Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 6/1/16
In Brief 13
To h e a t t h e d r i v e r o r p a s s e n g e r s e a t
cushion and seatback, pressLor
M.Indicatorlightsonthebuttonshow the current setting.
To v e n t i l a t e t h e d r i v e r o r p a s s e n g e r
seat, press{orC.Indicatorlights
on the button show the currentsetting.
Press the heated or ventilatedbutton once for the highest setting.With each press of the button, theheated or ventilated seat willchange to the next lower setting,and then to the off setting. Thelights indicate three for the highestsetting and one for the lowest.
SeeHeated and Ventilated FrontSeats060.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraintsfor all occupants are installed andadjusted properly.
To a c h i e v e a c o m f o r t a b l e s e a t i n gposition, change the seatbackrecline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the headrestraint height in the properposition.
SeeHead Restraints055andSeatAdjustment056.
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections forimportant information on how to usesafety belts properly:
.Safety Belts064.
.How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly065.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt066.
.Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH System)090.
Passenger Sensing
System
United States and Canada
Mexico
The passenger sensing systemturns off the front outboardpassenger frontal airbag and kneeairbag under certain conditions. Noother airbag is affected by thepassenger sensing system. SeePassenger Sensing System077.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
50 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Windows
{Warning
Never leave a child, a helpless
adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,
especially with the windows
closed in warm or hot weather.
They can be overcome by the
extreme heat and suffer
permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke.
The vehicle aerodynamics aredesigned to improve fuel economyperformance. This may result in a
pulsing sound when either rearwindow is down and the frontwindows are up. To reduce thesound, open either a front windowor the sunroof, if equipped.
Power Windows
{Warning
Children could be seriously
injured or killed if caught in the
path of a closing window. Never
leave keys in a vehicle with
children. When there are children
in the rear seat, use the window
lockout button to prevent
operation of the windows. See
Keys031.
The windows work when the vehicleis in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY, or when RetainedAccessory Power (RAP) is active.SeeRetained Accessory Power(RAP)0230.
Press or pull the switch to open orclose the window.
The windows will be temporarilydisabled if the window switches areused repeatedly within a short time.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
54 Seats and Restraints
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 57Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 57Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Heated and Ventilated FrontSeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Safety Belt Use DuringPregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . 69Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 69Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Replacing Safety Belt SystemParts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 72When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74What Makes an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75What Will You See after anAirbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Passenger Sensing System . . . 77Servicing the Airbag-EquippedVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81Adding Equipment to theAirbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 81Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 82Replacing Airbag System Partsafter a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Infants and Young Children . . . . 85Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 87Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 89Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) . . . . 90
Replacing LATCH System PartsAfter a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95Securing Child Restraints (Withthe Safety Belt in theRear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Securing Child Restraints (Withthe Safety Belt in theFront Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
62 Seats and Restraints
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Reminder
Look in Rear Seat ReminderFeature
If equipped, this message displaysunder certain conditions indicatingthere may be an item or passengerin the rear seat. Check beforeexiting the vehicle.
This feature will activate when asecond row door is opened whilethe vehicle is on or up to 10 minutesbefore the vehicle is turned on,including if the vehicle was startedremotely. There will be an alertwhen the vehicle is turned off. Thealert does not directly detect objectsin the rear seat; instead, undercertain conditions, it detects when arear door is opened and closed,indicating that there may besomething in the rear seat.
The feature is active only once eachtime the vehicle is turned on and off,and will require reactivation byopening and closing the second rowdoors. There may be an alert evenwhen there is nothing in the rear
seat; for example, if a child enteredthe vehicle through the rear doorand left the vehicle without thevehicle being shut off.
The feature can be turned on or offthroughVehiclePersonalization0147.
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can befolded down for more cargo space.Fold a seatback only when thevehicle is not moving.
Caution
Folding a rear seat with the safety
belts still fastened may cause
damage to the seat or the safety
belts. Always unbuckle the safety
belts and return them to their
normal stowed position before
folding a rear seat.
The release levers for folding therear seatbacks are located in thetrunk. To fold the seatback down:
1. Lower the rear seat headrestraints completely. SeeHead Restraints055.
2. Lift the rear seat armrest andplace it in the folded position,if necessary. SeeRear SeatArmrest064.
3. Disconnect the rear safety beltmini-latch, using a key in theslot on the mini-buckle.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
Seats and Restraints 65
Warning (Continued)
passengers to ride in any area of
the vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and safety belts.
Always wear a safety belt, and
check that all passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as areminder to buckle the safety belts.SeeSafety Belt Reminders0120.
Why Safety Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travelas fast as the vehicle does. If thevehicle stops suddenly, you keepgoing until something stops you.It could be the windshield, theinstrument panel, or the safety belts!
When you wear a safety belt, youand the vehicle slow down together.There is more time to stop becauseyou stop over a longer distance and,when worn properly, your strongestbones take the forces from thesafety belts. That is why wearingsafety belts makes such goodsense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicleafter a crash if I am wearing asafety belt?
A:Yo ucouldbe—whether you arewearing a safety belt or not.Yo u r c h a n c e o f b e i n g c o n s c i o u sduring and after a crash, so youcanunbuckle and get out, ismuchgreater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, whyshould I have to wear safetybelts?
A:Airbags are supplementalsystems only; so they workwithsafety belts—not instead ofthem. Whether or not an airbagis provided, all occupants stillhave to buckle up to get themost protection.
Also, in nearly all states and inall Canadian provinces, the lawrequires wearing safety belts.
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly
This section is only for people ofadult size.
There are special things to knowabout safety belts and children, andthere are different rules for smallerchildren and infants. If a child will beriding in the vehicle, seeOlderChildren083orInfants and YoungChildren085.Followthoserulesforeveryone's protection.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
Seats and Restraints 67
2. Pick up the latch plate and pullthe belt across you. Do not letit get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lockif you pull the belt across youvery quickly. If this happens, letthe belt go back slightly tounlock it. Then pull the beltacross you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of apassenger belt is pulled out allthe way, the child restraintlocking feature may beengaged. If this happens, letthe belt go back all the wayand start again.
Engaging the child restraintlocking feature in the frontoutboard seating position mayaffect the passenger sensingsystem. SeePassengerSensing System077.
3. Push the latch plate into thebuckle until it clicks.
If the latch plate will not go fullyinto the buckle, check if thecorrect buckle is being used.
Pull up on the latch plate tomake sure it is secure. If thebelt is not long enough, seeSafety Belt Extender069.
Position the release button onthe buckle so that the safetybelt could be quickly unbuckledif necessary.
4. To make the lap part tight, pullup on the shoulder belt.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
68 Seats and Restraints
To u n l a t c h t h e b e l t , p u s h t h e b u t t o non the buckle. The belt shouldreturn to its stowed position.
Always stow the safety belt slowly.If the safety belt webbing returnsquickly to the stowed position, theretractor may lock and cannot bepulled out. If this happens, pull thesafety belt straight out firmly tounlock the webbing, and thenrelease it. If the webbing is stilllocked in the retractor, see yourdealer.
Before a door is closed, be sure thesafety belt is out of the way. If adoor is slammed against a safetybelt, damage can occur to both thesafety belt and the vehicle.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has safety beltpretensioners for front outboardoccupants. Although the safety beltpretensioners cannot be seen, theyare part of the safety belt assembly.They can help tighten the safetybelts during the early stages of amoderate to severe frontal, nearfrontal, or rear crash if the thresholdconditions for pretensioneractivation are met. Safety beltpretensioners can also help tightenthe safety belts in a side crash or arollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If thepretensioners activate in a crash,the pretensioners and probablyother parts of the vehicle's safetybelt system will need to be replaced.SeeReplacing Safety Belt SystemParts after a Crash070.
Do not sit on the outboard safetybelt while entering or exiting thevehicle or at any time while sitting inthe seat. Sitting on the safety beltcan damage the webbing andhardware.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort
Guides
Rear safety belt comfort guides mayprovide added safety belt comfortfor older children who haveoutgrown booster seats and forsome adults. When installed on ashoulder belt, the comfort guidepositions the belt away from theneck and head.
Comfort guides are availablethrough your dealer for the rearoutboard seating positions.Instructions are included with theguide.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-10122664) - 2017 - crc - 5/23/16
Seats and Restraints 69
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone,including pregnant women. Like alloccupants, they are more likely tobe seriously injured if they do notwear safety belts.
Apregnantwomanshouldwearalap-shoulder belt, and the lapportion should be worn as low aspossible, below the rounding,throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus isto protect the mother. When a safetybelt is worn properly, it is more likelythat the fetus will not be hurt in acrash. For pregnant women, as foranyone, the key to making safetybelts effective is wearing themproperly.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle's safety belt will fastenaround you, you should use it.
But if a safety belt is not longenough, your dealer will order youan extender. When you go in toorder it, take the heaviest coat youwill wear, so the extender will belong enough for you. To help avoidpersonal injury, do not let someoneelse use it, and use it only for theseat it is made to fit. The extenderhas been designed for adults. Neveruse it for securing child restraints.To w e a r i t , a t t a c h i t t o t h e r e g u l a rsafety belt. For more information,see the instruction sheet that comeswith the extender.
Safety System Check
Check that the safety belt reminder,safety belts, buckles, latch plates,and retractors, are all workingproperly. Look for any other loose ordamaged safety belt system partsthat might keep a safety belt systemfrom performing properly. See yourdealer to have it repaired. Torn orfrayed safety belts may not protectyou in a crash. They can rip apartunder impact forces. If a belt is tornor frayed, have it replacedimmediately.
Make sure the safety belt reminderlight is working. SeeSafety BeltReminders0120.
Keep safety belts clean and dry.SeeSafety Belt Care069.
Safety Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.