Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
Vehicle Care 237
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check, the
vehicle could begin to move. You or
others could be injured and property
could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of the vehicle in case it
begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle
facing downhill. Keeping your foot on the
regular brake, set the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's holding
ability: With the engine running and the
transmission in N (Neutral), slowly remove
foot pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by
the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park) mechanism's holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the parking brake
followed by the regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected
for wear or cracking.
It is a good idea to clean the wiper blade
assembly on a regular basis. When worn,
or when cleaning is ineffective, replace the
wiper blade. For proper windshield wiper
blade length and type, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts 0295.
Caution
Allowing the wiper arm to touch the
windshield when no wiper blade is
installed could damage the windshield.
Any damage that occurs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not
allow the wiper arm to touch the
windshield.
To replace the wiper blade: 1. Pull the wiper assembly away from the windshield.2. Lift up on the latch in the middle of thewiper blade where the wiper arm
attaches.
3. With the latch open, pull the wiper blade down toward the windshield far enough
to release it from the J-hooked end of
the wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade.
5. Reverse Steps 1–3 for wiper blade replacement.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Vehicle Care 269
Warning (Continued)
if its manufacturer recommends it for the
vehicle's tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer's
instructions. To avoid vehicle damage,
drive slow and readjust or remove the
traction device if it contacts the vehicle.
Do not spin the wheels. If traction
devices are used, install them on the
front tires.
Caution
If the vehicle is equipped with a tire size
other than 245/45R18 or 245/40R19, use
tire chains only where legal and only
when necessary. Use low profile chains
that add no more than 12 mm thickness
to the tire tread and inner sidewall. Use
chains that are the proper size for the
tires. Install them on the tires of the
front axle. Do not use chains on the tires
of the rear axle. Tighten them as tightly
as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer's instructions. If the
chains contact the vehicle, stop and
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
retighten them. If the contact continues,
slow down until it stops. Driving too fast
or spinning the wheels with chains on
will damage the vehicle.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while
driving, especially if the tires are maintained
properly. SeeTires0251. If air goes out of a
tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if there is ever a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and
what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates a
drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and
grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then gently
brake to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts
much like a skid and may require the same
correction as used in a skid. Stop pressing
the accelerator pedal and steer to straighten
the vehicle. It may be very bumpy and
noisy. Gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been driven
on while severely underinflated or flat
may cause a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire that has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat. Have your dealer or
an authorized tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as possible.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to
do maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, only use it for changing a
flat tire.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Vehicle Care 287
Do not use cleaners that increase gloss,
especially on the instrument panel. Reflected
glare can decrease visibility through the
windshield under certain conditions.
Caution
Use of air fresheners may cause
permanent damage to plastics and
painted surfaces. If an air freshener
comes in contact with any plastic or
painted surface in the vehicle, blot
immediately and clean with a soft cloth
dampened with a mild soap solution.
Damage caused by air fresheners would
not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Cargo Cover and Convenience Net
If equipped, wash with warm water and
mild detergent. Do not use chlorine bleach.
Rinse with cold water, and then dry
completely.
Care of Seat Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{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.
Floor Mats
{Warning
If a floor mat is the wrong size or is not
properly installed, it can interfere with
the pedals. Interference with the pedals
can cause unintended acceleration and/or
increased stopping distance which can
cause a crash and injury. Make sure the
floor mat does not interfere with the
pedals.Use the following guidelines for proper floor
mat use:
.The original equipment floor mats are
designed for your vehicle. If the floor
mats need to be replaced, it is
recommended that GM-certified floor
mats are purchased. Non-GM floor mats
may not fit properly and may interfere
with the pedals. Always check that the
floor mats do not interfere with the
pedals.
.Do not use a floor mat if the vehicle is
not equipped with a floor mat retainer on
the driver side floor.
.Use the floor mat with the correct side
up. Do not turn it over.
.Do not place anything on top of the
driver side floor mat.
.Use only a single floor mat on the
driver side.
.Do not place one floor mat on top of
another.
Removing and Replacing the Floor Mats
If equipped, pull up on the rear of the floor
mat to unlock each retainer and remove.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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288 Vehicle Care
Reinstall by lining up the floor mat retainer
openings over the carpet retainers and
snapping into position.
Make sure the floor mat is properly secured
in place.
Verify the floor mat does not interfere with
the pedals.
Cleaning Rubber Floor Mats (All-Weather
Mats and Floor Liners)
See“Vinyl/Rubber” underInterior Care
0 284 for important cleaning information.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Service and Maintenance 293
Tire Inspection
.Tire pressure, tread depth, and wear
.Rotation, if applicable
.Alignment check, optional
.Reset tire pressure monitor
.Check tire sealant expiration date,
if equipped
.Check spare tire, if equipped
Brakes
.Check brake system
Visible and Functional Inspections
.Seat belt components
.Exhaust system
.Accelerator pedal
.Passenger compartment air filter,
if equipped
.Engine air filter
.Hoses
.Belts
.Shocks and struts
.Steering components
.Axle boots or driveshaft and u-joints
.Compartment lift struts, if equipped
.Floor mats secured, no interference with
pedals
.Horn
.Ignition lock, if equipped
.Starter switch
.Evaporative control system
Lubricate
.Chassis components
Special Application Services
.Severe Commercial Use Vehicles Only:
Lubricate chassis components every oil
change.
.Have underbody flushing service
performed. See "Underbody Maintenance"
in Exterior Care 0280.
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
310 Customer Information
Cybersecurity
GM collects information about the use of
your vehicle including operational and safety
related information. We collect this
information to provide, evaluate, improve,
and troubleshoot our products and services
and to develop new products and services.
The protection of vehicle electronics systems
and customer data from unauthorized
outside electronic access or control is
important to GM. GM maintains appropriate
security standards, practices, guidelines and
controls aimed at defending the vehicle and
the vehicle service ecosystem against
unauthorized electronic access, detecting
possible malicious activity in related
networks, and responding to suspected
cybersecurity incidents in a timely,
coordinated and effective manner. Security
incidents could impact your safety or
compromise your private data. To minimize
security risks, please do not connect your
vehicle electronic systems to unauthorized
devices or connect your vehicle to any
unknown or untrusted networks (such as
Bluetooth, WIFI or similar technology). In
the event you suspect any security incident
impacting your data or the safe operation of
your vehicle, please stop operating your
vehicle and contact your dealer.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with an Event Data
Recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR
is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data
that will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is
designed to record data related to vehicle
dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record
such data as:
.How various systems in your vehicle were
operating;
.Whether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were buckled/fastened;
.How far (if at all) the driver was
depressing the accelerator and/or brake
pedal; and,
.How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in which
crashes and injuries occur.
Note
EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no
data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no personal data
(e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location)
are recorded. However, other parties, such
as law enforcement, could combine the EDR
data with the type of personally identifying
data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special
equipment is required, and access to the
vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to
the vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such
as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they
have access to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access these data or share it
with others except: with the consent of the
vehicle owner or, if the vehicle is leased,
with the consent of the lessee; in response
to an official request by police or similar
government office; as part of GM's defense
of litigation through the discovery process;
or, as permitted by law. Data that GM
collects or receives may also be used for GM
research needs or may be made available to
others for research purposes, where a need
is shown and the data is not tied to a
specific vehicle or vehicle owner.