
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Vehicle Care 299
Interior Care
To prevent dirt particle abrasions, regularly
clean the vehicle's interior. Immediately
remove any soils. Newspapers or dark
garments can transfer color to the vehicle’s
interior.
Use a soft bristle brush to remove dust from
knobs and crevices on the instrument
cluster. Using a mild soap solution,
immediately remove hand lotions,
sunscreen, and insect repellent from all
interior surfaces or permanent damage may
result.
Use cleaners specifically designed for the
surfaces being cleaned to prevent
permanent damage. Apply all cleaners
directly to the cleaning cloth. Do not spray
cleaners on any switches or controls.
Remove cleaners quickly.
Before using cleaners, read and follow all
safety instructions on the label. While
cleaning the interior, open the doors and
windows to get proper ventilation.
To prevent damage, do not clean the
interior using the following cleaners or
techniques:
.Never use a razor or any other sharp
object to remove soil from any interior
surface.
.Never use a brush with stiff bristles.
.Never rub any surface aggressively or
with too much pressure.
.Do not use laundry detergents or
dishwashing soaps with degreasers. For
liquid cleaners, use approximately
20 drops per 3.8 L (1 gal) of water.
A concentrated soap solution will create
streaks and attract dirt. Do not use
solutions that contain strong or
caustic soap.
.Do not heavily saturate the upholstery
when cleaning.
.Do not use solvents or cleaners containing
solvents.
Interior Glass
To clean, use a terry cloth fabric dampened
with water. Wipe droplets left behind with a
clean dry cloth. If necessary, use a
commercial glass cleaner after cleaning with
plain water.
Caution
To prevent scratching, never use abrasive
cleaners on automotive glass. Abrasive
cleaners or aggressive cleaning may
damage the rear window defogger.
Cleaning the windshield with water during
the first three to six months of ownership
will reduce tendency to fog.
Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover gently, so
that the speaker will not be damaged. Clean
spots with water and mild soap.
Coated Moldings
Coated moldings should be cleaned.
.When lightly soiled, wipe with a sponge
or soft, lint-free cloth dampened with
water.
.When heavily soiled, use warm soapy
water.
Fabric/Carpet/Suede
Start by vacuuming the surface using a soft
brush attachment. If a rotating vacuum
brush attachment is being used, only use it
on the floor carpet. Before cleaning, gently
remove as much of the soil as possible:

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
310 Service and Maintenance
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are crucial to
safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include chirping,
grinding, or squealing noises, or difficulty
stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have access to
tools and equipment to inspect the brakes
and recommend quality parts engineered
for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved fluids
protect the vehicle’s systems and
components. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0312 for GM approved fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield washer fluid
levels should be checked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may come on to
indicate that fluids may be low and need
to be filled. Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should be
regularly inspected to ensure that there are
no cracks or leaks. With a multi-point
inspection, your dealer can inspect the hoses
and advise if replacement is needed.
Lamps
Properly working headlamps, taillamps, and
brake lamps are important to see and be
seen on the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need attention
include dimming, failure to light, cracking,
or damage. The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure that they
light when braking.
.With a multi-point inspection, your dealer
can check the lamps and note any
concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control for a
smoother ride.
.Signs of wear may include steering wheel
vibration, bounce/sway while braking,
longer stopping distance, or uneven
tire wear.
.As part of the multi-point inspection,
trained dealer technicians can visually
inspect the shocks and struts for signs of
leaking, blown seals, or damage, and can
advise when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated, rotated,
and balanced. Maintaining the tires can save
money and fuel, and can reduce the risk of
tire failure.
.Signs that the tires need to be replaced
include three or more visible treadwear
indicators; cord or fabric showing through
the rubber; cracks or cuts in the tread or
sidewall; or a bulge or split in the tire.
.Trained dealer technicians can inspect and
recommend the right tires. Your dealer
can also provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth vehicle
operation at all speeds. Your dealer sells
and services name brand tires.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Index 341
Child Restraints (cont'd)Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Connected Services Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Connections Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Control Traction and Electronic Stability . . . . . . . 193
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Controls
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Engine Temperature Warning Light . . . . . 91
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164, 166
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . 325
Coverage Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Cruise Control, Adaptive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Customer Information Publications Ordering Information . . . . . 327
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . 320
Cybersecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Data Collection Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330 Data Collection (cont'd)
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Database Coverage Explanations . . . . . . . . . 136
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Diagnostics Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Driver Teen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . 94, 96
Driving
Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . 221
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
14584249) - 2021 - CRC - 11/9/20
Index 343
FusesEngine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 254
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 258
G
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Voltmeter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . 80
General Information
Service and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Global Positioning System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . . 135
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Guidance Problems with the Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
HD Radio Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Headlamps
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . 106
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . 250
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . 34
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164, 166
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . 253
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . 39
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164, 166
I
If the System Needs Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Indicator
Pedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . 56
Information Publication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 110
J
Jack
Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . 290