
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
12 In Brief
SeeReclining Seatbacks 057.
Memory Features
If equipped, memory seats allow two
drivers to store and recall their
unique seat positions for driving the
vehicle, and a shared exit position
for getting out of the vehicle. Other
feature positions may also be set,
such as power mirrors, if equipped.
Memory positions are linked to RKE
transmitter 1 or 2 for automatic
memory recalls.
Before storing, adjust all available
memory feature positions. Turn the
ignition on and then press and release SET; a beep will sound.
Then immediately press and hold 1,
2, or
B(Exit) on the driver door
until two beeps sound. To manually
recall these positions, press and
hold 1, 2, or
Buntil the saved
position is reached.
When Auto Memory Recall is
enabled in vehicle personalization,
positions previously stored to
memory buttons 1 and 2 are
recalled when the ignition is
changed from off to on or ACC/
ACCESSORY.
When Easy Exit Options is enabled
in vehicle personalization, the
feature automatically recalls the
previously stored exit position when
exiting the vehicle. See Memory
Seats 059.
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded
down to increase cargo space.
See Rear Seats 063.
Heated and Ventilated
Seats
If available, the buttons are on the
climate control panel. To operate,
the engine must be running.
To heat the driver or passenger seat
cushion and seatback, press
Lor
M. Indicator lights on the button
show the current setting.
To ventilate the driver or passenger
seat, press
{orC. Indicator lights
on the button show the current
setting.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
In Brief 13
Press the heated or ventilated
button once for the highest setting.
With each press of the button, the
heated or ventilated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then to the off setting. The
lights indicate three for the highest
setting and one for the lowest.
SeeHeated and Ventilated Front
Seats 061.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the head
restraint height in the proper
position.
See Head Restraints 055 and Seat
Adjustment 056.
Seat Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
seat belts properly:
.
Seat Belts 065.
. How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
067.
. Lap-Shoulder Belt 068.
. Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) 091.
Passenger Sensing
System
United States and Canada
Mexico
The passenger sensing system
turns off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and knee
airbag under certain conditions. No
other airbag is affected by the
passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing System 078.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
16 In Brief
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamp control is on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering column.
O:Turns the exterior lamps off and
deactivates the AUTO mode. Turn
to
Oagain to reactivate the
AUTO mode.
In Canada, the headlamps will
automatically reactivate when the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
AUTO : Turns the exterior lamps on
and off automatically depending on
outside lighting.
;: Turns on the parking lamps
including all lamps, except the
headlamps.
5: Turns on the headlamps
together with the parking lamps and
instrument panel lights.
See:
. Exterior Lamp Controls 0154
. Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
0156
Windshield Wiper/Washer
With the ignition on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY, move the lever to
select the wiper speed.
HI : Use for fast wipes.
LO : Use for slow wipes.
INT : Move the lever up to INT for
intermittent wipes, then adjust the
band to control the frequency of
wipes.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move
the lever down. For several wipes,
hold the lever down.
f: Pull the lever toward you to
spray windshield washer fluid and
activate the wipers.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer
0 106.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Keys, Doors, and Windows 47
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 Driver
Information Center (DIC).
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement
0 385.
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-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
62 Seats and Restraints
If available, the buttons are on the
climate control panel. To operate,
the engine must be running.
Press
LorMto heat the driver or
passenger seat cushion and
seatback. Indicator lights on the
button show the current setting.
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the button, the heated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then to the off setting. The
lights indicate three for the highest
setting and one for the lowest.
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up. Press
{orCto ventilate the driver
or passenger seat. Indicator lights
on the button show the current
setting.
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the button, the ventilated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then to the off setting. The
lights indicate three for the highest
setting and one for the lowest.
Auto Heated Seats
When the vehicle is on, this feature
will automatically activate the
heated seats at the level required by
the vehicle’ s interior temperature.
The active high, medium, low, or off
heated seat level will be indicated
by the manual heated seat buttons
on the center stack. Use the manual
heated seat buttons on the center
stack to turn auto heated seats off.
If the passenger seat is unoccupied,
the auto heated seats feature will
not activate that seat. The auto
heated seats feature can be
programmed to always be enabled
when the vehicle is on. See
Vehicle Personalization 0138.
Remote Start Auto Heated and
Ventilated Seats
During a remote start, the heated or
ventilated seats, if equipped, can be
turned on automatically. When it is
cold outside, the heated seats turn
on, and when it is hot outside the
ventilated seats turn on. The heated
or ventilated seats are canceled
when the ignition is turned on. Press
the button to use the heated or
ventilated seats after the vehicle is
started.
The heated or ventilated seat
indicator lights on the button do not
turn on during a remote start.
The heated seat temperature
performance of an unoccupied seat
may be reduced. This is normal.
The heated or ventilated seats will
not turn on during a remote start
unless they are enabled in the
vehicle personalization menu.
See Remote Vehicle Start 038 and
Vehicle Personalization 0138.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
104 Instruments and Controls
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 105
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 105
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 106
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 106
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Instrument Cluster (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Instrument Cluster
(Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Tachometer (Non-Hybrid) . . . . . 117
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Power Indicator Gauge (Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . 120
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 120
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Charging System Light . . . . . . . 122
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 122
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . 126
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . 126
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . 127
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 128
Low Fuel Warning Light (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Low Fuel Warning Light (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Vehicle Ready Light
(Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 129
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 130
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 130
Door Ajar Light (Uplevel) . . . . . 130
Information Displays
Power Flows (Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . 130
Energy Information (Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 138
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 138
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 138
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . 150
Universal Remote SystemProgramming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Instruments and Controls 111
Warning (Continued)
become very hot. On the rare
occasion that the charging system
does not detect an object, and the
object gets wedged between the
mobile phone and the charger,
remove the mobile phone and
allow the object to cool before
removing it from the charging
pocket, to prevent burns.
To charge a mobile device:1. Remove all objects from the
charging pocket. The system
may not charge if there are any
objects in between the mobile
device and charging pocket.
2. With the mobile device screen facing the rear of the vehicle,
slowly insert the device into the
charging pocket until
}
appears on theVon the
infotainment display. This
indicates that the mobile device
is properly positioned and
charging. If a mobile device is
inserted into the pocket and
}
does not display, remove the
mobile device from the pocket,
turn it 180 degrees, and wait
three seconds before inserting
the mobile device into the
pocket again.
Warning Lights,
Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gauges can
signal that something is wrong
before it becomes serious enough
to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to the
warning lights and gauges could
prevent injury.
Some warning lights come on briefly
when the engine is started to
indicate they are working. When
one of the warning lights comes on
and stays on while driving, or when
one of the gauges shows there may
be a problem, check the section that
explains what to do. Waiting to do
repairs can be costly and even
dangerous.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348460) - 2018 - crc - 5/3/17
Instruments and Controls 121
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. SeePassenger
Sensing System 078 for important
safety information. The overhead
console has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
United States and Canada
Mexico
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. Then, after
several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or either the on or off symbol, to let
you know the status of the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the front outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag are allowed to
inflate.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See
Airbag Readiness
Light 0120 for more information,
including important safety
information.