2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU Vehicle care

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . 7
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Instruments and Controls . . . . . . . 88
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 133
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . . 143
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 302
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Customer Information . . . . . . . . . 319
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . . . 330
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
32 Seats and Restraints
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 36
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Heated and Ventilated FrontSeats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 52 Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Replacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 55
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Passenger Sensing System . . . 59
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 64
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 65
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Infants and Young Children . . . . 67
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 70
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 71
Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) . . . . 72 Replacing LATCH System Parts
After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the
Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the
Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
52 Seats and Restraints
Seat Belt Extender
If the vehicle's seat belt will fasten
around you, you should use it.
But if a seat belt is not long enough,
your dealer will order you an
extender. When you go in to order it,
take the heaviest coat you will wear,
so the extender will be long enough
for you. To help avoid personal
injury, do not let someone else use
it, and use it only for the seat it is
made to fit. The extender has been
designed for adults. Never use it for
securing child restraints. For more
information on the proper use and fit
of seat belt extenders see the
instruction sheet that comes with
the extender.
Safety System Check
Periodically check the seat belt
reminder, seat belts, buckles, latch
plates, retractors, shoulder belt
height adjusters (if equipped), and
seat belt anchorages to make sure
they are all in working order. Look
for any other loose or damaged seat
belt system parts that might keep aseat belt system from performing
properly. See your dealer to have it
repaired. Torn, frayed, or twisted
seat belts may not protect you in a
crash. Torn or frayed seat belts can
rip apart under impact forces. If a
belt is torn or frayed, have it
replaced immediately. If a belt is
twisted, it may be possible to
untwist by reversing the latch plate
on the webbing. If the twist cannot
be corrected, ask your dealer to
fix it.
Make sure the seat belt reminder
light is working. See
Seat Belt
Reminders 0102.
Keep seat belts clean and dry. See
Seat Belt Care 052.
Seat Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
Seat belts should be properly cared
for and maintained.
Seat belt hardware should be kept
dry and free of dust or debris. As
necessary, exterior hard surfaces
and seat belt webbing may be lightly
cleaned with mild soap and water. Ensure there is not excessive dust
or debris in the mechanism. If dust
or debris exists in the system please
see the dealer. Parts may need to
be replaced to ensure proper
functionality of the system.
{Warning
Do not bleach or dye seat belt
webbing. It may severely weaken
the webbing. In a crash, they
might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Clean and
rinse seat belt webbing only with
mild soap and lukewarm water.
Allow the webbing to dry.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
90 Instruments and Controls
LO :Use for slow wipes.
INT : Move the lever up to INT for
intermittent wipes, then turn the
band up for more frequent wipes or
down for less frequent 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.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper
blades and windshield before using
them. If frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them.
Damaged blades should be
replaced. See Wiper Blade
Replacement 0235. Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wiper motor. If the wiper motor
overheats, the windshield wipers will
stop until the motor cools and the
wiper control is turned off. See
Electrical System Overload
0242.
{Warning
In freezing weather, do not use
the washer until the windshield is
warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the
windshield, blocking your vision.
{Warning
Before driving the vehicle, always
clear snow and ice from the hood,
windshield, roof, and rear of the
vehicle, including all lamps and
windows. Reduced visibility from
snow and ice buildup could lead
to a crash. Wiper Parking
If the ignition is turned off while the
wipers are on LO, HI, or INT, they
will immediately stop.
If the windshield wiper lever is then
moved to OFF before the driver
door is opened or within 10 minutes,
the wipers will restart and move to
the base of the windshield.
If the ignition is turned off while the
wipers are performing wipes due to
windshield washing, the wipers
continue to run until they reach the
base of the windshield.
f:
Pull the windshield wiper
lever toward you to spray windshield
washer fluid and activate the wipers.
The wipers will continue until the
lever is released or the maximum
wash time is reached. When the
lever is released, additional wipes
may occur depending on how long
the windshield washer had been
activated. See Washer Fluid0229
for information on filling the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
106 Instruments and Controls
vehicle operation. SeeAdd-On
Electrical Equipment 0210. See
your dealer if assistance is needed.
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
. The light is on when the engine
is running.
. The light does not come on
when the ignition is in
Service Mode.
. Critical emission control systems
have not been completely
diagnosed. If this happens, the
vehicle would not be ready for
inspection and might require
several days of routine driving
before the system is ready for
inspection. This can happen if
the 12-volt battery has recently
been replaced or run down, or if
the vehicle has been recently
serviced.
See your dealer if the vehicle will
not pass or cannot be made ready
for the test.Brake System Warning
Light
MetricEnglish
This light should come on briefly
when the vehicle is turned on. If it
does not come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
If the light comes on and stays on at
start up, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected
right away.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
The brake pedal might be harder to
push, or the brake pedal may go
closer to the floor. It could take
longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service.
See Towing the Vehicle 0289.
{Warning
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
Electric Parking Brake
Light
MetricEnglish Base
Level

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
Driving and Operating 145
.Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
. Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
. Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint. .
Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment manual for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts045.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they may do and
be ready. .
Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
146 Driving and Operating
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic. If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects
at speeds greater than 3 km/h
(1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane
dividers and speed bumps.
Damage caused by misuse of the
vehicle is not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Variable Effort Steering
The vehicle has a steering system
that varies the amount of effort
required to steer the vehicle in
relation to the speed of the vehicle.
The amount of steering effort
required is less at slower speeds to
make the vehicle more
maneuverable and easier to park. At
faster speeds, the steering effort
increases to provide a sport-like feel
to the steering. This provides
maximum control and stability.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/16/19
148 Driving and Operating
3. Turn the steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions: .
Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle (Continued)