Mazda MX-5 RF (2017 year). Instruction - part 2

2–4

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

 CAUTION

 

  When operating a seat, be careful not to put your hands or 

¿ ngers near the moving 

parts of the seat or on the side trim to prevent injury. 

 

  When moving the seats, make sure there is no cargo in the surrounding area. If the 

cargo gets caught it could damage the cargo. 

 

  When moving the seats forward and rearward or returning a rear-reclined seatback 

to its upright position, make sure you hold onto the seatback with your hand while 
operating. If the seatback is not held, the seat will move suddenly and could cause 
injury. 

/:A



2–5

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

 Seat

 Seat  Operation

 Seat Slide

  To move a seat forward or backward, raise the lever and slide the seat to the desired position 
and release the lever.
  Make sure the lever returns to its original position and the seat is locked in place by 
attempting to push it forward and backward.

 Height Adjustment for Front Edge of Seat Bottom (Driver's Seat)

  To adjust the height for front edge of the seat bottom, rotate the dial to the desired position.

 Seat Recline

  To change the seatback angle, lean forward slightly while raising the lever. Then lean back 
to the desired position and release the lever.
  Make sure the lever returns to its original position and the seatback is locked in place by 
attempting to push it forward and backward.

/:A



2–6

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

*Some models.

 Seat  Warmer 

*

            The  seats  are  electrically  heated.  The 
ignition must be switched ON.
  Press the seat warmer switch while the 
ignition is switched ON to operate the seat 
warmer. The indicator lights turn on to 
indicate that the seat warmer is operating. 
The mode changes as follows each time 
the seat warmer switch is pressed.

Low

Mid

High

OFF

 WARNING

 Be careful when using the seat 
warmer:
 The heat from the seat warmer may be 
too hot for some people, as indicated 
as follows, and could cause a low-
temperature burn. 

 

  Infants, small children, elderly 

people, and physically challenged 
people

 

  People with delicate skin 

 

  People who are excessively fatigued 

 

  People who are intoxicated 

 

  People who have taken sleep-

inducing medicine such as sleeping 
pills or cold medicine 

 Do not use the seat warmer with 
anything having high moisture-
retention ability such as a blanket or 
cushion on the seat: 
 The seat may be heated excessively and 
cause a low-temperature burn. 

 Do not use the seat warmer even when 
taking a short nap in the vehicle: 
 The seat may be heated excessively and 
cause a low-temperature burn. 

 Do not place heavy objects with sharp 
projections on the seat, or insert 
needles or pins into it: 
 This could cause the seat to become 
excessively heated and result in injury 
from a minor burn. 

/:A



2–7

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

 CAUTION

 Do not use organic solvents to clean the 
seat. It may damage the seat surface and 
the heater. 

 NOTE

 

  If the ignition is switched off while 

the seat warmer is operating (High, 
Mid or Low) and then switched 
ON again, the seat warmer will 
automatically operate at the 
temperature set before switching off 
the ignition. 

 

  Use the seat warmer when the engine 

is running. Leaving the seat warmer 
on for long periods with the engine 
not running could cause the battery 
power to be depleted. 

 

  The temperature of the seat warmer 

cannot be adjusted beyond High, Mid 
and Low because the seat warmer is 
controlled by a thermostat. 

/:A



2–8

Essential Safety Equipment

Seats

 Head  Restraints

 Non-Adjustable Head Restraints

    Your vehicle is equipped with non-adjustable head restraints on the driver's and passenger's 
seatbacks. The non-adjustable head restraints consist of a trimmed foam covering over the 
upper structure of the seatbacks and are intended to help protect you and the passenger from 
neck injury. Adjust the seatbacks to their upright, on-road positions so that the head restraint 
is positioned as close as possible to the back of your head.

 WARNING

 Make sure the seatbacks are properly adjusted to their upright, on-road positions before 
the vehicle is driven: 
 Driving with the seatbacks not adjusted properly is dangerous. With no support behind 
your head, your neck could be seriously injured in a collision. 

/:A



2–9

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

      Seat  Belt  Precautions

            Seat belts help to decrease the possibility of severe injury during accidents and sudden 
stops. Mazda recommends that the driver and passengers always wear seat belts.
  All the seats have lap/shoulder belts. These belts have retractors with inertia locks that keep 
them out of the way when not in use. The locks allow the belts to remain comfortable on 
users, but they will lock in position during a collision.

 WARNING

 Always wear your seat belt and make sure all occupants are properly restrained: 
 Not wearing a seat belt is extremely dangerous. During a collision, occupants not 
wearing seat belts could hit someone or things inside the vehicle or even be thrown out 
of the vehicle. They could be seriously injured or even killed. In the same collision, 
occupants wearing seat belts would be much safer. 

 Do not wear twisted seat belts: 
 Twisted seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the full width of the belt is not available 
to absorb the impact. This puts more force on the bones beneath the belt, which could 
cause serious injury or death. So, if your seat belt is twisted, you must straighten the 
seat belt to remove any twists and to allow the full width of the belt to be used. 

 Never use one seat belt on more than one person at a time: 
 Using one seat belt for more than one person at a time is dangerous. A seat belt used 
in this way cannot spread the impact forces properly and the two passengers could 
be crushed together and seriously injured or even killed. Never use one belt for more 
than one person at a time and always operate the vehicle with each occupant properly 
restrained.

 Do not operate a vehicle with a damaged seat belt: 
 Using a damaged seat belt is dangerous. An accident could damage the belt webbing 
of the seat belt in use. A damaged seat belt cannot provide adequate protection in a 
collision. Have an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer 
inspect all seat belt systems in use during an accident before they are used again. 

 Have your seat belts changed immediately if the pretensioner or load limiter has been 
expended:
 Always have an expert repairer, we recommend an Authorised Mazda Repairer 
immediately inspect the seat belt pretensioners and air bags after any collision. Like the 
air bags, the seat belt pretensioners and load limiters will only function once and must 
be replaced after any collision that caused them to deploy. If the seat belt pretensioners 
and load limiters are not replaced, the risk of injury in a collision will increase. 

/:A



2–10

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

 WARNING

 Positioning the Shoulder Portion of the Seat Belt: 
 Improper positioning of the shoulder portion of the seat belt is dangerous. Always make 
sure the shoulder portion of the seat belt is positioned across your shoulder and near 
your neck, but never under your arm, on your neck, or on your upper arm. 

 Positioning the Lap Portion of the Seat Belt: 
 The lap portion of the seat belt worn too high is dangerous. In a collision, this would 
concentrate the impact force directly on the abdominal area, causing serious injury. 
Wear the lap portion of the belt snugly and as low as possible. 

 Instructions for Use of Seat Belt Assemblies: 
 Seatbelts are designed to bear upon the bony structure of the body, and should be worn 
low across the front of the pelvis or the pelvis, chest and shoulders, as applicable; 
wearing the lap section of the belt across the abdominal area must be avoided. 
 Seatbelts should be adjusted as 

¿ rmly as possible, consistent with comfort, to provide 

the protection for which they have been designed. A slack belt will greatly reduce the 
protection afforded to the wearer. 
 Care should be taken to avoid contamination of the webbing with polishes, oils and 
chemicals, and particularly battery acid. Cleaning may safely be carried out using mild 
soap and water. The belt should be replaced if webbing becomes frayed, contaminated 
or damaged. 
 It is essential to replace the entire assembly after it has been worn in a severe impact 
even if damage to the assembly is not obvious. 
 Belts should not be worn with straps twisted. 
 Each belt assembly must only be used by one occupant; it is dangerous to put a belt 
around a child being carried on the occupant's lap. 
 No  modi

¿ cations or additions should be made by the user which will either prevent 

the seat belt adjusting devices from operating to remove slack, or prevent the seat belt 
assembly from being adjusted to remove slack. 

/:A



2–11

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

 CAUTION

 Belt retraction may become dif

¿ cult if the belts and seat belt guides are soiled, so try 

to keep them clean. For more details about cleaning the seat belts, refer to "Seat Belt 
Maintenance" (page  6-64 ). 

Seat belt guide

 Pregnant Women and Persons with Serious Medical Conditions

            Pregnant  women  should  always  wear  seat  belts.  Ask  your  doctor  for  speci

¿ c 

recommendations.
  The lap belt should be worn SNUGLY AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIPS.
  The shoulder belt should be worn across your shoulder properly, but never across the 
stomach area.
  Persons with serious medical conditions also should wear seat belts. Check with your doctor 
for any special instructions regarding speci

¿ c medical conditions.

 Emergency Locking Mode

            When the seat belt is fastened, it will always be in the emergency locking mode.
  In the emergency locking mode, the belt remains comfortable on the occupant and the 
retractor will lock in position during a collision.
  If the belt is locked and cannot be pulled out, retract the belt once, and then try pulling it out 
slowly. If this fails, pull the belt strongly one time and loosen, then pull it out again slowly.

/:A



2–12

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

 Seat  Belt

 WARNING

 Always wear the seat belt with it 
correctly routed in its guide: 
 Wearing a seat belt without the seat 
belt routed in its guide is dangerous 
because the seat belt would not be able 
to provide adequate protection in an 
accident, which could result in serious 
injury. 

Seat belt guide

 Fastening the Seat Belt

Seat belt tongue

Seat belt buckle

  Position the lap belt as low as possible, 
not on the abdominal area, then adjust the 
shoulder belt so that it 

¿ ts snugly against 

your body.

Keep low on 
hip bone

Take up slack

Too high

/:A



2–13

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

 Unfastening the Seat Belt

    Depress the button on the seat belt buckle. 
If the belt does not fully retract, pull it out 
and check for kinks or twists. Then make 
sure it remains untwisted as it retracts.

Button

 NOTE

 If a belt does not fully retract, inspect 
it for kinks and twists. If it is still not 
retracting properly, have it inspected at 
an expert repairer, we recommend an 
Authorised Mazda Repairer. 

 Seat  Belt  Warning 
Systems

    If it detects that the occupant seat belt 
is unfastened, the warning light or beep 
alerts the occupant.
  Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 
 4-42 .
  Refer to Seat Belt Warning Beep on page 
 7-50 .

/:A



2–14

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

 Seat Belt Pretensioner 
and Load Limiting 
Systems

    For optimum protection, the driver and 
passenger seat belts are equipped with 
pretensioner and load limiting systems. 
For both these systems to work properly 
you must wear the seat belt properly.

Pretensioners:
  When a collision is detected, the 
pretensioners deploy simultaneously with 
the air bags.
  For deployment details, refer to the SRS 
Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 
 2-44 ).
  The seat belt retractors remove slack 
quickly as the air bags are expanding. 
Any time the air bags and seat belt 
pretensioners have 

¿ red they must be 

replaced.
  A system malfunction or operation 
conditions are indicated by a warning.
  Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 
 4-42 .
  Refer to Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner 
System Warning Beep on page  7-49 .
(With Passenger Occupant 
Classi

¿ cation System)

  In addition, the pretensioner system for 
the passenger, like the front and side 
passenger air bag, is designed to only 
deploy when the passenger occupant 
classi

¿ cation sensor detects a passenger 

sitting on the passenger's seat.
  For details, refer to the passenger occupant 
classi

¿ cation sensor (page  2-47 ).

Load limiter:
  The load limiting system releases belt 
webbing in a controlled manner to reduce 
belt force on the occupant's chest. While 
the most severe load on a seat belt occurs 
in frontal collisions, the load limiter has 
an automatic mechanical function and 
can activate in any accident mode with 
suf

¿ cient occupant movement.

  Even if the pretensioners have not 

¿ red, 

the load limiting function must be checked 
by an expert repairer, we recommend an 
Authorised Mazda Repairer.

 WARNING

 Wear seat belts only as recommended 
in this owner's manual: 
 Incorrect positioning of the driver 
and passenger seat belts is dangerous. 
Without proper positioning, the 
pretensioner and load limiting systems 
cannot provide adequate protection 
in an accident and this could result in 
serious injury. For more details about 
wearing seat belts, refer to "Fastening 
the seat belts" (page  2-12 ). 

 Have your seat belts changed 
immediately if the pretensioner or load 
limiter has been expended: 
 Always have an expert repairer, we 
recommend an Authorised Mazda 
Repairer immediately inspect the 
seat belt pretensioners and air bags 
after any collision. Like the air bags, 
the seat belt pretensioners and load 
limiters will only function once and 
must be replaced after any collision 
that caused them to deploy. If the seat 
belt pretensioners and load limiters 
are not replaced, the risk of injury in a 
collision will increase. 

/:A



2–15

Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

 WARNING

 Do not modify the components or 
wiring, or use electronic testing devices 
on the pretensioner system: 
 Modifying the components or wiring 
of the pretensioner system, including 
the use of electronic testing devices 
is dangerous. You could accidentally 
activate it or make it inoperable which 
would prevent it from activating in an 
accident. The occupants or repairers 
could be seriously injured. 

 Properly dispose of the pretensioner 
system:
 Improper disposal of the pretensioner 
system or a vehicle with non-
deactivated pretensioners is dangerous. 
Unless all safety procedures are 
followed, injury could result. Have 
an expert repairer, we recommend an 
Authorised Mazda Repairer safely 
dispose of the pretensioner system or 
scrap a pretensioner system equipped 
vehicle.

 NOTE

 

  The pretensioner system may not 

operate depending on the type of 
the collision. For details, refer to the 
SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria 
(page   2-44 ). 

 

  Some smoke (non-toxic gas) will 

be released when the air bags and 
pretensioners deploy. This does not 
indicate a 

¿ re. This gas normally has 

no effect on occupants, however, 
those with sensitive skin may 
experience light skin irritation. If 
residue from the deployment of the 
air bags or the pretensioner system 
gets on the skin or in the eyes, wash 
it off as soon as possible. 

/:A



2–16

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

      Child-Restraint  Precautions

            Mazda strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for children small enough to use 
them.

  Mazda recommends use of a Mazda genuine child-restraint system or one that complies with 
the   UNECE  

*1

  44 regulation. If you would like to purchase a Mazda genuine child-restraint 

system, please contact an Authorised Mazda Dealer.
  Check your local and state or provincial laws for speci

¿ c requirements regarding the safety 

of children riding in your vehicle.

   *1  UNECE stands for United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

  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 use seat belts, both lap and 
shoulder. If the shoulder belt crosses the neck or face, move the child closer to the centre of 
the vehicle.

  A rear-facing child-restraint system should  NEVER  be used on the passenger seat with the 
air bag system activated.

(With Passenger Occupant Classi

¿ cation System)

  To reduce the chance of injuries caused by deployment of the passenger air bag, the 
passenger occupant classi

¿ cation sensor work as a part of the supplementary restraint 

system. This system deactivates the passenger front and side air bags and also the passenger 
seat belt pretensioner system when the passenger air bag deactivation OFF indicator light 
illuminates.

  When an infant or small child sits on the passenger seat, the system shuts off the passenger 
front and side air bags and seat belt pretensioner system, so make sure the passenger air bag 
deactivation OFF indicator light illuminates.

  For more details, refer to "Passenger occupant classi

¿ cation sensor" (page  2-47 ).

/:A



2–17

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

 WARNING

 Use the correct size child-restraint system: 
 For effective protection in vehicle accidents and sudden stops, a child must be properly 
restrained using a seat belt or child-restraint system depending on age and size. If not, 
the child could be seriously injured or even killed in an accident. 

 Follow the manufacturer's instructions and always keep the child-restraint system 
buckled down: 
 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 
any child-restraint system is properly secured in place according to the child-restraint 
system manufacturer's instructions. When not in use, remove it from the vehicle or 
fasten it with a seat belt, or latch it down to BOTH ISOFIX anchors, and attach the 
corresponding tether anchor. 

 Always secure a child in a proper child-restraint system: 
 Holding a child in your arms while the vehicle is moving is extremely dangerous. No 
matter how strong the person may be, he or she cannot hold onto a child in a sudden 
stop or collision and it could result in serious injury or death to the child or other 
occupants. Even in a moderate accident, the child may be exposed to air bag forces that 
could result in serious injury or death to the child, or the child may be slammed into an 
adult, causing injury to both child and adult. 

 Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation OFF indicator light is illuminated 
when using a child-restraint system (With Passenger Occupant Classi

¿ cation System):  

 Seating a child in a child-restraint system that is installed on the passenger seat with 
the passenger air bag deactivation OFF indicator light not illuminated is extremely 
dangerous. In an accident, an air bag could in

À ate and cause serious injuries or even 

death to the child seated in the child-restraint system. Always make sure the passenger 
air bag deactivation OFF indicator light is illuminated. 
 Refer to Passenger Occupant Classi

¿ cation System on page  2-47 . 

/:A



2–18

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

 WARNING

 Extreme Hazard! Never use a rear-facing child-restraint system on the 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. 
 Vehicles with a passenger air bag have a warning label attached as shown below. This 
warning label is displayed in compliance with regulations. 

(Except Taiwan)

(Taiwan)

 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 passenger occupant classi

¿ cation system, always 

make sure the passenger air bag deactivation OFF indicator light is illuminated, when 
installing a rear-facing child-restraint system on the passenger seat. 

/:A



2–19

Essential Safety Equipment

Child Restraint

 WARNING

 Before installing child-restraint system on the passenger seat, move the passenger seat 
as far back as possible: 
 In a collision, the force of a deploying air bag could cause serious injury or death to the 
child.
 Make sure the passenger air bag deactivation OFF indicator light is illuminated. 

 Seating a child in a child-restraint system on the passenger seat is dangerous under 
certain conditions (With Passenger Occupant Classi

¿ cation System): 

 Your vehicle is equipped with passenger occupant classi

¿ cation sensor. Even with 

the passenger occupant classi

¿ cation sensor, if you must use the passenger seat to 

seat a child, using a child-restraint system on the passenger seat under the following 
conditions increases the danger of the passenger air bag deploying and could result in 
serious injury or death to the child. 

 

  The passenger air bag deactivation OFF indicator light does not illuminate when 

seating a child in the child-restraint system. 

 

  Luggage or other items are placed on the seat with the child in the child-restraint 

system.

 

  The seat is washed. 

 

  Liquids are spilled on the seat. 

 

  The passenger seat is moved backward, pushing into luggage or other items placed 

behind it. 

 

  Luggage or other items are placed between the passenger seat and driver seat. 

 

  An electric device is put on the passenger's seat. 

 

  An additional electrical device, such as a seat warmer is installed to the surface of 

the passenger seat. 

/:A