Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
In Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . 30
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Instruments and Controls . . . . . . 102
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 168
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . . 215
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 367
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Customer Information . . . . . . . . . 384
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . . . 394
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
In Brief 5
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . 6
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . 8
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . 12
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 12
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Passenger Sensing System . . . 13
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 14
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . 16
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . . . 20
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 21
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Front Automatic Braking (FAB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . 23
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . 23
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 23
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Universal Remote System . . . . . 24
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Hybrid Features
Hybrid Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
High Voltage Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . . 26 Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . 27
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . 28
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
In Brief 9
Remote start can be extended.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do one of
the following:
.Press and hold
/until the
parking lamps turn off.
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Turn the vehicle on and then off.
See Remote Vehicle Start 037
ii.
Door Locks
To lock or unlock the doors from the
outside:
.
Press
QorKon the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation 031
ii.
. Use the key in the driver door.
The key lock cylinder has a
cover. See Door Locks 038
ii.
To lock or unlock the doors from the
inside:
. PressQorKon the power door
lock switch.
. Pull the door handle once to
unlock the door. Pulling the
handle again unlatches the door.
See Power Door Locks 040
ii.
Windows
Press the switch down to open the
window. Pull the front of the switch
up to close it.
The power windows only operate
with the ignition in ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN, or when
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0231
ii.
Express Window Operation
If equipped, windows may have an
express-down or up feature. Pull a
window switch up or press it down
all the way, release it, and the
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
10 In Brief
window goes up or down
automatically. Stop the window by
briefly pulling or pressing the switch.
SeePower Windows 048
ii.
Seat Adjustment
Manual Front Seats
To adjust a manual seat:
1. Pull the handle at the front of the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the
handle. 3. Try to move the seat back and
forth to be sure it is locked in
place.
Manual Seat Height Adjuster
Move the lever on the outboard side
of the seat up or down to manually
raise or lower the seat.
See Seat Adjustment 055
ii.
Power Seats
To adjust a power seat, if equipped:
.
Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward.
. Raise or lower the entire seat by
moving the entire control up
or down.
. Raise or lower the front part of
the seat cushion by moving the
front of the control up or down.
See Power Seat Adjustment 056
ii.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
In Brief 17
Climate Controls
If equipped with one of these systems, it controls the heating, cooling, and
ventilation.
Climate Control System
1. Fan Control
2. MAX Defrost
3. A/C (Air Conditioning) or Max/ Eco Air Conditioning (Stop/
Start Only)
4. TEMP (Temperature Control) 5. Driver and Passenger Heated
Seats (If Equipped)
6. Recirculation
7. Air Delivery Mode Controls
8. Rear Window Defogger
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
18 In Brief
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
1. Driver and Passenger Ventilated Seats (If Equipped)
2. Driver and Passenger Temperature Controls
3. MAX Defrost
4. Fan Controls
5. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
6. A/C (Air Conditioning) or Max/ Eco Air Conditioning (Stop/
Start Only) 7. Driver and Passenger Heated
Seats (If Equipped)
8. SYNC
9. Recirculation
10. Power
11. Air Delivery Mode Controls
12. Rear Window Defogger
See Climate Control Systems 0206
iior Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0209ii(If Equipped).
Transmission
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS mode allows you to choose the
top-gear limit of the transmission
and the vehicle's speed while
driving downhill or towing a trailer.
The vehicle has an electronic shift
position indicator within the
instrument cluster. When using the
ERS mode a number will display
next to the L, indicating the current
gear that has been selected.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to L (Low).
2. Press + (Plus) or −(Minus) on
the shift lever to increase or
decrease the gear range
available.
See Manual Mode 0235
ii.
Hybrid Low Mode
When descending steep grades or
in stop-and-go traffic, L (Low Mode)
provides the ability to slow the
vehicle with regenerative braking
when lifting off the accelerator
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9087641) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
26 In Brief
High Voltage Safety
Information
{Warning
Exposure to high voltage can
cause shock, burns, and even
death. The high voltage
components in the vehicle can
only be serviced by technicians
with special training.
High voltage components are
identified by labels. Do not
remove, open, take apart,
or modify these components.
High voltage cable or wiring has
orange covering or labels. Do not
probe, tamper with, cut, or modify
high voltage cable or wiring.
This vehicle has a high voltage
battery and a standard 12-volt
battery.
If the vehicle is in a crash, the
sensing system may shut down the
high voltage system. When this
occurs, the high voltage battery is
disconnected and the vehicle will not start. The SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will be
displayed. Before the vehicle can be
operated again, it must be serviced
at your dealer.
{Warning
Damage to the high voltage
battery or high voltage system
can create a risk of electric shock,
overheating, or fire.
If the vehicle is damaged from a
moderate to severe crash, flood,
fire, or other event, the vehicle
should be inspected as soon as
possible. Until the vehicle has
been inspected, store it outside at
least 15 m (50 ft) from any
structure or anything that can
burn. Ventilate the vehicle by
opening a window or a door.
Contact Customer Assistance as
soon as possible to determine
whether an inspection is needed.
See
Customer Assistance Offices
0 386
ii. See
Battery - North America 0302
iifor important safety information.
If an airbag has inflated, see What
Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? 074
ii.
Only a trained service technician
with the proper knowledge and tools
should inspect, test, or replace the
high voltage battery. See your
dealer if the high voltage battery
needs service.
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking takes some of
the energy from the moving vehicle
and turns it back into electrical
energy. This energy is then stored in
the high voltage battery system,
contributing to increased energy
efficiency. See Regenerative
Braking (Hybrid Only) 0241
ii.
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.