
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Seats and Restraints 3-1
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . 3-4
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12 Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . 3-17
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . 3-21
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26 Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . 3-30
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . 3-31
Replacing Airbag System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-31
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Infants and YoungChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . 3-37
Where to Put the Restraint . . . 3-38
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Securing Child Restraints (Front Passenger Seat) . . . . 3-50

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Seats and Restraints 3-29
because that person is not sitting
properly in the seat. Use the
following steps to allow the system
to detect that person and enable the
front outboard passenger frontal
airbag and knee airbag:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional materialfrom the seat, such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, seat massagers,
laptops, or other electronic
devices.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat
cushion, with legs comfortably
extended.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for
two to three minutes after the on
indicator is lit.Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Safety belts help keep the
passenger in position on the seat
during vehicle maneuvers and
braking, which helps the passenger
sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See
“Safety Belts” and“Child Restraints”
in the Index for additional
information about the importance of
proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such as
seat covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system
operates. We recommend that you
not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific
vehicle. See Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑30 for more information
about modifications that can affect
how the system operates. A wet seat can affect the
performance of the passenger
sensing system. Here is how:.The passenger sensing system
may turn off the passenger
frontal airbag when liquid is
soaked into the seat. If this
happens, the off indicator will be
lit, and the airbag readiness light
on the instrument panel will also
be lit.
.Liquid pooled on the seat that
has not soaked in may make it
more likely that the passenger
sensing system will turn on the
passenger frontal airbag while a
child restraint or child occupant
is on the seat. If the passenger
frontal airbag is turned on, the
on indicator will be lit.
If the passenger seat gets wet, dry
the seat immediately. If the airbag
readiness light is lit, do not install a
child restraint or allow anyone to
occupy the seat. See Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑12 for
important safety information.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
3-30 Seats and Restraints
The on indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop,
or other electronic device is put on
an unoccupied seat. If this is not
desired remove the object from
the seat.
{WARNING
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are parts
of the airbag system in several
places around the vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the
vehicle and the airbag system. Topurchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑17.
{WARNING
For up to 10 seconds after the
vehicle is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the
vehicle's frame, bumper system,
height, front end, or side sheet
metal, may keep the airbag system
from working properly. Theoperation of the airbag system can
also be affected by changing or
moving any parts of the front seats,
safety belts, the airbag sensing and
diagnostic module, steering wheel,
instrument panel, roof-rail airbag
modules, ceiling headliner or pillar
garnish trim, front sensors, side
impact sensors, or airbag wiring.
Your dealer and the service manual
have information about the location
of the airbag sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, and airbag
wiring.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
front outboard passenger position,
which includes sensors that are
part of the passenger seat. The
passenger sensing system may
not operate properly if the original
seat trim is replaced with non-GM
covers, upholstery, or trim; or with
GM covers, upholstery, or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any
object, such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort‐enhancing pad
or device, installed under or on top

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
5-6 Instruments and Controls
The outlet is powered when the
ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY, or until the driver
door is opened within 10 minutes of
turning off the vehicle. SeeRetained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9‑22.
Open the protective cover to use the
accessory power outlet.
Certain electrical accessories may
not be compatible with the
accessory power outlets and could
overload vehicle or adapter fuses.
If there is a problem, see your
dealer.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the installation
instructions included with the
equipment. See Add-On Electrical
Equipment on page 9‑50.
Notice: Hanging heavy
equipment from the power outlet
can cause damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. The
power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such
as cell phone charge cords.Power Outlet 120 Volt
Alternating Current
The vehicle may have a power
outlet that can be used to plug in
electrical equipment that uses a
maximum limit of 150 watts.
The power outlet is on the rear of
the center console.
An indicator light on the outlet turns
on to show it is in use. The light
comes on when the ignition is in
ON/RUN and equipment requiring less than 150 watts is plugged into
the outlet, and no system fault is
detected.
The indicator light does not come on
if the ignition is in LOCK/OFF, no
equipment is plugged into the outlet,
or if the equipment is plugged, but
not fully seated in the outlet.
If equipment is connected using
more than 150 watts or a system
fault is detected, the equipment
may operate briefly then turn off.
A protection circuit shuts off the
power supply and the indicator light
turns off. To reset the circuit, unplug
the item and plug it back in or turn
the Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) off and then back on. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9‑22. The power restarts
when equipment using 150 watts or
less is plugged into the outlet and a
system fault is not detected.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Instruments and Controls 5-33
Starting the Vehicle
Messages
JUMP START ACTIVE WAIT TO
START
This message displays while
performing an on-board jump start
of the vehicle. See“Jump Starting
(On-board with eAssist Only).”
JUMP START COMPLETE
ATTEMPT START
This message displays while
performing an on-board jump start
of the vehicle. See “Jump Starting
(On-board with eAssist Only).”
JUMP START DISABLED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL
This message displays if there is a
problem with the on-board jump
start system, or the 12 volt battery is
too low to perform an on-board jump
start. Try using jumper cables and
performing a normal jump start. Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service to if this message continues
to be displayed.
Tire Messages
TIRE PRESSURE LOW ADD
AIR TO TIRE
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the
vehicle's tires is low.
The low tire pressure warning light
will also come on. See
Tire
Pressure Light on page 5‑21.
If a tire pressure message appears
on the DIC, stop as soon as you
can. Inflate the tires by adding air
until the tire pressure is equal to the
values shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See Tires
on page 10‑44, Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑10, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑52. You can receive more than one tire
pressure message at a time. To
read the other messages that may
have been sent at the same time,
press the SET/CLR button. The DIC
also shows the tire pressure values.
See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑24.SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). See Tire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑55.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
This message displays when the
system is learning new tires. See
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑55.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
7-2 Infotainment System
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.
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 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
Modifications on page 10‑3.
The vehicle has Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP,
the audio system can be played
even after the ignition is turned off.
See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑22.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
The theft-deterrent feature works by
learning a portion of the Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) to
the infotainment system. The
infotainment system does not
operate if it is stolen or moved to a
different vehicle.
Overview (Radio with CD)
Infotainment System Overview
Radio faceplate examples are
provided to help identify buttons and
to help understand the functions of
the radio. Find the faceplate that
best matches the vehicle for a
description.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Infotainment System 7-19
Satellite Radio
SiriusXM® Satellite Radio
Service
Vehicles with an SiriusXM satellite
radio tuner and an SiriusXM satellite
radio subscription can receive
SiriusXM programming.
SiriusXM is a satellite radio service
based in the 48 contiguous United
States and 10 Canadian provinces.
SiriusXM satellite radio has a wide
variety of programming and
commercial-free music, coast to
coast, and in digital-quality sound.
A service fee is required to receive
the SiriusXM service. For more
information, see www.siriusxm.com
or 1-866-635-2349 (U.S.), and
www.xmradio.ca or 1-877-209-0079
(Canada).
When SiriusXM is active, the
channel name and number,
category name, song title, and artist
display on the screen.
SiriusXM Categories
SiriusXM stations are organized in
categories.
To customize which SiriusXM
categories are used and displayed
in the system, see“Adding or
Removing XM Categories” following.
Adding or Removing SiriusXM
Categories
1. From the Home Page press the
Config screen button or the
CONFIG button on the faceplate.
2. Select Radio Settings from the Config Menu list.
3. Select Add/Remove XM Categories.
4. From the Add/Remove XM Categories screen, select or
deselect any category to be
used in XM mode. A checkmark
will indicate that the category is
selected.
Turning SiriusXM Channel
Graphic On or Off
1. From the Home Page press theConfig screen button or the
CONFIG button on the faceplate.
2. Select Radio Settings from the Config Menu list.
3. Select XM Channel Graphic to turn on or off.
SiriusXM Messages
XL (Explicit Language
Channels): These channels, or any
others, can be blocked by request,
by calling 1-866-635-2349 (U.S.) or
1-877-209-0079 (Canada).
XM Updating: The encryption code
in the receiver is being updated. No
action is required. This process
should take no longer than
30 seconds.
Loading XM: The audio system is
acquiring and processing audio and
text data. No action is needed. This
message should disappear shortly.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 6/6/12
Driving and Operating 9-33
The Traction Off light comes on to
indicate that the traction control
system has been turned off.
It might be necessary to turn the
system off if the vehicle gets stuck
in sand, mud, or snow and rocking
the vehicle is required. SeeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9‑9. See
also Winter Driving on page 9‑7 for
information on using TCS when
driving in snowy or icy conditions.
Press and release the TCS/
StabiliTrak button again to turn the
system back on. For information on
turning StabiliTrak off and on, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑33.
Adding accessories can affect
the vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10‑3.
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has a vehicle stability
enhancement system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer-controlled system that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a difference
between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the intended direction.
When the stability control system
activates, the TCS/StabiliTrak light
flashes on the instrument panel. This also occurs when traction
control is activated. A noise might
be heard or vibration might be felt in
the brake pedal. This is normal.
Continue to steer the vehicle in the
intended direction.
If there is a problem detected with
StabiliTrak, the TCS/StabiliTrak light
comes on and the system is not
operational. See
StabiliTrak
®OFF
Light on page 5‑19. Driving should
be adjusted accordingly.
StabiliTrak comes on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started. To
assist with directional control of the
vehicle, the system should always
be left on.