2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU alarm

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
6 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Keys, Doors, and
Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . 7
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) SystemOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Doors
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Vehicle Security
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Interior Mirrors
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Manual Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror . . . 22
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Keys and Locks
Keys
{Warning
Leaving children in a vehicle with a
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter is
dangerous and children or others could
be seriously injured or killed. They could
operate the power windows or other
controls or make the vehicle move. The
windows will function with the RKE
transmitter in the vehicle, and children or
others could be caught in the path of a
closing window. Do not leave children in
a vehicle with an RKE transmitter.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
8 Keys, Doors, and Windows
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. See Vehicle Personalization
0 100.
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. See Vehicle
Personalization 0100.
If the passenger door is open when
Qis
pressed, all doors lock.
Pressing
Qmay also arm the alarm system.
See Vehicle Alarm System 019.
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. See Vehicle Personalization
0 100.
The turn signal indicators may flash to
indicate unlocking. See Vehicle
Personalization 0100.
Pressing
Kwill disarm the alarm system.
See Vehicle Alarm System 019.
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 the turn 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 Start 013.
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. See
Vehicle Personalization
0100.
If equipped with memory seats, RKE
transmitters 1 and 2 are linked to seating
positions of memory 1 or 2. See Memory
Seats 032.
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.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Keys, Doors, and Windows 9
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” in
Vehicle Personalization 0100.
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:
With the vehicle off, press and hold
Qand
Kon the RKE transmitter at the same time
for approximately three seconds. The turn
signal lamps will flash four times quickly to
indicate access is disabled. Using any
exterior handle to unlock the doors or open
the trunk will cause the turn signal lamps to
flash four times quickly, indicating access is
disabled. If disabled, disarm the alarm
system before starting the vehicle. Enabling Keyless Unlocking:
With the vehicle off, press and hold
Qand
Kon the RKE transmitter at the same time
for approximately three seconds. The turn
signal lamps will flash twice quickly to
indicate access is enabled.
Passive Locking
This feature will lock the vehicle several
seconds after all doors are closed, if the
vehicle is off and at least one RKE
transmitter has been removed from the
interior or none remain in the interior.
If other electronic devices interfere with the
RKE transmitter signal, the vehicle may not
detect the RKE transmitter inside the vehicle.
If passive locking is enabled, the doors may
lock with the RKE transmitter inside the
vehicle. Do not leave the RKE transmitter in
an unattended vehicle.
To customize the doors to automatically lock
when exiting the vehicle, see Vehicle
Personalization 0100.
Temporary Disable of Passive Locking
Temporarily disable passive locking by
pressing and holding
Kon the interior door
switch with a door open for at least
four seconds, or until three chimes are

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Keys, Doors, and Windows 19
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 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.

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
332 OnStar
.Receive a Diagnostic check of the vehicle's
key operating systems.
.Receive Roadside Assistance.
.Manage Wi-Fi Settings, if equipped.
Press
>to get a priority connection to an
OnStar Advisor available 24/7 to:
.Get help for an emergency.
.Be a Good Samaritan or respond to an
AMBER Alert.
.Get assistance in severe weather or other
crisis situations and find evacuation
routes.
OnStar Services
Emergency
Emergency Services require an active safety
and security plan. With Automatic Crash
Response, built-in sensors can automatically
alert a specially trained OnStar Advisor who
is immediately connected in to the vehicle
to help.
Press
>for a priority connection to an
OnStar Advisor who can contact emergency
service providers, direct them to your exact
location, and relay important information. With OnStar Crisis Assist, specially trained
Advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, to provide a central point of
contact, assistance, and information during a
crisis.
With Roadside Assistance, Advisors can
locate a nearby service provider to help with
a flat tire, a battery jump, or an empty
gas tank.
Security
If equipped, OnStar provides these services:
.With Stolen Vehicle Assistance, OnStar
Advisors can use GPS to pinpoint the
vehicle and help authorities quickly
recover it.
.With Remote Ignition Block, if equipped,
OnStar can block the engine from being
restarted.
.With Stolen Vehicle Slowdown,
if equipped, OnStar can work with law
enforcement to gradually slow the
vehicle down.
Theft Alarm Notification
If equipped, if the doors are locked and the
vehicle alarm sounds, a notification by text,
e-mail, or phone call will be sent. If the
vehicle is stolen, an OnStar Advisor can work
with authorities to recover the vehicle.
OnStar Additional
Information
In-Vehicle Audio Messages
Audio messages may play important
information at the following times:
.Prior to vehicle purchase. PressQto set
up an account.
.After change in ownership and at
90 days.
Transferring Service
PressQto request account transfer
eligibility information. The Advisor can
cancel or change account information.
Selling/Transferring the Vehicle
Call 1-888-4ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827)
immediately to terminate your OnStar or
connected services if the vehicle is disposed
of, sold, transferred, or if the lease ends.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Index 339
IndexA
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Additional InformationOnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . 309
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Agreements Trademarks and License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164, 166
Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . 170
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . 48
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 48
What Will You See after an AirbagInflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 47
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Airbags
Adding Equipment to the Vehicle . . . . . . . 53
Passenger Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . 53
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Alarm
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Antenna Backglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . 146
Armrest Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . 209
Assistance Systems for Parking and
Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Index 347
Sealant Kit, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Buckle To Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . 39
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Seats
Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Heated and Ventilated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Heated, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Securing Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 68
Security
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 229 Service (cont'd)
Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . 303
Parts Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . 89
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Servicing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Shifting
Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Signals, Turn and Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Special Application Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Start Assist, Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250, 251
Storage Areas Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Umbrella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Struts Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
System Engine Air Filter Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237