnings and Cautions for Using the SRS Air Bags

Deployment of SRS air bags

Passenger Occupant Classification System

Your vehicle is equipped with a passenger occupant classification sensor as a part of the supplemental restraint system. This sensor is equipped in the passenger's seat cushion. This sensor measures the electrostatic capacity of the passenger's seat. The SAS unit is designed to prevent the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system from deploying if the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.

To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the system deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the seat belt pretensioner system when the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on.

Warnings and Cautions for Using the Passenger Occupant Classification System

How to Use the Passenger Occupant Classification System

This system shuts off the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on according to the following table.

The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light flashes and the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates if the sensors have a possible malfunction. If this happens, the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system will not deploy.

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light

This indicator light turns on to remind you that the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner will not deploy during a collision.

Type A

If the passenger occupant classification sensor is normal, the indicator light turns on when the ignition is switched ON. The light turns off after a few seconds. Then, the indicator light turns on or is off under the following conditions:

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart

Condition detected by the passenger occupant classification system	Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light	Passenger front and side air bags	Passenger seat belt pretensioner system
Empty (Not occupied)	On	Deactivated	Deactivated
A child is seated in a child-restraint system^*1	On	Deactivated	Deactivated
Adult^*2	Off	Ready	Ready

The occupant classification sensor may not detect a child seated on the seat, in a child-restraint system, or a junior seat depending on the child's physical size and seated posture.
If a smaller adult sits on the passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child depending on the person's physique.

If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on when the ignition is switched ON and does not turn on as indicated in the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an occupant to sit in the passenger seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an accident.

Type B

Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart

Condition detected by the passenger occupant classification system	Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light	Passenger front and side air bags	Passenger seat belt pretensioner system
Empty (Not occupied)		Deactivated	Deactivated
A child is seated in a child-restraint system^*1		Deactivated	Deactivated
Adult^*2	Turns off after a short period of time.	Ready	Ready

The occupant classification sensor may not detect a child seated on the seat, in a child-restraint system, or a junior seat depending on the child's physical size and seated posture.
If a smaller adult sits on the passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child depending on the person's physique.

If both of the passenger air bag deactivation indicator lights do not turn on for a specified period of time when the ignition is switched ON or they do not turn on as indicated in the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light on/off condition chart, do not allow an occupant to sit in the passenger seat and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible. The system may not work properly in an accident.

The system requires about 10 seconds to alternate between turning the passenger front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system on or off.
The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may turn on repeatedly if luggage or other items are put on the passenger seat, or if the temperature of the vehicle's interior changes suddenly.
The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may turn on for 10 seconds if the electrostatic capacity on the passenger seat changes.
The air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light might turn on if the passenger seat receives a severe impact.
If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light does not turn on after installing a child-restraint system on the passenger seat, first, re-install your child-restraint system according to the procedure in this owner's manual. Then, if the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light still does not turn on, and consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.
If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light turns on when an occupant is seated directly in the passenger seat, have the passenger re-adjust their posture by sitting with their feet on the floor, and then re-fastening the seat belt. If the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light remains turned on, slide the passenger seat as far back as possible. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.

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