How to Remove the Rear Seats of a Malibu?
3 Answers
The method to remove the rear seats of a Malibu is as follows: 1. Locate the handles on both sides of the rear seat near the windows; 2. Pull the handles to fold the backrest of the rear seat forward; 3. Push the seat cushion directly towards the rear of the vehicle and then lift it upwards to remove it. Taking the Malibu 2021 535T Automatic Yuexing Edition as an example: it is a mid-size 4-door 5-seater sedan under SAIC-GM Chevrolet, with dimensions of 4933mm in length, 1854mm in width, and 1472mm in height, a wheelbase of 2829mm, equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission, and a top speed of 205 kilometers per hour.
I previously disassembled the rear seats of my Malibu myself, so I’ll share some tips with you. The key is the hidden clips beneath the left and right sides of the seat cushion—you’ll need to reach your fingers under the front edge of the seat to locate them, roughly near the recessed area around the seatbelt buckle. Once you feel the hard plastic clips, don’t yank them forcefully. Instead, lift the front edge of the cushion upward with a sudden burst of strength. After removal, you’ll see U-shaped metal hooks securing the seat to the body. When reinstalling, align the hooks properly and press downward. The backrest is simpler: open the trunk, and you’ll spot screws along the top edge of the backrest—remove two to fold the backrest forward. Remember to avoid letting the seat corners scratch the door panels—I learned that the hard way.
A car upholstery professional tells you that for eight out of ten Malibus, the rear seat cushion clips are in roughly the same position. Don’t foolishly try to lift the entire cushion at once. First, pry open the seat seam to locate the seatbelt buckle, then follow it down to the midpoint near the front edge of the seat. Use both hands to grip the lower edge of the cushion and yank it upward sharply—you should hear two distinct clicks. For 2017 models, there are two hidden hooks at the rear of the seat; you’ll need to push the seat forward slightly to release them. After removing the cushion, don’t rush to detach the backrest. Check the trunk—there’s a central fixing plate at the top of the backrest. Loosen two 13mm nuts to fold it down. During disassembly, inspect the metal mounting clips on the car body base for deformation. Last year, a client bent the chassis interface while DIY-installing, resulting in a wobbly seat.
