
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
284 Vehicle Care
Visually check constant velocity joint boots
and axle seals for leaks.
Body Component Lubrication
Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood hinges,
decklid hinges, steel fuel door hinge, unless
the components are plastic. Applying silicone
grease on weatherstrips with a clean cloth
will make them last longer, seal better, and
not stick or squeak.
Underbody Maintenance
At least twice a year, spring and fall, use
plain water to flush any corrosive materials
from the underbody. Take care to
thoroughly clean any areas where mud and
other debris can collect.
Do not directly power wash the transfer
case and/or front/rear axle output seals.
High pressure water can overcome the seals
and contaminate the fluid. Contaminated
fluid will decrease the life of the transfer
case and/or axles and should be replaced.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and requires sheet
metal repair or replacement, make sure the
body repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material to parts repaired or replaced to
restore corrosion protection.Original manufacturer replacement parts will
provide the corrosion protection while
maintaining the vehicle warranty.
Finish Damage
Quickly repair minor chips and scratches
with touch-up materials available from your
dealer to avoid corrosion. Larger areas of
finish damage can be corrected in your
dealer's body and paint shop.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Airborne pollutants can fall upon and attack
painted vehicle surfaces causing blotchy,
ring-shaped discolorations, and small,
irregular dark spots etched into the paint
surface. See
“Finish Care” previously in this
section.
Interior Care
To prevent dirt particle abrasions, regularly
clean the vehicle's interior. 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. Newspapers or dark
garments can transfer color to the vehicle’s
interior.
Caution
Immediately remove cleaners, hand
lotions, sunscreen, and insect repellent
from all interior surfaces or permanent
damage may result.
Caution
Use cleaners specifically designed for the
surfaces being cleaned to prevent
permanent damage to the vehicle. Apply
all cleaners directly to a cleaning cloth.
Do not spray cleaners on any switches or
controls.
When using liquid soap cleaners, follow the
directions on the specific cleaner or soap
solution for dilution instructions.
Caution
To prevent damage:
.Never use a razor or any other sharp
object to remove soil from any interior
surface
.Never use a brush with stiff bristles.(Continued)

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
Service and Maintenance 291
Reset the oil life system when the oil is
changed. SeeEngine Oil Life System
0 227.
.When the REPLACE AT NEXT OIL CHANGE
message displays, the engine air filter
should be replaced at the next engine oil
change. When the REPLACE ENGINE AIR
FILTER SOON message displays, the
engine air filter should be replaced at the
earliest convenience. Reset the engine air
filter life system after the engine air filter
is replaced. See Engine Air Filter Life
System 0228.
Every 36 000 km (22,500 mi)
.Passenger compartment air filter
replacement (or every 24 months,
whichever occurs first). More frequent
replacement may be needed if the vehicle
is driven in areas with heavy traffic, poor
air quality, areas with high dust levels or
are sensitive to environmental allergens.
Filter replacement may also be needed if
you notice reduced airflow, windows
fogging up, or odors. Your local GM
Service location can help you determine
when it is the right time to replace your
filter. Every 96 000 km (60,000 mi)
.Replace spark plugs. Inspect spark plug
wires and/or boots.
Every 161 000 km (100,000 mi)
.Replace hood and/or body lift support gas
struts. Or every 10 years, whichever
comes first. See Gas Strut(s)0238.
Every 240 000 km (150,000 mi)
.Drain and fill engine cooling system. Or
every six years, whichever comes first.
See Cooling System 0229.
Severe Conditions Requiring More
Frequent Maintenance*
.Public service, military, or commercial use
vehicles to include the following:
‐ Ambulances, police cars, and
emergency rescue vehicles.
‐ Civilian vehicles such as light duty
pick-up trucks, SUVs, and passenger
cars that are used in military
applications.
‐ Recovery vehicles such as tow trucks
and flatbed single vehicle carriers or
any vehicle that is consistently used in
towing trailers or other loads. ‐
High use commercial vehicles such as
courier delivery vehicles, private
security patrol vehicles, or any vehicles
that operate on a 24–hour basis.
‐ Any vehicle consistently operated in a
high sand or dust environment such as
those used on oil pipelines and similar
applications.
.Vehicles that are regularly used for short
trips of 6 km (4 mi) or less.
The oil life indicator will show you when
to change the oil and filter. Under severe
conditions the indicator may come on
before 12 000 km (7,500 mi).
* Footnote: Under extreme driving
conditions listed above, it may be
necessary to replace your spark plugs at
more frequent intervals. For further
assistance in determining the most
suitable service maintenance intervals for
your vehicle, please contact your
authorized GM Dealer.
Extreme service is for vehicles mainly
driven off-road in four-wheel drive or used
in farming, mining, forestry, or snow
plowing.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
Index 327
ParkingBrake and P (Park) Mechanism
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Parking Assist Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Parking or Backing Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Phone Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . 142
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138, 139
Port USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Positioning Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Power (cont'd)
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Privacy Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Problems with Route Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Proposition 65 Warning California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Proposition 65 Warning, California . . . . . . . 275
Publication Ordering Information . . . . . . . . 308
R
Radiator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Radio AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Data System (RDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Frequency Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . 202
Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Rear (cont'd)
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Recognition Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . 294
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Remote Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Key Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Replacement Parts
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . 67
Seat Belt System Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
330 Index
Transportinga Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
TTY Users Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Turn Signal
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240, 241
U
Umbrella Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
UpdatesMap Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Using
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
VehicleAhead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . 309 Vehicle (cont'd)
Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Vehicle Care Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
W
Warning
Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . 80
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 Wheels (cont'd)
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Windshield
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Wiring, High Voltage Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . 242