
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
8 In Brief
Initial Drive
Information
This section provides a brief
overview about some of the
important features that may or may
not be on your specific vehicle.
For more detailed information, refer
to each of the features which can be
found later in this owner’s manual.
Stop/Start System
If equipped, the Stop/Start system
will shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel. It has components
designed for the increased number
of starts.
When the brakes are applied and
the vehicle is at a complete stop,
the engine may turn off. When
stopped, the tachometer displays
AUTO STOP. SeeTachometer
(Non-Hybrid)0119. When the brake
pedal is released or the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the engine will
restart. SeeStop/Start System
0179.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter may work up to 60 m
(197 ft) away from the vehicle.
With Remote Start Shown
K:Press to unlock the driver door
or all doors, depending on the
vehicle personalization setting.
Q:Press to lock all doors.
Lock and unlock feedback can be
personalized.
X:Press twice quickly to open the
trunk.
7:Press and release one time to
initiate vehicle locator. Press and
hold for at least three seconds to
sound the panic alarm. Press again
to cancel the panic alarm.
SeeKeys029and
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation030.
Remote Vehicle Start
If equipped, the engine can be
started from outside of the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Press and releaseQon the
RKE transmitter.
2. Immediately, press and hold
/
for at least four seconds or until
the turn signal lamps flash.
3. Start the vehicle normally after
entering.
When the vehicle starts, the parking
lamps will turn on.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
In Brief 9
For the hybrid vehicle, the engine
will only start if needed for warming
functions or high voltage battery
charging.
Remote start can be extended.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do one of
the following:
.
Press and hold
/until the
parking lamps turn off.
.
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.
Turn the vehicle on and then off.
SeeRemote Vehicle Start037.
Door Locks
To lock or unlock the doors from the
outside:
.
Press
QorKon the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation030.
.
Use the key in the driver door.
The key lock cylinder has a
cover. SeeDoor Locks039.To lock or unlock the doors from the
inside:
.
PressQorKon the power door
lock switch.
.
Pull the door handle once to
unlock the door. Pulling the
handle again unlatches the door.
SeePower Door Locks041.
Trunk Release
To open the trunk:
.
Press
Xtwice on the RKE
transmitter..
Press the touch pad on the rear
of the trunk after unlocking all
doors.
For Keyless Access, the RKE
transmitter must be within 1 m (3 ft)
of the trunk. Press the touch pad on
the rear of the trunk and lift to open.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation030.
SeeTrunk043.
Windows

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Keys, Doors, and Windows 31
With Remote Start Shown
Q:Press to lock all doors.
The turn signal indicators may flash
and/or the horn may sound on the
second press to indicate locking.
SeeVehicle Personalization0142.
If the driver door is open when
Qis
pressed and Open Door
Anti-Lockout is enabled, all doors
will lock and then the driver door will
immediately unlock. SeeVehicle
Personalization0142.
If the passenger door is open when
Qis pressed, all doors lock.Pressing
Qmay also arm the alarm
system. SeeVehicle Alarm System
045.
K:Press to unlock the driver door.
Press again within five seconds to
unlock all doors. The RKE
transmitter can be programmed to
unlock all doors on the first button
press. SeeVehicle Personalization
0142.
The turn signal indicators may flash
to indicate unlocking. SeeVehicle
Personalization0142.
Pressing
Kwill disarm the alarm
system. SeeVehicle Alarm System
045.
X:Press twice quickly to release
the trunk.
7:Press and release one time to
initiate vehicle locator. The exterior
lamps flash and the horn chirps
three times.
Press and hold
7for at least
three seconds to sound the panic
alarm. The horn sounds and theturn signals flash for about
30 seconds until
7is pressed again
or the vehicle is started.
/:If equipped, pressQand
release and then press and hold
/
for at least four seconds to start the
engine from outside the vehicle
using the RKE transmitter. See
Remote Vehicle Start037.
Keyless Access Operation
The Keyless Access system lets
you lock and unlock the doors and
access the trunk without removing
the RKE transmitter from your
pocket, purse, briefcase, etc. The
RKE transmitter should be within
1 m (3 ft) of the trunk or door being
opened. If equipped, there will be
buttons on the outside door
handles.
Keyless Access can be
programmed to unlock all doors on
the first unlock/lock button press
from the driver door. SeeVehicle
Personalization0142.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
44 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Warning (Continued)
and set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems”
in the Index.
.
If the vehicle is equipped
with a power liftgate, disable
the power liftgate function.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, seeEngine
Exhaust0184.
Trunk Release
To open the trunk the vehicle must
be off or the shift lever must be in
P (Park).
.
Press
Xtwice quickly on the
RKE transmitter.
.
Press the touch pad on the rear
of the trunk after unlocking all
doors.
The trunk may be opened while the
vehicle is locked by pressing the
touch pad on the rear of the trunk
while the RKE transmitter is within
1 m (3 ft) of the rear of the vehicle.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation030.
Emergency Trunk Release
Handle
Caution
Do not use the emergency trunk
release handle as a tie-down or
anchor point when securing items
in the trunk as it could damage
the handle.
There is a glow-in-the-dark
emergency trunk release handle on
the trunk lid. This handle glows

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Keys, Doors, and Windows 45
following exposure to light. Pull the
release handle to open the trunk
from the inside.
After pulling the emergency trunk
release handle, push the handle
back into the bezel.
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
the vehicle impossible to steal.
Vehicle Alarm System
This vehicle has an anti-theft alarm
system.
The indicator light, on the
instrument panel near the
windshield, indicates the status of
the system:
Off :Alarm system is disarmed.On Solid :Vehicle is secured
during the delay to arm the system.
Fast Flash :Vehicle is unsecured.
A door, the hood, or the trunk
is open.
Slow Flash :Alarm system is
armed.
Arming the Alarm System
1. Close the trunk and the hood.
Turn off the vehicle.
2. Lock the vehicle in one of
three ways:
.
Use the RKE transmitter.
.
Use the Keyless Access
system, if equipped.
.
With a door open, press the
inside
Q.
3. After 30 seconds the alarm
system will arm, and the
indicator light will begin to
slowly flash indicating the
alarm system is operating.
Pressing
Qon the RKE
transmitter a second time will

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
64 Seats and Restraints
the vehicle through the rear door
and left the vehicle without the
vehicle being shut off.
The feature can be turned on or off.
SeeVehicle Personalization0142.
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can be
folded down for more cargo space.
Fold a seatback only when the
vehicle is not moving.
Caution
Folding a rear seat with the seat
belts still fastened may cause
damage to the seat or the seat
belts. Always unbuckle the seat
belts and return them to their
normal stowed position before
folding a rear seat.
The release levers for folding the
rear seatbacks are located in the
trunk. To fold the seatback down:
1. Lower the rear seat head
restraints completely. See
Head Restraints054.2. Lift the rear seat armrest and
place it in the folded position,
if necessary. SeeRear Seat
Armrest066.
3. Disconnect the rear seat belt
mini-latch, using a key in the
slot on the mini-buckle.
Let the belt retract.
4. Open the trunk and pull the
seatback release lever to fold
the rear seat.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
266 Vehicle Care
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps (LT and Premier)
Caution
Improper lamp assembly removal
and installation can cause leaks
and water intrusion which may
cause damage to the taillamp. Do
not remove the taillamp assembly
to replace a bulb. Use the trunk
opening to access the bulb.
The stoplamp/taillamp and trunk
deck inboard taillamp are LEDs. To
replace, see your dealer.
Back-Up Lamp
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk
043.
2. Remove the push pins and pull
back the trunk deck trim.
3. Remove the bulb socket by
turning counterclockwise and
pulling straight out.
4. Remove the bulb from the
socket.
5. Install the new bulb in the bulb
socket.
6. Install the bulb socket by
turning clockwise.
7. Install the trunk deck trim.
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
1. Push the release tab toward
the lamp assembly.
2. Pull the lamp assembly down
to remove.