MAZDA MODEL MPV 2003 (in English) Owner's Manual
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Height adjustment
To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the 
desired position.
To lower the head restraint, press the stop-
catch release, then push the head restraint 
down.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top is 
parallel with the top of the passenger’s 
ears, never the passenger’s neck.
Removal
To remove the head restraint, press the 
stop-catch release, then pull up on the 
head restraint.
Armrest
The armrest can be used or placed 
upright.
Stop-catch release
Stop-catch release
Type AArmrest
ArmrestType B
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Third-Row Seat Access
Access to the third-row seat via the 
sliding door
When the second-row seats are together, 
move along the path between the sliding 
door and the side sliding seat.
When the second-row seats are separated, 
pass between them and move to the rear of 
the vehicle.
Folding the Second-Row Seats
The second-row seatbacks can be folded 
down and used as tables when the vehicle 
is not moving.
To  f o l d  t h e  s e a t b a c k
1. Put the buckle in the pocket of the seat 
bottom.
Using Folded Seatback as a Table 
While the Vehicle is Moving:
Using the folded seatback as a table 
while driving is dangerous. During 
sudden braking or a collision, objects 
placed on the folded seatback could 
become projectiles that could hit and 
injure someone. Never use the folded 
seat as a table while the vehicle is 
moving.
Lowering the seatback without 
stowing the seat belt buckle could 
damage the seatback.
WARNING
CAUTION
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
2. Raise the reclining lever and lower the 
seatback forward. Make sure the 
seatback is locked.
To return the seatback to the upright 
position
Raise the reclining lever and lift the 
seatback upright. Attempt to move the 
seatback forward and backward to make 
sure it is locked.
Removal of Second-Row Seats
The second-row seats can be removed to 
create a more comfortable space between 
the third-row and front seats. Additional 
cargo space is available with the removal 
of the second-row seats and stowing of the 
third-row seat.
Seat Removal or Installation While 
Vehicle is Moving or on a Slope:
Removing or installing the second-
row seats while the vehicle is moving 
or on a slope is dangerous. The seats 
are heavier than they appear and 
could suddenly detach causing 
serious injury. Remove or install the 
seats with the vehicle parked on a 
level surface.
Riding on The Floor Space:
Riding on the floor space created by 
the removal of the second-row seat is 
dangerous. Sudden braking or a 
collision could cause serious injury. 
Do not sit or lie in the floor space for 
the second-row seat while the vehicle 
is moving. Never ride in a vehicle 
where you can’t sit in the seat and 
wear the seat belt.
Pinching Fingers or Hands:
Placing your hands around the seat 
anchors when removing or installing 
the second-row seats is dangerous. 
You could pinch your hands or 
fingers between the seat anchor and 
the seat. Hold the edge of the seat 
when lowering it into place. Never 
place your hands between the seat 
anchor and the seat.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
To  r e m o v e  t h e  s e a t
1. Put the buckle in the pocket of the seat 
bottom.
2. Lower the head restraint all the way 
down.
3. Slide the seat all the way back.4. Raise the reclining lever and lower the 
seatback forward.
Make sure the seatback is locked.
5. Work only on one seat at a time to 
avoid one seat falling while working on 
another.
6. Lift and hold the seat-anchor bar and 
raise the entire seat up and forward.
Lifting the Seat-Anchor Bar:
Lifting the seat-anchor bar without 
firmly supporting the seat with your 
hand is dangerous. Lifting the seat 
unlocks the front clamps 
automatically and could cause the 
seat to fall. Support the seat firmly 
while lifting the seat-anchor bar.
Lowering the seatback without 
stowing the seat belt buckle could 
damage the seatback.
WARNING
CAUTION
Seat-anchor bar
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Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
7. The seat is heavier than it looks, 
carefully pull up and detach the seat. 
Get assistance to lift it out of the 
vehicle.
To install the seat
1. First identify which seat fits which 
position by verifying that the seat belt 
buckles point to the center (inboard) of 
the vehicle.
2. Align the clamps on the front underside 
of the seat with the forward loop 
anchors on the floor and support the 
seat so that it doesn’t fall (the rear 
portion of the seat cannot be mounted 
first). The clamps on the front of the 
seat automatically lock into the floor 
loop anchors after lowering the seat.3. Supporting the seat with your hands, 
slowly lower the seat rearwards to lock 
it in place.
4. Raise the reclining lever and lift the 
seatback upright. Attempt to move the 
seatback forward and backward to 
make sure it is locked.
5. Buckle the seat belts once just to 
confirm the seat belt buckles are 
inboard which means each seat is on 
the correct side of the vehicle.
Loops Clamp
Loops
Clamp
Unsecured Seat:
Driving with the seat unsecured is 
dangerous. The seat may become 
detached while the vehicle is moving 
causing serious injury. After 
installing the seat, push it forward 
and backward to make sure it is 
securely locked.
Do not move the side seat-slide lever 
with the seat removed. The lever could 
be damaged resulting in loss of 
functionality.
WARNING
CAUTION
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Seat Recline
To change seatback angle, lean forward 
slightly while pulling the flat-folding 
strap. Then lean back to the desired 
position and release the strap. Make sure 
the seat is securely latched.
Third-Row Seat
Stacking Cargo:
Stacking luggage or other cargo 
higher than the seatback is 
dangerous. During a sudden stop or 
collision, objects can become 
projectiles that could hit and injure 
passengers. Don’t stack things higher 
than the seatback.
Securing Seats:
Adjustable seats and seatbacks that 
are not securely latched are 
dangerous. In a sudden stop or 
collision, the seat or seatback could 
move, causing injury. Make sure the 
adjustable components of the seat are 
locked in place by attempting to rock 
the seatback.
Unlocked Seatback:
A seatback plays an important role in 
your protection in a vehicle. Leaving 
the seatback unlocked is dangerous as 
it can allow passengers to be ejected 
or thrown around and baggage to 
strike occupants in a sudden stop or 
collision, resulting in severe injury. 
After adjusting the seatback at any 
time, even when there are no other 
passengers, rock the seatback to make 
sure it is locked in place.
WARNING
NOTE
When returning a third-row seat to its 
original position, also replace the seat 
belt to its normal position. Verify that 
the seat belt pulls and retracts.
Reclining:
Sitting in a reclined position while the 
vehicle is moving is dangerous 
because you don’t get the full 
protection from seat belts. During 
sudden braking or a collision, you 
can slide under the lap belt and suffer 
serious internal injuries. For 
maximum protection, sit well back 
and upright.
WARNING
Flat-folding strap
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Head Restraint
Height adjustment
To raise a head restraint, pull it up to the 
desired position.
To lower the head restraint, press the stop-
catch release, then push the head restraint 
down.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top is 
parallel with the top of the passenger’s 
ears, never the passenger’s neck.Removal
To remove the head restraint, press the 
stop-catch release, then pull up on the 
head restraint.
Folding the Third-Row Seat
1. Remove the head restraints from the 
third-row seat (page 2-18).
Head Restraints Adjustment:
Driving with the head restraints 
adjusted too low or removed is 
dangerous. With no support behind 
your head, your neck could be 
seriously injured in a collision. 
Always drive with the head restraints 
inserted when seats are being used 
and make sure they are properly 
adjusted.
WARNING
Stop-catch release
Riding on Folded Flat Third-Row 
Seat:
Riding on the third-row seat when it’s 
folded is dangerous. During sudden 
braking or a collision, passenger’s 
could be thrown around inside the 
vehicle and seriously injured. Always 
ride with the third-row seat in the 
forward-facing, upright position and 
seat belt securely fastened.
Stop-catch release
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
2. Pull the third-row seat’s flat-folding 
strap and push the seatback down until 
it locks.
Stowing the Third-Row Seat
More storage space can be created by 
folding away the third-row seat into the 
rear seat well. With the second-row seats 
removed and the third-row seat stowed, 
even more space is available.
Flat-folding strap
Riding in the Seat Well:
Riding in the seat well for the third-
row seat is dangerous. Sudden 
braking or a collision could cause 
serious injury. Do not sit on lie in the 
seat well while the vehicle is moving. 
Never ride in a vehicle where you 
can’t sit in the seat and wear the seat 
belt.
Pinching Fingers or Hands:
Placing your hands around the seat 
stowage well when stowing the third-
row seat is dangerous. You could 
pinch your hands or fingers between 
the seat and the well. Hold the handle 
when lowering the seat into place. 
Never place your hands between the 
seat and the seat well.
Unlocked Seatback:
An unlocked seatback is dangerous. 
While stowing the seat, the seatback 
could suddenly move causing serious 
injury. Push the seatback forward and 
backward to make sure it is locked in 
place.
NOTE
Remove any items from the seat well 
for the third-row seat before stowing 
the seat. Anything in the baggage area 
when the seat is set into the well can 
damage the seatback material and 
prevent a flat cargo area.
WARNING
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Stowing the third-row seat
1. Insert the seat belts in the retainers.
2. Remove the head restraint and set them 
aside temporarily (page 2-18).
3. Pull strap A and ease the seatback 
toward the front of the vehicle with 
your other hand and be sure it locks 
with a click.4. Pull strap B and lift the combined 
seatback and seat bottom up to vertical 
with your other hand. Gently set the 
seat the remainder of the way down 
into the seat well.
5. Insert the head restraints between the 
floor and seat at the positions indicated 
on the labels.
Retainer
Strap A
Strap B
Labels
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Essential Safety Equipment
Seats
Form No. 8R21-EA-02G
Raising the third-row seat upright for 
road use
1. Clear the entire cargo floor.
2. Remove the head restraints.
3. Carefully reverse the procedures used 
to lower the seat into the seat well. Use 
the handle and ease the combined 
seatback and seat bottom up to vertical.
4. Carefully lower the seat forward and 
make sure it’s latched to the floor.5. Pull strap A and raise the seatback 
upright. Attempt to move the seatback 
forward and backward to make sure it 
is locked.
6. Insert the head restraints.
7. Place the seat belt buckles face up.
Handle
Strap A
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