
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
138 Instruments and Controls
.Brakes
. Ride Control Systems
. Driver Assistance Systems
. Cruise Control
. Lighting and Bulb Replacement
. Wiper/Washer Systems
. Doors and Windows
. Seat Belts
. Airbag Systems
. Engine and Transmission
. Tire Pressure
. Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE/PROPULSION POWER
IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's propulsion power is
reduced. Reduced propulsion power
can affect the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction
in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may be reduced the next time the vehicle
is driven. The vehicle may be driven
while this message is on, but
maximum acceleration and speed
may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, or displays
repeatedly, the vehicle should be
taken to your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
Vehicle Speed Messages
SPEED LIMITED TO
XXX KM/H (MPH)
This message shows that the
vehicle speed has been limited to
the speed displayed. The limited
speed is a protection for various
propulsion and vehicle systems,
such as lubrication, thermal,
suspension, Teen Driver if
equipped, or tires.
Vehicle
Personalization
Personalization Menu (Radio
without Touchscreen)
The audio system controls are used
to access the personalization
menus for customizing vehicle
features.
The following are all possible
personalization features. Depending
on the vehicle, some may not be
available.
MENU :
Turn to scroll through the
menus or setup items. Press to
enter the menus and select the
menu items.
BACK : Press to exit or return to
the previous screen or menu.
To access a menu:
1. Press MENU.
2. Turn MENU to the desired menu.
3. Press MENU to select.
Menus and functions may vary
depending on vehicle options.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
268 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 269
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 270
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 281
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 282
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . 283
Cooling System (Power Electronics) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 288
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Battery - North America . . . . . . 291 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 293
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 294
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 294
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LS and LT) . . . . . . . . . . 298
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LTZ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical System Overload . . . 301
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 301 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 311
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
296 Vehicle Care
Liftgate
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset and
should need no further adjustment.
If the vehicle is damaged in a crash,
the headlamp aim may be affected.
If adjustment to the headlamps is
necessary, see your dealer.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, or any bulb changing
procedure not listed in this section,
contact your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{Warning
Halogen bulbs have pressurized
gas inside and can burst if you
drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the instructions
on the bulb package.
LED Lighting
This vehicle has several LED lamps.
For replacement of any LED lighting
assembly, contact your dealer.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
300 Vehicle Care
7. Install the trunk deck trim.
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
Passenger Side Shown, DriverSide Similar
1. Push the release tab toward the lamp assembly.
2. Pull the lamp assembly down to remove.
3. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise to remove it
from the lamp assembly.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of the bulb socket.
5. Push the replacement bulb straight into the bulb socket
and turn the bulb socket
clockwise to install it into the
lamp assembly.
6. Push the lamp assembly back into position until the release
tab locks into place.
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and
Wiring
{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.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Index 401
Appearance CareExterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Armrest Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Assistance Systems for Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . 243
Audio Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 163
Automatic
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Forward Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Shift Lock Control FunctionCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176B
Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
BatteryExterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Battery - North America . . . . 291, 343
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 294
Bluetooth Overview . . . . . . . . . . . 182, 183, 187
Brake Parking, Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . 124
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . 230
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 Automatic Forward . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Braking System Front Pedestrian (FPB) . . . . . . . 251
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 216
Bulb Replacement Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Bulb Replacement (cont'd)
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . 300
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and
Back-up Lamps . . . . . . . . 298, 299
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .269, 291, 343,
Back Cover
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
404 Index
Front Pedestrian Braking(FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 61
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Low Fuel Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128, 129
Requirements, California . . . . . 258
Fuses Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 301
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 150Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 Gauges
Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Power Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 359
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Hands-Free Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 157
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Headlamps (cont'd)
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 129
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 156
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 130
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196, 199
High Voltage Devices and
Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . 317
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 210
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . 230
Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Index 409
Signals, Turn andLane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Special Application Services . . . . 366
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Start Assist, Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . 298, 299
Storage Areas Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Umbrella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . 102 Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Struts Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162, 388
Systems Driver Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
TaillampsBulb Replacement . . . . . . . 298, 299
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 378
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 47
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337 Tires (cont'd)
Compact Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Low Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316, 317
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Pressure Monitor Operation . . 319
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . 318
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Sealant and Compressor Kit, Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311
Terminology and Definitions . . 314
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 328
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Towing Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . 262

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
410 Index
Towing (cont'd)Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 261
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 347
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . 298, 299U
Umbrella Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 326
Universal Remote System . . . . . . 150Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Updates Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Identification Number (VIN) . . . 372
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . 126
Vehicle Care Storing the Tire Sealantand Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . 337 Vehicle Care (cont'd)
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Vehicle Ready Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . 300
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Lane Departure (LDW) . . . . . . . 255
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Warnings Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance . . 327
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . 90
Wi-Fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50