MAZDA MODEL MX-5 MIATA 2022 Workshop Manual

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions
The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include different types of air bags.
Please verify which kinds of air bags are equipped on your vehicle by locating the
“SRS AIRBAG” location indicators. These indicators are visible in the area where the air
bags are installed.
The air bags are installed in the following locations:

The steering wheel hub (driver air bag)
The passenger dashboard (passenger air bag)
The outboard sides of the seatbacks (side air bags)
The air bag supplemental restraint systems ar e designed to provide supplemental protection
in certain situations so seat belts are always important in the following ways:

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 injuri es during an accident that is not designed for air bag
inflation, such as roll-over or rear impact.
Reduce the possibility of injuries in frontal, near frontal or side collisions 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 cont rol of the vehicle.

Refer to the Passenger Occupant Class ification System (page 2-49) for details.
The passenger air bag deactivation indicator light illuminates for a specified time after the
ignition is switched ON.

Ty p e A
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-36
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

Ty p e B

Small children must be protected by a child-restraint system as stipulated by law in every
state and province. In certain states and provinces, larger children must use a child-restraint
system (page 2-21).

Carefully consider which child-restraint system is necessary for your child and follow the
installation directions in this Owner's Manual as well as the child-restraint system
manufacturer's instructions.
Do not use a child-restraint system which employs an upper tether because there is no
appropriate means to anchor the tether.
WARNING
Seat belts must be worn in air bag equipped vehicles:
Depending only on the air bags for protection during an accident is dangerous. Alone, air
bags may not prevent serious injuries. The appr opriate air bags can be expected to inflate
only in the first accident, such as frontal, near frontal or side collisions that are at least
moderate. Vehicle occupants shou ld always wear seat belts.

Always make sure the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light is illuminated when
using a child-restraint system:
Seating a child in a child-restraint system that is installed on the passenger seat with the
passenger air bag deactivation indicator light not illuminated is extremely dangerous. In an
accident, an air bag could inflate and cause seri ous injuries or even death to the child seated
in the child-restraint system. Always make su re the passenger air bag deactivation indicator
light is illuminated.
Refer to Occupant Classification System on page 2-49.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-37
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

Do not sit too close to the driver and passenger air bags:
Sitting too close to the driver and passenger air bag modules or placing hands or feet on them
is extremely dangerous. The driver and passeng er air bags inflate with great force and speed.
Serious injuries could occur if someone is too close. The driver should always hold onto only
the rim of the steering wheel. The passenger should keep both feet on the floor. Seat
occupants should adjust their seats as far back as possible and always sit upright against the
seatbacks with seat belts worn properly.
Do not sit too close to a door or lean against doors in vehicles with side air bags:
Sitting too close to the side air bag module s or placing hands on them is extremely
dangerous. A side air bag inflates with great force and speed directly out of the outboard
shoulder of the seat and expands along the door on the side the car is hit. Serious injury could
occur if someone is sitting too close to the d oor or leaning against a window in the seats.
Furthermore, sleeping up against the door or hanging out the driver-side window while
driving could block the side air bag and eliminate the advantages of supplemental
protection. Give the side air bags room to work by sitting in the center of the seat while the
vehicle is moving with seat belts worn properly.
Sit in the center of the seat and wear seat belts properly:
Sitting too close to the side air bag modules or placing hands on them, or sleeping up against
the door or hanging out the windows is extremely dangerous. The side air bags
inflate with
great force and speed directly expanding along th e door on the side the car is hit. Serious
injury could occur if someone is sitting too clos e to the door. Give the side air bags room to
work by sitting in the center of the seat while the vehicle is moving with seat belts worn
properly.
Do not attach objects on or around the area where air bags deploy:
Attaching objects to the air bags or placing something in the area where the air bags deploy
is dangerous. In an accident, an object coul d interfere with air bag inflation and injure the
occupants. Furthermore, the bag could be da maged causing gases to release. Always keep
the deployment area of the air bag modules free of any obstructions.
For example, you should not do any of the following as it may interfere with air bag
deployment.
 Do not put a covering on or lean anything against areas such as the dashboard and lower
portion of the instrument panel that blocks the passenger front air bag and knee air bags.
 Do not use seat covers on the front seats and rear seats equipped with in-seat side air bags.
 Do not hang any backpacks, bags or pouches that cover the sides of the seats that block the
side air bags.
 Do not place any objects on the assist grips. Only hang clothes directly on the coat hooks.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-38
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

Do not touch the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags have
inflated:
Touching the components of the supplemental restraint system after the air bags have
inflated is dangerous. Immediately after inflation , they are very hot. You could get burned.
Never install any front-end equipment to your vehicle:
Installation of front-end equipment, such as frontal protection bar (kangaroo bar, bull bar,
push bar, or other similar devices), snowplow , or winches, is dangerous. The air bag crash
sensor system could be affected. This could cause air bags to inflate unexpectedly, or it could
prevent the air bags from inflati ng during an accident. Occupants could be seriously injured.
Do not modify the suspension:
Modifying the vehicle suspension is dangerous. If the vehicle's height or the suspension is
modified, the vehicle will be unable to accura tely detect a collision resulting in incorrect or
unexpected air bag deployment and the possibility of serious injuries.
Do not modify a door or leave any damage unrepaired. Always have an Authorized Mazda
Dealer inspect a damaged door:
Modifying a door or leaving any damage unrepai red is dangerous. Each door has a side crash
sensor as a component of the supplemental restr aint system. If holes are drilled in a door, a
door speaker is left removed, or a damaged d oor is left unrepaired, the sensor could be
adversely affected causing it to not detect the pressure of an impact correctly during a side
collision. If a sensor does not detect a side impa ct correctly, the side air bags and the seat belt
pretensioner may not operate normally which could result in serious injury to occupants.
Do not modify the supplemental restraint system:
Modifying the components or wiri ng of the supplemental restraint system is dangerous. You
could accidentally activate it or make it inoperable. Do not make any modifications to the
supplemental restraint system. This includes inst alling trim, badges, or anything else over the
air bag modules. It also includes installing extra electrical equipment on or near system
components or wiring. An Authorized Mazda Dealer can provide the special care needed in
the removal and installation of seats. It is important to protect the air bag wiring and
connections to assure that the bags do not accidentally deploy, and that the passenger
occupant classification system and the seats retain an undamaged air bag connection.
Do not place luggage or other objects under the seats:
Placing luggage or other objects under the seats is dangerous. The components essential to
the supplemental restraint system could be damaged, and in the event of a side collision, the
appropriate air bags may not deploy, which could result in death or serious injury. To prevent
damage to the components essential to the supplemental restraint system, do not place
luggage or other objects under the seats.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-39
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

Do not operate a vehicle with damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system components:
Expended or damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner system components must be replaced
after any collision which caused them to depl oy or damage them. Only a trained Authorized
Mazda Dealer can fully evaluate these systems to see that they will work in any subsequent
accident. Driving with an expended or damage d air bag or pretensioner unit will not afford
you the necessary protection in the event of any subsequent accident which could result in
serious injury or death.
Do not remove interior air bag parts:
Removing any components such as the seats, front dashboard, the steering wheel, containing
air bag parts or sensors is dangerous. These pa rts contain essential air bag components. The
air bag could accidentally activate and cause serious injuries. Always have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer remove these parts.
Properly dispose of the air bag system:
Improper disposal of an air bag or a vehicle with live air bags in it can be extremely
dangerous. Unless all safety procedures are foll owed, injury could result. Have an Authorized
Mazda Dealer safely dispose of the air bag sy stem or scrap an air bag equipped vehicle.
NOTE
If it becomes necessary to have the components or wiring system for the supplementary
restraint system modified to accommodate a person with certain medical conditions in
accordance with a certified physician, contact an Authorized Mazda Dealer, refer to
“Customer Assistance (U.S.A.)” (page 8-2).
When an air bag deploys, a loud inflation noise can be heard and some smoke will be
released. Neither is likely to cause injury, however, the text ure of the air bags may cause
light skin injuries on body parts not covered with clothing through friction.
Should you sell your Mazda, we urge you to tell the new owner of its air bag systems and
that familiarization with all instructions about them, from the Owner's Manual, is
important.
Vehicles with a passenger air bag have a warning label attached as shown in the
following.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-40
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

(Except Mexico)
This warning label is displayed in compliance with regulations.
(Mexico)
This warning label reminds you not to put a rear-facing child-restraint system on the
passenger seat at any time.

Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-41
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

Supplemental Restraint System Components
Driver/Passenger inflators and air bags
Crash sensors, and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
Seat belt pretensioners (page 2-18)
Front air bag sensors
Side crash sensors
Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light (page 4-27)
Side inflators and air bags
Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light (page 2-49)
Passenger occupant classification sensor (page 2-49)
Passenger occupant classification module
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-42
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

How the SRS Air Bags Work
Your Mazda is equipped with the following types of SRS air bags. SRS air bags are
designed to work together with the seat belts to help to reduce injuries during an accident.
The SRS air bags are designed to provide further protection for passengers in addition to the
seat belt functions. Be sure to wear seat belts properly.
▼ Seat Belt Pretensioners
The seat belt pretensioners are designed to deploy in moderate or severe frontal, near frontal
collisions.
In addition, during a side collision, the pr
etensioner operates. The pretensioners operate
differently depending on what types of air bags are equipped. For more details about seat
belt pretensioner operation, refer to the SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria (page 2-46).
▼ Driver Air Bag
The driver's air bag is mounted in 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.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-46).
(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 ai r bag deploys with lesser energy, whereas during
more severe impacts, it de ploys with more energy.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-43
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

▼Passenger Air Bag
The passenger air bag is mounted in the passenger dashboard.
The inflation mechanism for the passenger air bag is the same as the driver's air bag.
For more details about air bag deployment,
refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-46).
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. For details, refer to
the passenger occupant classification system (page 2-49).
▼ Side Air Bags
The side air bags are mounted 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.
For more details about air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air Bag Deployment Criteria"
(page 2-46).
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. For details,
refer to the passenger occupant classification system (page 2-49).

Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-44
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old 2021-11-10 13:10:56

▼Warning Light/Beep
A system malfunction or operation conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to Warning/Indicator Lights on page 4-27.
Refer to Warning Sound is Activated on page 7-48.
Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
2-45
MX-5_8KH8-EA-21K_Edition3_old
2021-11-10 13:10:56