Essential Safety Equipment; Seat Belt Systems; Wear seat belts only as recommended in - Page 32

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Essential Safety Equipment

Seat Belt Systems

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 

sufficient occupant movement.

Even if the pretensioners have not fired, 

the load limiting function must be checked 

by an Authorized Mazda Dealer.

WARNING

Wear seat belts only as recommended in 

this owner's manual:

Incorrect positioning of the 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 2-16).

Have your seat belts changed 

immediately if the pretensioner or load 

limiter has been expended:

Always have an Authorized Mazda 

Dealer 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. A seat belt with an 

expended pretensioner or load limiter 

is still better than wearing no seat 

belt at all; however, if the seat belt 

pretensioners and load limiters are not 

replaced, the risk of injury in a collision 

will increase.

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 Authorized 

Mazda Dealer 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  

2-53).



  Some smoke (non-toxic gas) will 

be released when the air bags and 

pretensioners deploy. This does not 

indicate a fire. 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.

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