
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Driving and Operating 259
more rapidly which can cause a
brief, mild deceleration. Continue to
apply the brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates. Cruise control
may be disengaged when the
Collision Alert occurs.
Tailgating Alert
The vehicle ahead indicator will
display amber when you are
following a detected vehicle ahead
much too closely.
Selecting the Alert Timing
The Collision Alert control is on the
steering wheel. Press
[to set the
FCA timing to far, medium, near,
or off. The first button press shows
the current control setting on the
DIC. Additional button presses will
change this setting. The chosen
setting will remain until it is changed
and will affect the timing of both the
Collision Alert and the Tailgating Alert features. The timing of both
alerts will vary based on vehicle
speed. The faster the vehicle speed,
the farther away the alert will occur.
Consider traffic and weather
conditions when selecting the alert
timing. The range of selectable alert
timing may not be appropriate for all
drivers and driving conditions.
Following Distance Indication
The following distance to a moving
vehicle you are following is
indicated in following time in
seconds on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See
Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0129
iior Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Uplevel) 0132ii. The
minimum following time is
0.5 seconds away. If there is no
vehicle detected ahead, or the
vehicle ahead is out of sensor
range, dashes will be displayed.
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessary
alerts to turning vehicles, vehicles in
other lanes, objects that are not vehicles, or shadows. These alerts
are normal operation and the
vehicle does not need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem to
operate properly, cleaning the
outside of the windshield in front of
the camera sensor may correct the
issue
Front Automatic Braking
(FAB) System
If the vehicle has Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), it also has FAB, which
includes Intelligent Brake
Assist (IBA). When the system
detects a vehicle ahead in your path
that is traveling in the same
direction that you may be about to
crash into, it can provide a boost to
braking or automatically brake the
vehicle. This can help avoid or
lessen the severity of crashes when
driving in a forward gear. Depending
on the situation, the vehicle may
automatically brake moderately or
hard. This front automatic braking
can only occur if a vehicle is

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
268 Driving and Operating
higher. Do not use gasoline with an
octane rating below 87; as it may
cause engine damage and will lower
fuel economy.
For vehicles with the 2.0L L4
engine, use premium unleaded
gasoline meeting ASTM
specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher.
Regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher can be used,
but acceleration and fuel economy
will be reduced, and an audible
knocking noise may be heard. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, the engine
could be damaged. If heavy
knocking is heard when using
gasoline with a 91 octane rating or
higher, the engine needs service.
Use of Seasonal Fuels
Use summer and winter fuels in the
appropriate season. The fuels
industry automatically modifies the
fuel for the appropriate season.
If fuel is left in the vehicle tank for
long periods of time, driving or
starting could be affected. Drive thevehicle until the fuel is at one-half
tank or less, then refuel with the
current seasonal fuel.
Prohibited Fuels
Gasolines containing oxygenates
such as ethers and ethanol, as well
as reformulated gasolines, are
available in some cities. If these
gasolines comply with the
previously described specification,
then they are acceptable to use.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
15% ethanol must be used only in
FlexFuel vehicles.
Caution
Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also
damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be
covered under the vehicle
warranty.
Some gasolines, mainly high octane
racing gasolines, can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). Do not use
gasolines and/or fuel additives with
MMT as they can reduce spark plug
life and affect emission control
system performance. The
malfunction indicator lamp may turn
on. If this occurs, see your dealer
for service.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle may not pass a smog-check
test. See
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0120
ii.
If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer for diagnosis. If it

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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278 Driving and Operating
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector
(DLC) is used for vehicle service
and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)0120
ii.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 079
iiand Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 80
ii.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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300 Vehicle Care
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0284
iifor
reservoir location.
Caution
. Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield
washer system and paint.
. Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
. When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions for
adding water.
. Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full when
it is very cold. This allows
for fluid expansion if
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or can
be heard all the time when the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Service and Maintenance 375
of leaking, blown seals,
or damage, and can advise
when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money and fuel,
and can reduce the risk of tire
failure.
. Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the
rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
. Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the right
tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires.
Vehicle Care
To help keep the vehicle looking like
new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For information on how to clean and
protect the vehicle’s interior and
exterior, see
Interior Care 0363
iiand
Exterior Care 0358ii.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is critical for
ensuring that the tires deliver
optimal wear and performance.
. Signs that the alignment may
need to be adjusted include
pulling, improper vehicle
handling, or unusual tire wear.
. Your dealer has the required
equipment to ensure proper
wheel alignment.
Windshield
For safety, appearance, and the
best viewing, keep the windshield
clean and clear.
. Signs of damage include
scratches, cracks, and chips.
. Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the windshield and
recommend proper replacement
if needed. Wiper Blades
Wiper blades need to be cleaned
and kept in good condition to
provide a clear view.
.
Signs of wear include streaking,
skipping across the windshield,
and worn or split rubber.
. Trained dealer technicians can
check the wiper blades and
replace them when needed.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
410 Index
ChargingWireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 119
Check Malfunction IndicatorEngine Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Child Restraints
Infants and Young Children . . . . . 83
Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95, 97
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 206 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . 110, 112
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 391
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Compartments
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . 340
Connections
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Control Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Coolant Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Engine Temperature Gauge . . .117
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 294, 295 Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Cruise Control, Adaptive . . . . . . . . 246
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Text Telephone (TTY)Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387 Customer Information
Service Publications
Ordering Information . . . . . . . . 393
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 391
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 2
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 396
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Diagnostics OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Display
Center Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 383
Driver Teen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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412 Index
Front Pedestrian Braking(FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 59
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 126
Requirements, California . . . . . 268
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Gauges
Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Gauges (cont'd)
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Power Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
General Information
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 367
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Hands-Free Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 164
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Headlamps (cont'd)
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 127
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 163
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 127
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Heating and Air Conditioning . . . 206
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . 326
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 220
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . 240
Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

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Index 413
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
IndicatorPedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Information Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . 110, 112
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . 6
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 48
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
K
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . . . . 139
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 31
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 320
Lamps Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 163
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . 120
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 263
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . 265
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 123
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
LATCH System Replacing Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
LATCH, Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Light Ready Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Light (cont'd)
Vehicle Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 165
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 122
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 122
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 125
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 163
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . .117
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
StabiliTrak
®OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125