Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
16 Keys, Doors, and Windows
3. Slide the cap forward and press theforward edge to install the cap in place.
4. Release the door handle.
5. Check that the cap is secure. Free-Turning Locks
The door key lock cylinder turns freely when
either the wrong key is used, or the correct
key is not fully inserted. The free-turning
door lock feature prevents the lock from
being forced open. To reset the lock, turn it
to the vertical position with the correct key
fully inserted. Remove the key and insert it
again. If this does not reset the lock, turn
the key halfway around in the cylinder and
repeat the reset procedure.
Power Door Locks
Q:
Press to lock the doors.
K:Press to unlock the doors. The indicator light in the switch will
illuminate when the door is locked.
Locking or unlocking the doors will also lock
or unlock the trunk. See
Trunk018.
Delayed Locking
This feature delays the actual locking of the
doors until five seconds after all doors are
closed.
Delayed locking can only be turned on when
the Open Door Anti-Lockout feature has
been turned off.
When
Qis pressed on the power door lock
switch with the door open, a chime will
sound three times indicating that delayed
locking is active.
The doors will then lock automatically
five seconds after all doors are closed. If a
door is reopened before five seconds have
elapsed, the five-second timer will reset once
all the doors are closed again.
Press
Qon the door lock switch again,
or press
Qon the RKE transmitter, to
override this feature and lock the doors
immediately.
Delayed locking can be programmed. See
Vehicle Personalization 0100.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Keys, Doors, and Windows 17
Automatic Door Locks
The doors will lock automatically when all
doors are closed, the ignition is on, and the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
If a vehicle door is unlocked, and then
opened and closed, the doors will lock either
when your foot is removed from the brake
or the vehicle speed becomes faster than
13 km/h (8 mph).
To unlock the doors:
.PressKon the power door lock switch.
.Shift the transmission into P (Park).
Automatic door locking cannot be disabled.
Automatic door unlocking can be
programmed. See Vehicle Personalization
0 100.
Lockout Protection
If the ignition is on or in ACC/ACCESSORY
and the power door lock switch is pressed
with the driver door open, all the doors will
lock and only the driver door will unlock.
If the vehicle is off and locking is requested
while a door is open, when all doors are
closed the vehicle will check for RKE
transmitters inside. If an RKE transmitter is
detected and the number of RKE transmitters inside has not reduced, the
driver door will unlock and the horn will
chirp three times.
Lockout Protection can be manually
overridden with the driver door open by
pressing and holding
Qon the power door
lock switch.
Open Door Anti-Lockout
If Open Door Anti-Lockout has been turned
on and the vehicle is off, the driver door is
open, and locking is requested, all the doors
will lock and the driver door will remain
open. The Open Door Anti-Lockout feature
can be turned on or off. See Vehicle
Personalization 0100.
Safety Locks
The rear door safety locks prevent
passengers from opening the rear doors
from inside the vehicle.
Manual Safety Locks
If equipped, the safety lock is on the inside
edge of the rear doors. To use the
safety lock:
1. Move the lever forward to the lock position.
2. Close the door.
3. Do the same for the other rear door.
To open a rear door when the safety lock
is on: 1. Unlock the door by activating the inside handle, by pressing the power door lock
switch, or by using the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
2. Open the door from the outside.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
20 Keys, Doors, and Windows
.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 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
K
on 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:
.PressKon 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 0328.
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.
The security light on the instrument cluster
comes on when there is a problem with
arming or disarming the theft-deterrent
system.
The system has one or more transmitters
matched to an immobilizer control unit in
the vehicle. Only a correctly matched
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
22 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Memory Mirrors
The vehicle may have memory mirrors. See
Memory Seats032.
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
The vehicle may have SBZA. See Side Blind
Zone Alert (SBZA) 0214.
Lane Change Alert (LCA)
The vehicle may have LCA. See Lane Change
Alert (LCA) 0214.
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.
See Dual Automatic Climate Control System
0 166.
Reverse Tilt Mirrors
If equipped with reverse tilt mirrors and
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) may move from their tilted
position when:
.The vehicle is shifted out of R (Reverse),
or remains in R (Reverse) for about
30 seconds.
.The vehicle is turned off.
.The vehicle is driven in R (Reverse) above
a set speed.
To turn this feature on or off, see Vehicle
Personalization 0100.
Interior Mirrors
Interior Rearview Mirrors
Adjust the rearview mirror for a clear view
of the area behind the vehicle.
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the
mirror. Use a soft towel dampened with
water.
Manual Rearview Mirror
If equipped, push the tab forward for
daytime use and pull it rearward for
nighttime use to avoid glare of the
headlamps from behind.
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror
If equipped, automatic dimming reduces the
glare of headlamps from behind. The
dimming feature comes on when the vehicle
is started.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Keys, Doors, and Windows 23
Windows{
Warning
Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a
pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the
windows closed in warm or hot weather.
They can be overcome by the extreme
heat and suffer permanent injuries or
even death from heat stroke.
The vehicle aerodynamics are designed to
improve fuel economy performance. This
may result in a pulsing sound when either
rear window is down and the front windows
are up. To reduce the sound, open either a
front window or the sunroof, if equipped.
Power Windows
{Warning
Children could be seriously injured or
killed if caught in the path of a closing
window. Never leave the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter in a vehicle with
children. When there are children in the
rear seat, use the window lockout switch
to prevent operation of the windows. See
Keys06.
The power windows work when the vehicle
is on, in ACC/ACCESSORY, or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) 0186. Using the window switch, press to open or
pull to close the window.
The windows may be temporarily disabled if
they are used repeatedly within a
short time.
Window Lockout
This feature stops the rear door passenger
window switches from working.
Press
2to engage the rear window
lockout feature. The indicator light is on
when engaged.
Press
2again to disengage.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Seats and Restraints 33
Saving Memory Positions
Read these instructions completely before
saving memory positions.
To save preferred driving positions 1 and 2:1. Turn the vehicle 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 forBand Seat Exit
Memory features, 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.
Manually Recalling Memory Positions
Press and hold 1, 2, or
Bto recall the
previously saved memory positions if you
are driver 1 or 2 identified in the DIC
welcome message.
To stop Manual Memory recall movement,
release 1, 2, or
Bor press any of the
following controls:
.Power seat
.Memory SET
.Power mirror, with the driver or
passenger side mirror selected
.Power steering wheel, if equipped
Manual Memory recall movement for 1, 2,
or
Bbuttons may be initiated and may
complete to the saved memory position if
the vehicle is in or out of P (Park). Seat Entry Memory
The vehicle identifies the number of the
current driver’s RKE transmitter (1–8). See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation
07. If the RKE transmitter is 1 or
2, and Seat Entry Memory is enabled in
vehicle personalization, the positions saved
to the same memory button number 1 or 2
are automatically recalled when the vehicle
is turned on, or turned from off to ACC/
ACCESSORY. RKE transmitters 3–8 will not
provide automatic memory recalls.
To turn Seat Entry Memory on or off, see
“Vehicle Personalization Settings” previously
in this section and Vehicle Personalization
0 100.
The shift lever must be in P (Park) to start
Seat Entry Memory. Seat Entry Memory
recall will complete if the vehicle is shifted
out of P (Park) prior to reaching the saved
memory position.
To stop Seat Entry Memory recall
movement, turn the vehicle off or press any
of the following controls:
.Power seat
.Memory SET, 1, 2, orB
.Power mirror, with the driver or
passenger side mirror selected
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Seats and Restraints 35
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 0100. 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 may be 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 may 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 013 and
Vehicle Personalization 0100.Rear Seats
Rear Seat Reminder
If equipped, the message REAR SEAT
REMINDER LOOK IN REAR SEAT displays
under certain conditions indicating there
may be an item or passenger in the rear
seat. Check before exiting the vehicle.
This feature will activate when a second row
door is opened while the vehicle is on or up
to 10 minutes before the vehicle is turned
on. There will be an alert when the vehicle
is turned off. The alert does not directly
detect objects in the rear seat; instead,
under certain conditions, it detects when a
rear door is opened and closed, indicating
that there may be something in the
rear seat.
The feature is active only once each time
the vehicle is turned on and off, and will
require reactivation by opening and closing
the second row doors. There may be an
alert even when there is nothing in the rear
seat; for example, if a child entered the
vehicle through the rear door and left the
vehicle without the vehicle being shut off.
The feature can be turned on or off. See
Vehicle Personalization 0100.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Seats and Restraints 37
Repeat the steps for the other seatback,
if desired.
Raising the Seatback
{Warning
If either seatback is not locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or crash.
That could cause injury to the person
sitting there. Always push and pull on
the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.
{Warning
A seat belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not
provide the protection needed in a crash.
The person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After raising the rear
seatback, always check to be sure that
the seat belts are properly routed and
attached, and are not twisted.
To raise a seatback: 1. Lift the seatback up and push it rearward to lock it in place. Make sure the seat
belt is not twisted or caught in the
seatback. The center rear seat belt may lock when
you raise the seatback. If this happens,
let the belt go back all the way and start
again.
2. Push and pull the top of the seatback to be sure it is locked into position.
3. Reconnect the rear seat belt mini-latch tothe mini-buckle. Do not let it twist.
4. Pull on the seat belt to be sure the mini-latch is secure.
5. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the other seatback, if necessary.
When the seat is not in use, it should be
kept in the upright, locked position.
Rear Seat Armrest
If equipped, the rear seat has an armrest in
the center of the seatback. Lower the
armrest to access the two cupholders.
To fold, lift the armrest up and push it
rearward until it is flush with the seatback.
Heated Rear Seats
{Warning
If temperature change or pain to the skin
cannot be felt, the seat heater may cause
burns. See the Warning under Heated
and Ventilated Front Seats 034.