Mazda MX-5 Quiz
Essential Safety Equipment

How the SRS Air BagsWork

In this manual: Essential Safety Equipment
A Word to Mazda Owners — 1How to Use This Manual — 1Your Vehicle at a Glance — 6Essential Safety Equipment — 19Knowing Your Mazda — 23Before Driving Your Mazda — 16Driving Your Mazda — 23Interior Comfort — 26In Case of an Emergency — 13Maintenance and Care — 21Customer Information and Reporting Safety Defects — 23Specifications — 3
~3min read
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.

Driver Air Bag The driver's air bag is mounted in the steering wheels.

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.

The driver's dual-stage air bag controls air bag inflation in two energy

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 Air Bag
The passenger air bag is mounted in the passenger dashboard.

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, as
mentioned above. In addition, the passenger air bag is designed to only deploy in
accordance with the total seated weight on the passenger seat. For details, refer to the driver
and passenger occupant classification system .

Side Air Bags The side air bags are mounted in the outboard sides of the front 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 front passenger's chest caused by
directly hitting interior parts such as a door or window. In addition, the front passenger side
air bag is designed to only deploy in accordance with the total seated weight on the front
passenger seat.

For details, refer to the driver and front passenger occupant classification

For details, refer to the driver and front passenger occupant classification system.

Air Bag/Seat Belt Pretensioner System Warning Light
If the air bag/seat belt pretensioner system is working properly, the warning

If the air bag/seat belt pretensioner system is working properly, the warning light
illuminates when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position or after the engine is
cranked. The warning light turns off after a specified period of time. A system malfunction is indicated if the warning light constantly flashes, constantly
illuminates or does not illuminate at all when the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position. If any of these occur, consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer as soon as possible.

The system may not work in an accident.

WARNING:
Never tamper with the air bag/pretensioner systems and always have an Authorized Mazda Dealer perform all servicing and repairs: Self-servicing or tampering with the systems is dangerous. An air bag/pretensioner
could accidentally activate or become disabled causing serious injury or death.

Test yourself

A quick Mazda MX-5 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.