Page 1 of 442

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
..............................................1-10
Safety Belts
.............................................1-14
Child Restraints
.......................................1-34
Airbag System
.........................................1-59
Restraint System Check
............................1-71
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
......................................2-11
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-22
Mirrors
....................................................2-38
OnStar
®System
......................................2-44
Universal Home Remote System
................2-46
Storage Areas
.........................................2-50
Sunroof
..................................................2-53
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-22
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-32Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-47
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-54
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-39
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-47
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-52
Tires
......................................................5-54
Appearance Care
.....................................5-89
Vehicle Identi cation
.................................5-98
Electrical System
......................................5-98
Capacities and Speci cations
...................5-107
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-14
Index................................................................ 1
2006 Chevrolet Malibu Owner ManualM
Page 8 of 442
Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock
it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release
the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure
the seat is locked in place.
1-2
Page 10 of 442

Heated Seats
Your vehicle may have heated front seats.
The buttons are located on
the outboard side of the
driver’s and front
passenger’s seats.
Press the top of the switch to turn the feature on.
The seat will heat to the high setting. The indicator
light above the switch will be lit next to the number 2.
Press the top of the switch again to go to the low
heat setting. The indicator light will be lit next to the
number 1.
Press the bottom of the switch to turn the feature off.
The heated seat feature will turn off when the ignition
is turned off.
Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
1-4
Page 11 of 442
The seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever
used to operate them is located on the outboard side of
the seats.
To recline the seatback, do the following:
1. Lift the recline lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then
release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it
is locked.To return the seatback to an upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback and the seatback will return to the upright
position. Release the lever to lock the seatback
in place.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it
is locked.
1-5
Page 14 of 442

Passenger Folding Seatback
Your vehicle may have a passenger folding seatback.
This feature allows for more cargo space or allows
the seatback to be used as a temporary table while the
vehicle is stopped.
{CAUTION:
If you fold the seatback forward to carry longer
objects, such as skis, be sure any such cargo
is not near an airbag. In a crash, an in ating
airbag might force that object toward a person.
This could cause severe injury or even death.
Secure objects away from the area in which an
airbag would in ate. For more information, see
Where Are the Airbags? on page 1-62and
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-33.
{CAUTION:
Things you put on this seatback can strike and
injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a
crash. Remove or secure all items before
driving.
To fold the seatback forward, do the following:
1. Make sure the seatback is in the most upright
position and locked by using the reclining seatback
lever on the outboard side of the seat. SeeReclining
Seatbacks on page 1-4.
1-8
Page 15 of 442

2. If your vehicle has the passenger folding seat without
an airbag, press either lever located on the back of
the seatback and fold the seatback forward.
If your vehicle has the passenger folding seat with
an airbag, press the lever located on the back of the
seatback on the inboard side. Press the lever and
fold the seatback forward.To raise the seatback, do the following:
1. If your vehicle has the passenger folding seat
without an airbag, press either lever located on
the back of the seatback. Pull the seatback up to
lock it into place. Make sure the safety belt is
not twisted or caught in the seatback.
If your vehicle has the passenger folding seat with
an airbag, press the lever located on the back
of the seatback on the inboard side. Pull the
seatback up to lock it into place. Make sure the
safety belt is not twisted or caught in the seatback.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
2. Push and pull the seatback to make sure it is
locked into place.
3. Use the reclining seatback lever to adjust the
seatback to a comfortable position. SeeReclining
Seatbacks on page 1-4. Seat without Side Impact Airbag shown,
Seat with Airbag similar
1-9
Page 18 of 442
2. Once a lever is pulled, the seatback can be pushed
into the down position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
1-12
Page 19 of 442

{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
To return the seatback to the upright position, push the
seatback up until you hear a click. Then pull on the
seatback to make sure it is secure.
Rear Sliding Seat (MAXX Only)
If your vehicle is the MAXX model your rear seat will
slide forward or rearward to allow more cargo space in
the rear.
Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock
the seat. Slide the seat to where you want it and
release the bar. Try to move the seat back and forth
to be sure the seat is locked in place.
If your vehicle has the rear seat entertainment system,
slide the rear seat up so that the front edge of the
seat cushion is lined up with the mark on the carpet
retainer trim on the oor of the driver’s side rear seat.
If the rear seat is up past the mark, you will not be able
to open the DVD screen.
1-13