
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
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
Trunk Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . 12
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 12
Seat 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 19
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . 21
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . 21
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 21
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Automatic Parking
Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Hybrid Features
Hybrid Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
High Voltage Safety
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Regenerative Braking
(Hybrid Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . 26
Fuel (1.5L and 1.8L
Engines) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Fuel (2.0L Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . 27
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Roadside Assistance
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
In Brief 11
SeePower Seat Adjustment057.
Reclining Seatbacks
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
To recline a manual seatback:
1. Lift the lever.
2. Move the seatback to the
desired position, and then
release the lever to lock the
seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback
to make sure it is locked.
To return the seatback to the upright
position:1. Lift the lever fully without
applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback will
return to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback
to make sure it is locked.
Power Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust a power seatback,
if available:
.
Tilt the top of the control
rearward to recline.
.
Tilt the top of the control forward
to raise.
SeeReclining Seatbacks057.
Memory Features
If equipped, memory seats allow two
drivers to save 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
saved, such as power mirrors and
power steering wheel, if equipped.
Memory positions are linked to RKE
transmitter 1 or 2 for automatic
memory recalls.
Before saving, adjust all available
memory feature positions. Turn the
ignition on and then press and
release SET; a beep will sound.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
12 In Brief
Then immediately press and hold 1,
2, or
B(Exit) until two beeps
sound. To manually recall these
positions, press and hold 1, 2, or
B
until the saved position is reached.
When Seat Entry Memory is
enabled in vehicle personalization,
positions previously saved to
memory buttons 1 and 2 are
recalled when the ignition is
changed from off to on or ACC/
ACCESSORY.
When Seat Exit Memory is enabled
in vehicle personalization, the
feature automatically recalls the
previously saved exit position when
exiting the vehicle.
Memory adjustments may not be
available upon delivery or after
service until steps in“Saving
Memory Positions”section are
performed. SeeMemory Seats059.
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded
down to increase cargo space.
SeeRear Seats063.
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.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
Seats062.
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.
SeeHead Restraints054and
Seat Adjustment056.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
32 Keys, Doors, and Windows
If equipped with memory seats, RKE
transmitters 1 and 2 are linked to
seating positions of memory 1 or 2.
SeeMemory Seats059.
Keyless Unlocking/Locking from
the Driver Door
When the doors are locked and the
RKE transmitter is within 1 m (3 ft)
of the driver door handle, pressing
the lock/unlock button on the driver
door handle will unlock the driver
door. If the lock/unlock button is
pressed again within five seconds,
all passenger doors will unlock. Pull
the door handle to unlatch the door.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger
Similar
Pressing the lock/unlock button will
cause all doors to lock if any of the
following occur:
.
It has been no more than
five seconds since the first lock/
unlock button press.
.
Two lock/unlock button presses
were used to unlock all doors.
.
Any vehicle door has opened
and all doors are now closed.Keyless Unlocking/Locking from
Passenger Door(s)
When the doors are locked and the
RKE transmitter is within 1 m (3 ft)
of the door handle, pressing the
lock/unlock button on that door
handle will unlock the front doors or
all doors. See“Passive Door
Unlock”inVehicle Personalization
0142.
Pressing the lock/unlock button will
cause the front doors or all doors to
lock if any of the following occur:
.
The lock/unlock button was used
to unlock all doors.
.
Any vehicle door has opened
and all doors are now closed.
Disable/Enable Keyless Unlocking
of Exterior Door Handles and
Trunk
If equipped, keyless unlocking of the
exterior door handles and trunk can
be disabled and enabled.
Disabling Keyless Unlocking:

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
48 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Power Mirrors
To adjust a mirror:
1. Press
}or|to choose the
driver or passenger mirror.
2. Press the arrows on the control
pad to move each mirror in the
desired direction.
Memory Mirrors
The vehicle may have memory
mirrors. SeeMemory Seats059.
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
The vehicle may have SBZA. See
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)0215.Lane Change Alert (LCA)
The vehicle may have LCA. See
Lane Change Alert (LCA)0215.
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle may have a turn signal
indicator on the mirror housings.
The indicator will flash when a turn
signal or the hazard warning
flashers are used.
Folding Mirrors
Manual Folding Mirrors
The mirrors can be folded inward
toward the vehicle to prevent
damage when going through an
automatic car wash. Push the mirror
outward to return it to the original
position.
Heated Mirrors
If equipped with heated mirrors:
K:The rear window defogger also
heats the outside mirrors.
SeeDual Automatic Climate Control
System0159.
Reverse Tilt Mirrors
If equipped with memory seats, the
passenger and/or driver mirror tilts
to a preselected position when the
vehicle is in R (Reverse). This
allows the curb to be seen when
parallel parking.
The mirror(s) return to the original
position when:
.
The vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or remains in
R (Reverse) for about
30 seconds.
.
The ignition is turned off.
.
The vehicle is driven in
R (Reverse) above a set speed.
To turn this feature on or off, see
Vehicle Personalization0142.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Seats and Restraints 53
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 57
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Seat Belt Use During
Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 72Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Replacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 76
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Passenger Sensing System . . . 80
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 85
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 86
Replacing Airbag System Parts
after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Infants and Young Children . . . . 88
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 90
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 92
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) . . . . 93Replacing LATCH System Parts
After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the
Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the
Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Seats and Restraints 59
Power Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust a power seatback,
if available:
.
Tilt the top of the control
rearward to recline.
.
Tilt the top of the control forward
to raise.
Memory Seats
If equipped, memory seats allow two
drivers to save 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
saved, such as power mirrors and
power steering wheel, if equipped.
Memory positions are linked to RKE
transmitter 1 or 2 for automatic
memory recalls.
Before saving, 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) until two beeps
sound. To manually recall these
positions, press and hold 1, 2, or
B
until the saved position is reached.
Follow the instructions under
“Saving Memory Positions.”
The vehicle identifies the current
driver’s RKE transmitter number (1–
8). SeeRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation030. Only
RKE transmitters 1 and 2 can be
used for automatic memory recalls.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
welcome message indicating the
transmitter number may display for
the first few ignition cycles following
a transmitter change. For Seat Entry
Memory to work properly, save the
positions to the memory button (1 or
2) matching the RKE transmitter
number displayed in the DIC
welcome message. Carry the linked
RKE transmitter when entering the
vehicle.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
60 Seats and Restraints
Memory adjustments may not be
available upon delivery or after
service until steps in“Saving
Memory Positions”section are
performed.
Vehicle Personalization Settings
.
To have the Seat Entry Memory
movement begin when the
vehicle is started, select the
Settings menu, then Vehicle,
then Seating Position, and then
Seat Entry Memory. Select On or
Off. See“Seat Entry Memory”
later in this section.
.
Seat Exit Memory movement
begins when the ignition is
turned off and the driver door is
opened, or when the ignition is
turned off with the driver door
already opened, select the
Settings menu, then Vehicle,
then Seating Position, and then
Seat Exit Memory. Select On or
Off. See“Seat Exit Memory”
later in this section.
.
SeeVehicle Personalization
0142for additional setting
information.Identifying Driver Number
To identify the driver number:
1. Start the vehicle with a different
key or RKE transmitter. The
DIC should display the driver
number; 1 or 2. Turn the
ignition off and remove the key
or RKE transmitter from the
vehicle.
2. Start the vehicle with the initial
key or RKE transmitter. The
DIC should display the other
driver number not shown in
Step 1.
Saving Memory Positions
Read these instructions completely
before saving memory positions.
To save preferred driving positions
1 and 2:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
A DIC welcome message may
indicate driver number 1 or 2.
2. Adjust all available memory
features to the desired driving
position.3. Press and release SET; a beep
will sound.
4. Immediately press and hold the
1 or 2 memory button matching
the above DIC welcome
message until two beeps
sound.
If too much time passes
between releasing SET and
pressing 1, the memory
position will not be saved and
two beeps will not sound.
Repeat Steps 3 and 4.
1 or 2 corresponds to the driver
number. See“Identifying Driver
Number”previously in this
section.
5. Repeat Steps 1–4 for a second
driver using 1 or 2.
To save the position for
Band
Seat Exit Memory, repeat Steps 1–4
using
B. This saves the position
for getting out of the vehicle.
Save preferred memory feature
positions to both 1 and 2 if you are
the only driver.