Passenger Airbag Deactivation (PAD) Indicator Illumination

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MULTI-MODEL – PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATION (PAD) INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATION

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS

2016 CX-3	2011-2016 Mazda2	2004-2016 Mazda6	2004-2006 MPV
2013-2016 CX-5	2004-2016 Mazda3	2004-2005 Miata
2007-2012 CX-7	2006-2010 Mazda5	2006-2016 MX-5
2007-2016 CX-9	2012-2016 Mazda5	2006-2011 RX-8

This information is provided to help address Passenger Airbag Deactivation (PAD) Indicator illumination concerns during vehicle service.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Are both the Airbag Warning and the PAD indicator lights ON?
- Yes – This does not apply. Refer to MS3 online or Workshop Manual (section 08-02 DTC TABLE) for troubleshooting and repair.
- No – Proceed to step 2.


Airbag Warning	PAD Indicator*

* PAD Indicator image will vary by model.

Is the Airbag Warning light OFF and the PAD indicator light ON solid or ON and OFF intermittently with the front passenger seat occupied?
- Yes – Proceed to “PAD INDICATOR LIGHT OPERATION”.
- No – This does not apply. Refer to MS3 online or Workshop Manual (section 08-03 SYMPTOM TROUBLESHOOTING) for troubleshooting and repair.

PAD INDICATOR LIGHT OPERATION

PAD indicator light is ON or OFF under the following conditions:

Condition detected by the PAD system	PAD indicator light	Front passenger and side air bags	Front passenger seat belt pretensioner system	Curtain air bag system
Empty (Not occupied)*	OFF ON (2016 MX-5, 2016 CX-3, 2016 CX-9, 2013-16 CX-5, 2016 Mazda2, 2014-16 Mazda3 and 2014-16 Mazda6****)	Deactivated	Deactivated	Ready
Child or child-restraint system**	ON	Deactivated	Deactivated	Ready
Adult***	OFF	Ready	Ready	Ready

* If the front passenger seat belt is buckled, the front PAD indicator light illuminates, this is not a malfunction.

**If a larger child sits on the front passenger seat, the sensors might detect the child as being an adult depending on the child’s physical proportions.

***If a smaller adult sits on the front passenger seat, the sensors might detect the person as being a child depending on the person’s physical proportions.

****2016 MX-5, 2016 CX-3, 2016 CX-9, 2013-16 CX-5, 2016 Mazda2, 2014-16 Mazda3 and 2014-16 Mazda6: The PAD indicator light will remain ON when the front passenger seat is empty (not occupied).

PAD SYSTEM

PAD indicator illuminates to inform the customer that the passenger airbag system (passenger airbag, passenger side airbag, and passenger seat belt pre-tensioner) is deactivated.

Passenger airbag system is deactivated to help reduce the potential injuries or fatalities to smaller occupants or children due to air-bag inflation.

Front seat weight sensors measure just the weight that is actually applied on the seat cushion. The value detected by the sensors and the actual passenger weight may not always be equal.

The detected value may be less than the actual passenger’s weight.

Example, the passenger is:

leaning on the door (A).
holding the assist grip (B).
leaning on the center console arm rest (C).
slouching (D).

WARNING: If items are placed on the passenger’s lap, the detected value may be more.

In the examples above, the PAD indicator illuminates when the value detected by the sensors becomes less than the weight threshold. Also, a front seat passenger who weighs near the airbag’s cutoff threshold can cause the PAD indicator illumination to turn on and off intermittently.

Always sit with an appropriate seat posture by fitting your back to the seat back and make sure to wear a seatbelt.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Q&A)

Q 1	Is it still safe and secure to sit in passenger seat with PAD indicator illuminated?
A 1	It is required by regulation to deactivate the passenger airbag system for smaller occupant sitting in the passenger seat who may be at greater risk of injury from a deploying air bag.
Q 2	Why does the PAD indicator turn on and off intermittently?
A 2	Passenger’s seating posture can affect the PAD system’s ON or OFF decision. Especially for passengers who weigh near the threshold they are likely to experience this symptom, as the measurement of the occupancy sensors vary around the threshold.
Q 3	Why does the PAD indicator keep illuminating even with an appropriate seating posture?
A 3	Passenger’s weight is not heavy enough to activate the passenger airbag system even though the passenger sits in the seat with an appropriate seating posture.
Q 4	Why does the PAD indicator illuminate on my new Mazda? I’ve never had this occur on previous Mazdas?
A 4	Due to the change of regulation, the threshold to turn the system on or off has changed. Also, due to the difference in seat design, weight distribution on the seat may change. As as a result, the PAD indicator may illuminate on current Mazda vehicle even though the same customer did not experienced the PAD indicator illumination on previous Mazda vehicle.