2022 Mazda Mazda3 Owners Manual - Emergency Towing

Emergency Towing

Towing Description

We recommend that towing be done only by an Authorized Mazda Dealer or a commercial tow-truck service.

Proper lifting and towing are necessary to prevent damage to the vehicle. Particularly when towing an AWD vehicle, where all the wheels are connected to the drive train, proper transporting of the vehicle is absolutely essential to avoid damaging the drive system. Government and local laws must be followed.

1. Wheel dollies

A towed FWD vehicle should have its drive wheels (front wheels) off the ground. If excessive damage or other conditions prevent this, use wheel dollies.

When towing a FWD vehicle with the rear wheels on the ground, release the parking brake.

Refer to Electric Parking Brake (EPB) .

A towed AWD vehicle must have all its wheels off the ground.

Always tow an AWD vehicle with all four wheels off the ground:

Towing an AWD vehicle with either the front or rear wheels on the ground is dangerous as the drive train could be damaged, or the vehicle could trail away from the tow truck and cause an accident. If the drive train has been damaged, transport the vehicle on a flatbed truck.

• Do not tow the vehicle pointed backward with driving wheels on the ground. This may cause internal damage to the transmission.

  

• Do not tow with sling-type equipment. This could damage your vehicle. Use wheel-lift or flatbed equipment.

  

• If the parking brake cannot be released when towing the vehicle, transport the vehicle with all front and rear wheels raised off the ground as shown in the figure. If the vehicle is towed without raising the wheels off the ground, the brake system could be damaged.

  

  1. Wheel dollies

Tiedown Hooks

Do not use the front and rear tiedown eyelets for towing the vehicle.

They have been designed only for securing the vehicle to a transport vessel during shipping.

Using the eyelets for any other purpose could result in the vehicle being damaged.

1. Remove the tiedown eyelet and the lug wrench from the luggage compartment .

2. Wrap a flathead screwdriver or similar tool with a soft cloth to prevent damage to a painted bumper, and open the cap located on the front or rear bumper.

   Front

   (4–Door)

   

   (5–Door)

   

   Rear

   (4–Door)

   

   (5–Door)

   

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   Do not use excessive force as it may damage the cap or scratch the painted bumper surface.

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   Remove the cap completely and store it so as not to lose it.

3. Securely install the tiedown eyelet using the lug wrench.

   Front

   (4–Door)

   

   1. Lug wrench

   2. Tiedown eyelet

   (5–Door)

   

   1. Lug wrench

   2. Tiedown eyelet

   Rear

   (4–Door)

   

   1. Lug wrench

   2. Tiedown eyelet

   (5–Door)

   

   1. Lug wrench

   2. Tiedown eyelet

4. Hook the tying rope to the tiedown eyelet.

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   If the tiedown eyelet is not securely tightened, it may loosen or disengage from the bumper when tying the vehicle. Make sure that the tiedown eyelet is securely tightened to the bumper.