
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
2011 Chevrolet Malibu Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Keys, Doors and Windows . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-2
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-31
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23 Climate Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-17
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-25
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-30
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-48
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-83
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-15
the radio FAV button. Press FAV to
go through up to six pages of
favorites, each having six favorite
stations available per page. Each
page of favorites can contain any
combination of AM, FM, or XM™
stations.
For radios without a FAV button, up
to 18 stations (6 FM1, 6 FM2, and
6 AM), can be programmed on the
6 numbered buttons.
SeeOperation on page 7‑2.
Setting the Clock
To set the time and date for the
Radio with CD (MP3) and USB port
or Radio with a Single CD (MP3)
player:
1. Turn the ignition key to
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
2. Press
Oto turn the radio on.
3. Press
Hand the HR, MIN, MM,
DD, YYYY (hour, minute, month,
day, and year) displays. 4. Press the softkey located below
any one of the tabs that you
want to change.
5. Increase or decrease the time or date by turning
fclockwise or
counterclockwise.
For detailed instructions on setting
the clock for your specific audio
system, see Clock on page 5‑6.
Satellite Radio
XM is a satellite radio service that is
based in the 48 contiguous United
States and 10 Canadian provinces.
XM satellite radio has a wide variety
of programming and
commercial-free music, coast to
coast, and in digital-quality sound.
A fee is required to receive the
XM service. For more information, refer to:
.www.xmradio.com or call
1-800-929-2100 (U.S.)
.www.xmradio.ca or call
1-877-438-9677 (Canada)
See “XM Satellite Radio Service”
under Satellite Radio on page 7‑8.
Portable Audio Devices
(Auxiliary Input or
USB Port)
This vehicle may have an 3.5 mm
(1/8 in) auxiliary input jack and a
USB port, located on the audio
faceplate. Some portable audio
devices such as iPods
®, MP3
players, and USB storage devices
can be connected to the vehicle
using a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) cable or a
USB cable.
For more information, see Auxiliary
Devices on page 7‑18.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
1-18 In Brief
Power Outlets
Accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
There are two accessory power
outlets. One accessory power outlet
is located inside the storage bin
below the climate controls and the
other outlet is on the rear of the
center storage console.
Remove the cover to access and
replace when not in use.
SeePower Outlets on page 5‑7.
Performance and
Maintenance
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The traction control system limits
wheel spin. The system turns on
automatically every time the vehicle
is started.
.To turn off traction control, press
and release
ton the
instrument panel.
Filluminates
and the appropriate DIC
message is displayed. See
Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑28.
.Press and release the button
again to turn on traction control.
For more information, see Traction
Control System (TCS)
on
page 9‑30.
Electronic Stability
Control (ESC)
The Electronic Stability Control
system assists with directional
control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions. The system turns
on automatically every time the
vehicle is started.
.To turn off both traction
control and Electronic Stability
Control, press and hold
tuntilFilluminates and
the appropriate DIC message
is displayed. See Ride Control
System Messages
on
page 5‑28.
.Press and release the button
again to turn on both systems.
For more information, see Electronic
Stability Control (ESC)
on
page 9‑32.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
5-6 Instruments and Controls
Clock
Without Date Display
AM/FM Base Radio with a Single
CD Player
To set the time:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
Press the
Oknob to turn the
radio on.
2. Press the
Hbutton until the hour
begins flashing on the display.
Press the
Hbutton a second
time and the minute begins
flashing on the display.
3. While either the hour or the minute numbers are flashing,
turn the
fknob to increase or
decrease the time. 4. Press the
Hbutton again until
the clock display stops flashing
to set the currently displayed
time; otherwise, the flashing
stops after five seconds and the
current time displayed is
automatically set.
To change the time default setting
from 12 hour to 24 hour, press the
Hbutton until 12H or 24H is
displayed. Once 12H or 24H is
displayed, turn the
fknob to the
desired option to select the setting.
Press the
Hbutton again to apply
the setting, or let the screen
time out.
With Date Display
Radio with CD (MP3) and USB
Port, and Radio with Single CD
(MP3) Player
To set the time and date:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACC/ ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
Press the
Oknob to turn the
radio on.
2. Press the
Hbutton and the HR,
MIN, MM, DD, YYYY (hour,
minute, month, day, and year)
displays.
3. Press the softkey located below any one of the tabs that you
want to change.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-7
4. To increase the time or date doone of the following:
.Press the softkey located
below the selected tab.
.Press the¨SEEK, or
\FWD button.
.Turn thefknob clockwise.
5. To decrease the time or date do one of the following:
.Press the©SEEK or
sREV button.
.Turn thefknob
counterclockwise.
The date does not automatically
display. To see the date press
Hwhile the radio is on. The date
with display times out after a few
seconds and goes back to the
normal radio and time display. To change the time default setting
from 12 hour to 24 hour or to
change the date default setting from
month/day/year to day/month/year:
1. Press the
Hbutton and then the
softkey located below the
forward arrow label. Once the
time 12H and 24H, and the date
MM/DD/YYYY (month, day, and
year) and DD/MM/YYYY (day,
month, and year) displays.
2. Press the softkey located below the desired option.
3. Press the
Hbutton again to
apply the selected default, or let
the screen time out.
Power Outlets
Accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
There are two accessory power
outlets. One accessory power outlet
is located inside the storage bin below the climate controls and the
other outlet is on the rear of the
center storage console.
Remove the cover to access
and replace when not in use.
The accessory power outlet is
operational at all times.
{WARNING
Power is always supplied to the
outlets. Do not leave electrical
equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the
vehicle could catch fire and cause
injury or death.
Notice: Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while
the vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-1
Infotainment
System
Introduction
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 7-2
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Radio
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Satellite Radio Antenna . . . . . . 7-13
Audio Players
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Phone
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Introduction
Determine which radio the vehicle
has and read the following pages to
become familiar with its features.
{WARNING
Taking your eyes off the road for
extended periods could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death
to you or others. Do not give
extended attention to
entertainment tasks while driving.
This system provides access to
many audio and non audio listings.
To minimize taking your eyes off the
road while driving, do the following
while the vehicle is parked:
.Become familiar with the
operation and controls of the
audio system.
.Set up the tone, speaker
adjustments, and preset radio
stations. For more information, see
Defensive
Driving on page 9‑2.
Notice: Contact your dealer
before adding any equipment.
Adding audio or communication
equipment could interfere with
the operation of the vehicle's
engine, radio, or other systems,
and could damage them. Follow
federal rules covering mobile
radio and telephone equipment.
Notice: The chime signals related
to safety belts, parking brake, and
other functions of your vehicle
operate through the radio/
entertainment system. If that
equipment is replaced or
additional equipment is added to
your vehicle, the chimes may not
work. Make sure that replacement
or additional equipment is
compatible with your vehicle
before installing it. See
Accessories and Modificationson
page 10‑3.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
7-14 Infotainment System
Audio Players
CD Player
Some CD players can play MP3
CD-R or CD-RW discs, see“MP3”
later in this section for more
information.
The CD player can play the smaller
8 cm (3 in) single discs with an
adapter ring.
Care of the CD Player
Do not add labels to a disc, it could
get caught in the CD player. Use a
marking pen to write on the top of
the disc if a description is needed.
Do not use CD lens cleaners, they
could damage the CD player.
Notice: If a label is added to a
CD, or more than one CD is
inserted into the slot at a time,
or an attempt is made to play
scratched or damaged CDs, the
CD player could be damaged. While using the CD player, use
only CDs in good condition
without any label, load one CD
at a time, and keep the CD player
and the loading slot free of
foreign materials, liquids, and
debris.
If an error displays, see
“CD
Messages” later in this section.
Care of CDs
Store a disc in its original case or a
protective case and away from
direct sunlight and dust. If the
bottom of a disc is damaged it may
not play properly or at all. Do not
touch the bottom of a disc while
handling it, pick it up by grasping
the outer edges or the edge of the
hole and the outer edge.
If the surface of a disc is dirty, take
a soft, lint free cloth or dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral
detergent solution mixed with water,
and clean it. Make sure the wiping
process starts from the center to
the edge.
Inserting a Disc
Insert the disc partway into the slot,
label side up. The player pulls it in
and the disc begins playing.
Use an adapter ring when playing
the smaller 8 cm (3 in) discs.
Smaller discs with the adapter ring
are loaded the same way as a
full-size disc.
Ejecting a Disc
ZEJECT:Press to eject the disc.
If the disc is not removed after
several seconds, the CD player
automatically pulls the disc back in.
Playing a CD
When a CD is inserted into the
player the CD symbol displays, and
as each new track starts to play the
track number displays.
If the ignition or radio is turned off
when a CD is in the player, the CD
stays in the player. If the ignition or
radio is turned on when a CD is in

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-15
the player, the CD starts to play
where it stopped, if it was the last
selected audio source.
Buttons and Knobs
The buttons and knobs on the radio
control the following features.
f(Tune):Turn to select tracks on
the CD.
©SEEK: Press to go to the start of
the current track, if more than ten
seconds have played. Press and
hold or press multiple times to
continue moving backward through
the tracks on the CD.
¨SEEK: Press to go to the next
track. Press and hold or press
multiple times to continue moving
forward through the tracks on
the CD.
sREV (Reverse): Press and hold
to reverse playback quickly within a
track. Sound is heard at a reduced
volume and the elapsed time of the
track displays. Release to resume
playing the track.
\FWD (Fast Forward): Press
and hold to advance playback
quickly within a track. Sound is
heard at a reduced volume and the
elapsed time of the track displays.
Release to resume playing the
track.
4(Information): Press to display
available additional information
about the current track.
BAND: Press to listen to the radio
while a CD is playing. The CD
remains inside the CD player.
CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary): Press to
play a CD while listening to the
radio or a portable audio device.
Press this button again and the
system automatically searches for
an auxiliary input device, such as a
portable audio player. If a portable
audio player is not connected, No
Aux Input Device Found may
display. Softkeys
The five softkeys below the radio
display are used to control functions
that display as tabs.
The softkeys below the radio display
control the following features.
RDM (Random):
Tracks can be
listened to in random, rather than
sequential order.
To use random:
1. Press the softkey below RDM
tab until Random Current Disc
displays.
2. Press the softkey again to turn off random play.
MP3 Supported Files
The Radio with CD (MP3), Radio
with USB and CD (MP3), have the
capability of playing an MP3 CD-R
or CD-RW disc.
The radio can also play discs that
contain both uncompressed CD
audio and MP3 files.