
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
48 Keys, Doors, and Windows
The security light on the instrument
cluster comes on when there is a
problem with arming or disarming
the theft-deterrent system.
The system has one or more
transmitters matched to an
immobilizer control unit in the
vehicle. Only a correctly matched
transmitter will start the vehicle.
If the transmitter is ever damaged,
you may not be able to start your
vehicle.
When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the ignition is turned on.
If the vehicle does not start and the
security light stays on, there is a
problem with the system. Turn the
vehicle off and try again.If the RKE transmitter appears to be
undamaged, try another transmitter,
or place the transmitter in the
transmitter pocket. See
“Starting the
Vehicle with a Low Transmitter
Battery” underRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation 032.
If the vehicle does not start with the
other transmitter or when the
transmitter is in the transmitter
pocket, the vehicle needs service.
See your dealer who can service
the theft-deterrent system and have
a new transmitter programmed to
the vehicle.
Do not leave the transmitter or
device that disarms or deactivates
the theft-deterrent system in the
vehicle.
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors
{Warning
A convex mirror can make things,
like other vehicles, look farther
away than they really are. If you
cut too sharply into the right lane,
you could hit a vehicle on the
right. Check the inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex
shaped. A convex mirror's surface is
curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
160 Lighting
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
Some exterior lamps and most of
the interior lamps turn on briefly at
night or in areas with limited lighting
when the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter
Kbutton is
pressed. See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation 032. After
about 30 seconds the exterior lamps
turn off, then the dome lamps and
remaining interior lamps dim to off.
Entry lighting can be disabled
manually by turning the ignition on
or to ACC/ACCESSORY, or by
pressing
Qon the RKE transmitter.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization 0138.
Exit Lighting
Some exterior lamps and interior
lights come on at night, or in areas
with limited lighting, when the driver
door is opened after the ignition is
turned off. The dome lamp comes
on after the ignition is turned off. The exterior lamps and dome lamp
remain on for a set amount of time,
then automatically turn off.
The exterior lamps turn off
immediately by turning the exterior
lamp control off.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization
0138.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all of the
power needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, rear
window defogger, climate control fan
at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads
plugged into accessory power
outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
218 Driving and Operating
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
For hybrid vehicles, the engine will
only start if required for cabin
warming or high voltage battery
charging. The vehicle ready light will
be illuminated when the vehicle is
ready to be driven.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment
0 267.
Starting Procedure 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or the RKE
transmitter battery is low, the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
will display a message. See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel) 0134 orDriver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0131 andRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 032.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you hold ENGINE START/
STOP, for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
222 Driving and Operating
If you are towing a trailer and
parking on a hill, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 262.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is designed to
prevent movement of the shift lever
out of P (Park), unless the ignition is
on and the brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting - North
America 0343.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position. If still unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever button
again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem
shifting, see your dealer.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Extended Parking
It is better not to park with the
vehicle running. If the vehicle is left
while running, follow the proper
steps to be sure the vehicle will not move and there is adequate
ventilation.
See
Shifting Into Park 0221 and
Engine Exhaust 0223.
If the vehicle is left parked while
running and the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter is outside
the vehicle, the vehicle will turn off
after one hour. If the vehicle is left
parked while running and the RKE
transmitter is inside, the vehicle will
turn off after two hours.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is
taken out of P (Park) while it is
running.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
394 OnStar
3. Say the entire number withoutpausing, including a “1”and the
area code. System responds:
“OK, calling.”
Calling 911 Emergency
1. Press=. System responds:
“OnStar ready.”
2. Say “Call.”System responds:
“Call. Please say the name or
number to call.”
3. Say “911”without pausing.
System responds: “911.”
4. Say “Call.”System responds:
“OK, dialing 911.”
Retrieve My Number
1. Press=. System responds:
“OnStar ready.”
2. Say “My number.” System
responds: “Your OnStar
Hands-Free Calling number is,”
then says the number.
End a Call
Press=. System responds: “Call
ended.”
Verify Minutes and Expiration
Press=and say “Minutes” then
“Verify” to check how many minutes
remain and their expiration date.
Diagnostics
By monitoring and reporting on the
vehicle’s key systems, OnStar
Advanced Diagnostics provides a
way to keep up on maintenance.
Capabilities vary by model. See
www.onstar.com for details and
system limitations. Message and
data rates may apply. Advanced
Diagnostics requires an active
OnStar paid subscription, e-mail
address on file, and enrollment in
Advanced Diagnostics.
Includes:
. Diagnostic Alerts: Set
preferences to receive real-time
e-mails, texts, or monthly reports
of the vehicle’s health. Or press
Qto have an Advisor initiate a
remote diagnostic report.
. Proactive Alerts: Receive a
real-time e-mail or text message
regarding potential issues with key vehicle components, such
as the battery, fuel system,
or starter system. Alerts for
potential issues appear on the
infotainment display. Proactive
Alerts are designed to help
predict specific types of issues
based on information collected
from the vehicle. Other factors
may affect vehicle performance.
Not all issues will deliver alerts.
In some cases, a dealer service
check may be required to
confirm the accuracy of the
alerts.
. Dealer Maintenance Notification:
Have the vehicle notify your
preferred dealer when it is time
for maintenance. Your dealer will
then contact you to set up an
appointment.
To begin, press
Qto speak to an
Advisor, or see www.onstar.com.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Index 405
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196, 199
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Indicator Pedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Information Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . 112, 114
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . 6
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 50
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
K
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 32
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 311
Lamps Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 156
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . 253
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . 255
Lane Keep Assist Light . . . . . . . . . 125
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
LATCH System Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 158
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 124
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 124
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 128
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 156
Lane Keep Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . 128, 129
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 120
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Service Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Index 407
OrderingService Publications . . . . . . . . . . 384
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
P
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Parking
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 294
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 222
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Parking or Backing Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 243
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . 78
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . . . 126
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . 270 Personalization
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Phone Apple CarPlay andAndroid Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . 182, 183, 187
Hands-Free . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Port USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Indicator Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 221
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . . . . 70
Privacy Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . 387
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . 381
Proposition
65 Warning,
California . . . . . . . . . . . .269, 291, 343, Back Cover
R
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . 385
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
RadiosAM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Ready Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . 243
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 347
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Reimbursement Program,
GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Replacement Parts Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370