Technical
Service Bulletin

Mazda North American Operations
Irvine, CA 92618-2922

Subject:
PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATION (PAD) INDICATOR LIGHT
ILLUMINATION

Bulletin No.: 08-001/19

Last Issued: 01/10/2019

BULLETIN NOTES
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted below in Red.

Previous TSBs: Date(s) Issued:
08-001/16

04/05/2018

08-001/16

02/05/2016

08-001/13

11/19/2013

08-002/12

06/29/2012

08-003/11

03/25/2011

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS

2016-2019 CX-3 2011-2016 Mazda2 2004-2019 Mazda6 2004-2006 MPV
2013-2019 CX-5 2004-2019 Mazda3 2004-2005 Miata
2007-2012 CX-7 2006-2010 Mazda5 2006-2019 MX-5
2007-2019 CX-9 2012-2016 Mazda5 2006-2011 RX-8

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

Page 1 of 5
CONSUMER NOTICE: The information and instructions in this bulletin are intended for use by skilled technicians. Mazda technicians utilize the proper tools/
equipment and take training to correctly and safely maintain Mazda vehicles. These instructions should not be performed by “do-it-yourselfers.” Customers
should not assume this bulletin applies to their vehicle or that their vehicle will develop the described concern. To determine if the information applies,
customers should contact their nearest authorized Mazda dealership. Mazda North American Operations reserves the right to alter the specifications and
contents of this bulletin without obligation or advance notice. All rights reserved. No part of this bulletin may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical---including photocopying and recording and the use of any kind of information storage and retrieval system ---without permission in
writing.

© 2019 Mazda North American Operations, U.S.A.

Bulletin No.: 08-001/19

Last Issued: 01/10/2019

TROUBLESHOOTING
1. Are both the Airbag Warning and the PAD indicator lights ON?




Yes - This bulletin does not apply. Refer to MGSS online (DTC TABLE) for troubleshooting and
repair.
No - Proceed to step 2.

Airbag Warning

PAD Indicator*

* PAD Indicator image will vary by model.
2. 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 bulletin does not apply. Refer to MGSS online (SYMPTOM TROUBLESHOOTING) for
troubleshooting and repair.

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

Page 2 of 5
CONSUMER NOTICE: The information and instructions in this bulletin are intended for use by skilled technicians. Mazda technicians utilize the proper tools/
equipment and take training to correctly and safely maintain Mazda vehicles. These instructions should not be performed by “do-it-yourselfers.” Customers
should not assume this bulletin applies to their vehicle or that their vehicle will develop the described concern. To determine if the information applies,
customers should contact their nearest authorized Mazda dealership. Mazda North American Operations reserves the right to alter the specifications and
contents of this bulletin without obligation or advance notice. All rights reserved. No part of this bulletin may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical---including photocopying and recording and the use of any kind of information storage and retrieval system ---without permission in
writing.

© 2019 Mazda North American Operations, U.S.A.

Bulletin No.: 08-001/19

Condition
detected by the
PAD system
Empty (Not
occupied)*

Last Issued: 01/10/2019

PAD indicator light

OFF
ON (2016-2019 MX-5, 2016-2019 CX-3,
2016-2019 CX-9, 2013-2019 CX-5, 2016
Mazda2, 2014-2019 Mazda3 and 20142019 Mazda6****)

Child or childrestraint
system**
Adult***

Front passenger Front passenger Curtain air
and side air
seat belt
bag
bags
pretensioner
system
system
Deactivated
Deactivated
Ready

Deactivated

Deactivated

Ready

Ready

Ready

Ready

ON
OFF

* 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.
****2016-2019 MX-5, 2016-2019 CX-3, 2016-2019 CX-9, 2013-2019 CX-5, 2016 Mazda2, 2014-2019
Mazda3 and 2014-2019 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.

Page 3 of 5
CONSUMER NOTICE: The information and instructions in this bulletin are intended for use by skilled technicians. Mazda technicians utilize the proper tools/
equipment and take training to correctly and safely maintain Mazda vehicles. These instructions should not be performed by “do-it-yourselfers.” Customers
should not assume this bulletin applies to their vehicle or that their vehicle will develop the described concern. To determine if the information applies,
customers should contact their nearest authorized Mazda dealership. Mazda North American Operations reserves the right to alter the specifications and
contents of this bulletin without obligation or advance notice. All rights reserved. No part of this bulletin may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical---including photocopying and recording and the use of any kind of information storage and retrieval system ---without permission in
writing.

© 2019 Mazda North American Operations, U.S.A.

Bulletin No.: 08-001/19

Last Issued: 01/10/2019

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.

Page 4 of 5
CONSUMER NOTICE: The information and instructions in this bulletin are intended for use by skilled technicians. Mazda technicians utilize the proper tools/
equipment and take training to correctly and safely maintain Mazda vehicles. These instructions should not be performed by “do-it-yourselfers.” Customers
should not assume this bulletin applies to their vehicle or that their vehicle will develop the described concern. To determine if the information applies,
customers should contact their nearest authorized Mazda dealership. Mazda North American Operations reserves the right to alter the specifications and
contents of this bulletin without obligation or advance notice. All rights reserved. No part of this bulletin may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical---including photocopying and recording and the use of any kind of information storage and retrieval system ---without permission in
writing.

© 2019 Mazda North American Operations, U.S.A.

Bulletin No.: 08-001/19

Last Issued: 01/10/2019

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (Q&A)

Q Is it still safe and secure to sit in passenger seat with PAD indicator illuminated?
1
A It is required by regulation to deactivate the passenger airbag system for smaller occupant sitting in the
1 passenger seat who may be at greater risk of injury from a deploying air bag.
Q Why does the PAD indicator turn on and off intermittently?
2
A Passenger's seating posture can affect the PAD system's ON or OFF decision. Especially for passengers
2 who weigh near the threshold they are likely to experience this symptom, as the measurement of the
occupancy sensors vary around the threshold.
Q Why does the PAD indicator keep illuminating even with an appropriate seating posture?
3
A Passenger’s weight is not heavy enough to activate the passenger airbag system even though the
3 passenger sits in the seat with an appropriate seating posture.
Q
4
A
4

Why does the PAD indicator illuminate on my new Mazda? I’ve never had this occur on previous
Mazdas?
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.

See the Owner’s Manual (section 2) for additional information.

Page 5 of 5
CONSUMER NOTICE: The information and instructions in this bulletin are intended for use by skilled technicians. Mazda technicians utilize the proper tools/
equipment and take training to correctly and safely maintain Mazda vehicles. These instructions should not be performed by “do-it-yourselfers.” Customers
should not assume this bulletin applies to their vehicle or that their vehicle will develop the described concern. To determine if the information applies,
customers should contact their nearest authorized Mazda dealership. Mazda North American Operations reserves the right to alter the specifications and
contents of this bulletin without obligation or advance notice. All rights reserved. No part of this bulletin may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical---including photocopying and recording and the use of any kind of information storage and retrieval system ---without permission in
writing.

© 2019 Mazda North American Operations, U.S.A.