airbag CHEVROLET MALIBU 2019 Owner's Manual

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Introduction 3
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,”or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M:Shown when the owner’s
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*:Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0:Shown when there is more
information on another page—
“see page.”Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. See the
features in this manual for
information.
u:Air Conditioning System
G:Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components
Properly
P:Do Not Apply High Pressure
Water
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
g:First Responder
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
H:Flammable
[:Forward Collision Alert
R:Fuse Block Cover Lock
Location
+:Fuses

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
In Brief 13
Seat Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
seat belts properly:
.
Seat Belts066
.
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
068
.
Lap-Shoulder Belt070
.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)093
Passenger Sensing
System
United States and Canada
Mexico
The passenger sensing system
turns off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and knee
airbag under certain conditions. No
other airbag is affected by the
passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing System080.The passenger airbag status
indicator will light on the overhead
console when the vehicle is started.
SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator0123.
Mirror Adjustment
Interior Mirror
Adjust the rearview mirror for a clear
view of the area behind your
vehicle.
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, the mirror will
automatically reduce the glare of the
headlamps from behind. The
dimming feature comes on when the
vehicle is started.
SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror049.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
24 In Brief
High Voltage Safety
Information
{Warning
Exposure to high voltage can
cause shock, burns, and even
death. The high voltage
components in the vehicle can
only be serviced by technicians
with special training.
High voltage components are
identified by labels. Do not
remove, open, take apart,
or modify these components.
High voltage cable or wiring has
orange covering or labels. Do not
probe, tamper with, cut, or modify
high voltage cable or wiring.
This vehicle has a high voltage
battery and a standard 12-volt
battery.
If the vehicle is in a crash, the
sensing system may shut down the
high voltage system. When this
occurs, the high voltage battery isdisconnected and the vehicle will
not start. The SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will be
displayed. Before the vehicle can be
operated again, it must be serviced
at your dealer.
{Warning
Damage to the high voltage
battery or high voltage system
can create a risk of electric shock,
overheating, or fire.
If the vehicle is damaged from a
moderate to severe crash, flood,
fire, or other event, the vehicle
should be inspected as soon as
possible. Until the vehicle has
been inspected, store it outside at
least 15 m (50 ft) from any
structure or anything that can
burn. Ventilate the vehicle by
opening a window or a door.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Contact Customer Assistance as
soon as possible to determine
whether an inspection is needed.
SeeCustomer Assistance Offices
0348.
SeeBattery - North America0257
for important safety information.
If an airbag has inflated, seeWhat
Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates?079.
Only a trained service technician
with the proper knowledge and tools
should inspect, test, or replace the
high voltage battery. See your
dealer if the high voltage battery
needs service.
Regenerative Braking
(Hybrid Only)
Regenerative braking takes some of
the energy from the moving vehicle
and turns it back into electrical
energy. This energy is then stored in
the high voltage battery system,

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Seats and Restraints 53
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 57
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Seat Belt Use During
Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 72Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Replacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 76
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Passenger Sensing System . . . 80
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 85
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 86
Replacing Airbag System Parts
after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Infants and Young Children . . . . 88
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 90
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 92
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) . . . . 93Replacing LATCH System Parts
After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the
Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the
Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Seats and Restraints 67
Warning (Continued)
passengers to ride in any area of
the vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and seat belts.
Always wear a seat belt, and
check that all passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the seat belts.
SeeSeat Belt Reminders0122.
Seat Belt Assurance System
This vehicle may have the Seat Belt
Assurance System, which prevents
the vehicle from shifting out of
P (Park). A message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
indicating the shift lever is locked if
the driver is unbuckled. The vehicle
will not shift out of P (Park). Buckle
the seat belt to unlock the shift
lever.
On some models, the Seat Belt
Assurance System may also
prevent shifting out of P (Park) if the
front outboard passenger, if present,is unbuckled. This system may not
allow the vehicle to shift out of
P (Park) if an object—such as a
briefcase, handbag, grocery bag,
laptop, or other electronic device—
is on the front outboard passenger
seat. If this happens, remove the
object from the seat or buckle the
seat belt to unlock the shift lever.
A message displays in the DIC
indicating the shift lever is unlocked
allowing the vehicle to be shifted out
of P (Park) after several seconds
following initial brake apply. See
“Seat Belts”and“Child Restraints”
in the Index for information about
the importance of proper
restraint use.
If the driver or front outboard
passenger unbuckles their seat belt
while driving, the seat belt reminder
chime and light(s) will come on. See
Seat Belt Reminders0122.
This system may not function
properly if the airbag readiness light
is on. SeeAirbag Readiness Light
0123.
Why Seat Belts Work
When riding in a vehicle, you travel
as fast as the vehicle does. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you keep
going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the seat belts!
When you wear a seat belt, you and
the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because
you stop over a longer distance and,
when worn properly, your strongest
bones take the forces from the seat
belts. That is why wearing seat belts
makes such good sense.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
68 Seats and Restraints
Questions and Answers About
Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
seat belt?
A:Youcouldbe—whether you are
wearing a seat belt or not. Your
chance of being conscious
during and after a crash, so you
canunbuckle and get out, is
muchgreater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why
should I have to wear seat
belts?
A:Airbags are supplemental
systems only. They workwith
seat belts—not instead of them.
Whether or not an airbag is
provided, all occupants still have
to buckle up to get the most
protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in
all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing seat belts.
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's
protection.
There are additional things to know
about seat belts and children,
including smaller children and
infants. If a child will be riding in the
vehicle, seeOlder Children086or
Infants and Young Children088.
Review and follow the rules for
children in addition to the following
rules.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know
about wearing a seat belt properly.
.
Sit up straight and always keep
your feet on the floor in front of
you (if possible).
.
Always use the correct buckle
for your seating position.
.
Wear the lap part of the belt low
and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In a crash,
this applies force to the strong
pelvic bones and you would be
less likely to slide under the lap
belt. If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force on your
abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
74 Seats and Restraints
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the seat belt
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Have the seat belt pretensioners
checked if the vehicle has been in a
crash, or if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start the vehicle
or while you are driving. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light0123.Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbags:
.
A frontal airbag for the driver
.
A frontal airbag for the front
outboard passenger
.
A knee airbag for the driver
.
A knee airbag for the front
outboard passenger
.
A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the driver
.
A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the front outboard
passenger
.
Seat-mounted side impact
airbags for the second row
outboard passengers
.
A roof-rail airbag for the driver
and the passenger seated
directly behind the driver
.
A roof-rail airbag for the front
outboard passenger and the
passenger seated directly
behind the front outboard
passengerAll vehicle airbags have the word
AIRBAG on the trim or on a label
near the deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG is on the center of the
steering wheel for the driver and on
the instrument panel for the front
outboard passenger.
For knee airbags, the word AIRBAG
is on the lower part of the
instrument panel.
For seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG is on the
side of the seatback closest to
the door.
For roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG is on the ceiling or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by seat
belts. Even though today's airbags
are also designed to help reduce
the risk of injury from the force of an
inflating bag, all airbags must inflate
very quickly to do their job.
Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Seats and Restraints 75
{Warning
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your seat belt, even with
airbags. Airbags are designed to
work with seat belts, not replace
them. Also, airbags are not
designed to inflate in every crash.
In some crashes seat belts are
the only restraint. SeeWhen
Should an Airbag Inflate?077.
Wearing your seat belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance
of hitting things inside the vehicle
or being ejected from it. Airbags
are“supplemental restraints”to
the seat belts. Everyone in the
vehicle should wear a seat belt
properly, whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.
{Warning
Because airbags inflate with great
force and faster than the blink of
an eye, anyone who is up
against, or very close to, any
airbag when it inflates can be
seriously injured or killed. Do not
sit unnecessarily close to any
airbag, as you would be if sitting
on the edge of the seat or leaning
forward. Seat belts help keep you
in position before and during a
crash. Always wear a seat belt,
even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle. The seat belts and
the front outboard passenger
airbags are most effective when
you are sitting well back and
upright in the seat with both feet
on the floor.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions with
seat-mounted side impact airbags
and/or roof-rail airbags.
{Warning
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag when
it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Always secure children
properly in the vehicle. To read
how, seeOlder Children086or
Infants and Young Children088.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
76 Seats and Restraints
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument cluster, which
shows the airbag symbol. The
system checks the airbag electrical
system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light0123.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
center of the steering wheel.
The front outboard passenger
frontal airbag is in the passenger
side instrument panel.
The driver knee airbag is below the
steering column. The front outboard
passenger knee airbag is below the
glove box.Driver Side Shown, Passenger
Side Similar
The seat-mounted side impact
airbags for the driver and front
outboard passenger are in the side
of the seatbacks closest to the door.
The roof-rail airbags for the driver,
front outboard passenger, and
second row outboard passengers
are in the ceiling above the side
windows.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461813) - 2019 - crc - 12/11/18
Seats and Restraints 77
Rear Seat Driver Side Shown,
Passenger Side Similar
On vehicles with second row
seat-mounted side impact airbags,
they are in the sides of the rear
seatback closest to the door.
{Warning
If something is between an
occupant and an airbag, the
airbag might not inflate properly
or it might force the object into
that person causing severe injury
or even death. The path of an
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
inflating airbag must be kept
clear. Do not put anything
between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put
anything on the steering wheel
hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
Do not use seat accessories that
block the inflation path of a
seat-mounted side impact airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof
of a vehicle with roof-rail airbags
by routing a rope or tie‐down
through any door or window
opening. If you do, the path of an
inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.
When Should an Airbag
Inflate?
This vehicle is equipped with
airbags. SeeAirbag System074.
Airbags are designed to inflate if the
impact exceeds the specific airbagsystem's deployment threshold.
Deployment thresholds are used to
predict how severe a crash is likely
to be in time for the airbags to
inflate and help restrain the
occupants. The vehicle has
electronic sensors that help the
airbag system determine the
severity of the impact. Deployment
thresholds can vary with specific
vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are designed to
inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near frontal crashes to help
reduce the potential for severe
injuries, mainly to the driver's or
front outboard passenger's head
and chest.
Whether the frontal airbags will or
should inflate is not based primarily
on how fast the vehicle is traveling.
It depends on what is hit, the
direction of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.
Frontal airbags may inflate at
different crash speeds depending on
whether the vehicle hits an object
straight on or at an angle, and