
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
8 In Brief
Initial Drive
Information
This section provides a brief
overview about some of the
important features that may or may
not be on your specific vehicle.
For more detailed information, refer
to each of the features which can be
found later in this owner manual.
Stop/Start System
The vehicle may have a fuel saving
stop/start system to shut off the
engine and help conserve fuel.
When the brakes are applied and
the vehicle is at a complete stop,
the engine may turn off. When the
brake pedal is released or the
accelerator pedal pushed, the
engine will restart.
SeeStarting the Engine 0228
ii.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter may work up to 60 m
(197 ft) away from the vehicle.
With Remote Start Shown
K:Press to unlock the driver door
or all doors.
Q: Press to lock all doors.
Lock and unlock feedback can be
personalized.
X: Press twice quickly to open the
trunk.
7: Press and release one time to
initiate vehicle locator. Press and
hold for at least three seconds to
sound the panic alarm. Press again
to cancel the panic alarm.
See Keys 030
iiand Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation
0 31
ii.
Remote Vehicle Start
If equipped, the engine can be
started from outside of the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Press and releaseQon the
RKE transmitter.
2. Immediately, press and hold
/
for at least four seconds or until
the turn signal lamps flash.
3. Start the vehicle normally after entering.
When the vehicle starts, the parking
lamps will turn on.
For the hybrid vehicle, the engine
will only start if needed for warming
functions or high voltage battery
charging.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
30 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Keys, Doors, and
Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . 37
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . 41
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Doors
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Vehicle Security
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . 44
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . . . . 45
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Interior Mirrors
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . 48
Manual Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . 48
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Keys and Locks
Keys
{Warning
Leaving children in a vehicle with
a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter is dangerous and
children or others could be
seriously injured or killed. They
could operate the power windows
or other controls or make the
vehicle move. The windows will
function with the RKE transmitter
in the vehicle, and children or
others could be caught in the path
of a closing window. Do not leave
children in a vehicle with an RKE
transmitter.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
32 Keys, Doors, and Windows
With Remote Start Shown
Q:Press to lock all doors.
The turn signal indicators may flash
and/or the horn may sound on the
second press to indicate locking.
See Vehicle Personalization 0145
ii.
If the driver door is open when
Qis
pressed, all doors will lock and then
the driver door will immediately
unlock, if enabled through vehicle
personalization. See Vehicle
Personalization 0145
ii.
If the passenger door is open
when
Qis pressed, all doors lock. Pressing
Qmay also arm the alarm
system. See Vehicle Alarm System
0 44
ii.
K:Press to unlock the driver door
or all doors. See Vehicle
Personalization 0145
ii.
The turn signal indicators may flash
to indicate unlocking. See Vehicle
Personalization 0145
ii.
Pressing
Kwill disarm the alarm
system. See Vehicle Alarm System
0 44
ii.
X:Press twice quickly to release
the trunk.
7: Press and release one time to
initiate vehicle locator. The exterior
lamps flash and the horn chirps
three times.
Press and hold
7for at least
three seconds to sound the panic
alarm. The horn sounds and the
turn signals flash for about
30 seconds until
7is pressed again
or the vehicle is started.
/: For vehicles with this feature,
press
Qand release and then press
and hold
/for at least
four seconds to start the engine
from outside the vehicle using the
RKE transmitter. See Remote
Vehicle Start 037
ii.
Keyless Access Operation
The Keyless Access system allows
the door and trunk to be locked and
unlocked without pressing the RKE
transmitter button. The RKE
transmitter must be within 1 m (3 ft)
of the door being opened. If the
vehicle has this feature, there will be
a button on each door handle.
The Keyless Access can be
programmed to unlock all doors on
the first unlock/lock button press
from the driver door. See Vehicle
Personalization 0145
ii.
Keyless Unlocking/Locking from
the Driver Door
When the doors are locked and the
RKE transmitter is within 1 m (3 ft)
of the driver door handle, pressing
the lock/unlock button on the driver

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
44 Keys, Doors, and Windows
There is a glow-in-the-dark
emergency trunk release handle on
the trunk lid. This handle glows
following exposure to light. Pull the
release handle to open the trunk
from the inside.
After use, return to the stored
position.Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
the vehicle impossible to steal.
Vehicle Alarm System
This vehicle has an anti-theft alarm
system.
The indicator light, on the
instrument panel near the
windshield, indicates the status of
the system:
Off :Alarm system is disarmed. On Solid :
Vehicle is secured
during the delay to arm the system.
Fast Flash : Vehicle is unsecured.
A door, the hood, or the trunk
is open.
Slow Flash : Alarm system is
armed.
Arming the Alarm System
1. Close the trunk and the hood. Turn off the vehicle.
2. Lock the vehicle in one of three ways:
.Use the RKE transmitter.
. Use the Keyless Access
system, if equipped.
. With a door open, press the
inside
Q.
3. After 30 seconds the alarm system will arm, and the
indicator light will begin to
slowly flash indicating the
alarm system is operating.
Pressing
Qon the RKE
transmitter a second time will

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Keys, Doors, and Windows 45
bypass the 30-second delay
and immediately arm the alarm
system.
The vehicle alarm system will not
arm if the doors are locked with
the key.
If the driver door is opened without
first unlocking with the RKE
transmitter, the horn will chirp and
the lights will flash to indicate
pre-alarm. If the vehicle is not
started, or the door is not unlocked
by pressing
Kon the RKE
transmitter during the 10-second
pre-alarm, the alarm will be
activated.
If a door, the hood, or the trunk is
opened without first disarming the
system, the turn signals will flash
and the horn will sound for about
30 seconds. The alarm system will
then re-arm to monitor for the next
unauthorized event.
Disarming the Alarm System
Do one of the following to disarm
the alarm system or turn off the
alarm if it has been activated: .
Press
Kon the RKE transmitter.
. Unlock the vehicle using the
Keyless Access system,
if equipped.
. Start the vehicle.
To avoid setting off the alarm by
accident:
. Lock the vehicle after all
occupants have left the vehicle
and all doors are closed.
. Always unlock a door with the
RKE transmitter or use the
Keyless Access system,
if equipped.
Unlocking the driver door with the
key will not disarm the system or
turn off the alarm.
How to Detect a Tamper
Condition
IfKis pressed on the RKE
transmitter and the horn chirps and
the lights flash three times, an alarm
occurred previously while the alarm
system was armed. If the alarm has been activated, a
message will appear on the DIC.
See
Security Messages 0143
ii.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement
0 394ii.
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system does not have to be
manually armed or disarmed.
The vehicle is automatically
immobilized when the transmitter
leaves the vehicle.
The immobilization system is
disarmed when the ignition button is
pushed in and a valid transmitter is
in the vehicle.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
408 Index
IndexA
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . 246
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 278
Additional Information OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Agreements Trademarks and License . . . . . 204
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 293
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 75
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Airbag System (cont'd)
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 71
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Passenger Status Indicator . . . .118
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 263
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Antenna
Backglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 237
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
416 Index
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 356
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Replacement Parts Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . . . 81
Replacing LATCH System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . . . 395
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Restraints Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Ride Control Systems Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Roads Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . . 383
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
S
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . 68
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . 67
Safety Defects Reporting Canadian Government . . . . . . . . 395
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395 Safety Defects Reporting (cont'd)
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . 390
Sealant Kit, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Seats Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Heated and Ventilated Front . . . . 59
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 56
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . 56
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Securing Child Restraints . . . . 95, 97
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Climate Control System . . . . . . . 206
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 281

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
418 Index
Tires (cont'd)Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Pressure Monitor Operation . . 328
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . 327
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Sealant and Compressor Kit, Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Terminology and Definitions . . 323
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 336
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Towing Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . 273
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 273
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 356
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355 Traction
Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Trademarks and License
Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Transmission
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Turn Signal
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . 307, 308
U
Umbrella Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 335
Universal Remote System . . . . . . 157Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Universal Remote System (cont'd)
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Identification Number (VIN) . . . 380
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Reminder Messages . . . . . . . . . . 145
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . 123
Vehicle Care
Storing the Tire Sealantand Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Vehicle Ready Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . 310