Mazda mx-5 2003 Manual page 36

Essential Safety Equipment
SRS Air Bags
Limitations to air bag activation
Depending on the severity of impact, the air bags may not inflate in the following cases:
Impacts involving trees or poles cause severe
cosmetic damage but may not have enough
impact to activate the air bag.
Frontal offset impact to the vehicle may not
provide the stopping force necessary for air
bag deployment.
Non-activation of air bags
Air bags will not normally inflate in the following cases:
Collision from the rear.
Impact to the side.
2-28
Rear-ending or running under a truck's tail
gate may not provide the stopping force
necessary for air bag deployment.
Vehicle roll-over.