(The procedure should be the same or very similar for the 2.0L and 1.8L engines.)

The 9th generation Malibu was supposed to undergo a "facelift" in 2022 or 2023 and the refreshed vehicle may have continued being produced into the 2024 and 2025 model years but it will now apparently be discontinued after the 2023 model year.

Owners of other General Motors vehicles from Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC and Holden such as the Impala, Corvette, Bolt, Sonic, Spark, Express, Trax, TrailBlazer, Equinox, Traverse, Blazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado, Silverado, Cruze, Volt, Camaro, Encore, Envision, Enclave, Regal, LaCrosse, Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Savana, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, CT4, CT5, CT6 and Commodore may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) iridium spark plugs in this 2020 Malibu were the ACDelco 41-157 (also known as GM part number 12686362).

If you have trouble finding the OEM ACDelco 41-157 spark plugs you can instead use the ACDelco 41-156 (also known as GM part number 12683541).

The tools and other items needed to complete this procedure include a Torx T30 star bit screwdriver, a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet, a 14mm spark plug socket, a long extension bar, a 3/8" drive ratchet and a tube of dielectric grease.

The first two steps are to open the hood and then locate the black metal Torx bolt on the front right (driver side) corner of the plastic engine cover.

Set the bolt aside in a safe place.

Twist off the oil fill cap by turning it in the counterclockwise direction.

Carefully pull the plastic cover off the top of the engine and set it aside in a safe place.

Push a small clean towel into the oil fill port to help prevent from having debris fall down into the engine.

Once the two covers are out of the way, you'll be able to see the four ignition coil housings on top of the valve cover.

If you have access to compressed air or a wet/dry shop vacuum, thoroughly clean off the top of the engine to help prevent from having debris fall down into the spark plug well or the cylinder.

Then push down on the black plastic release button before sliding the electrical connector straight off the left side of the ignition coil.

I recommend only checking or changing one spark plug at a time to help further reduce the risk of having debris or a foreign object fall down into the cylinder.

Loosen the silver metal bolt that secures the ignition coil housing to the valve cover by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with a 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

Set the ignition coil bolt aside in a safe place.

Carefully pull the ignition coil straight out of the spark plug well and set it aside in a safe place.

If you have a SES or CEL (service engine soon / check engine light) on the gauge cluster use an OBDII scanner (also known as an OBD2 scan tool) to check for an ignition coil related DTC (diagnostic trouble code) such as P0351, P0352, P0353 or P0354.

If you need to replace a failing or faulty ignition coil, the General Motors OEM (original equipment manufacturer) part number is ACDelco 12697989 also known as part number ACDelco 12635672.

I like to use some electrical tape to secure the socket to the extension bar to help prevent it from popping off and becoming stuck down at the bottom of the spark plug well.

If you don't have a 14mm spark plug socket, a 9/16" spark plug socket will work.

Lower the socket down into the well and push it over the top of the old spark plug.

Carefully loosen the old spark plug by turning it in the counterclockwise direction.

If you have trouble loosening the old spark plug due to corrosion (rust) or debris, spray a very small amount of penetrating oil down into the well and allow it to penetrate the threads for at least 10 to 15 minutes.

Carefully lift the old spark plug out of the well.

Detach the old spark plug from the socket and inspect both sides of it.

If the electrode tip of the old spark plug appears to be oily or covered in black soot, the engine may be burning oil and should be inspected a professional mechanic.

If the electrode end of the spark plug appears to white or covered in ash, the engine may have experienced overheating. It would be best to have the cooling system inspected or choose a different spark plug with the appropriate heat range for your climate.

If you have a spark plug gap gauge tool, check the gap on the new spark plugs to make sure they match the specification on the box.

Iridium spark plugs should NOT be re-gapped. So if the gap is incorrect on any of your new spark plugs, they may have been dropped or damaged during shipping and should be returned for a replacement.

Most spark plug manufacturers recommend that you do not use anti-seize lubricant since it can easily lead to over tightening. If you do apply anti-seize lubricant to the threads of your new spark plug, use less torque to tighten them.

Your spark plug socket should have a rubber insert or a strong magnet to securely hold the new plug in place.

Carefully lower the new spark plug down into the well.

Spin it in by hand to help prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

Continue turning the extension bar in the clockwise direction until you feel it make contact with the cylinder head.

Attach the 3/8" drive ratchet and tighten the new spark plug in the clockwise direction until they are snug.

If you are installing a new spark plug, you may feel the new crush washer collapse as you are tightening the plug. Continue tightening to a small fraction of a turn past finger tight.

If you are re-installing an old spark plug that you were just checking, you only need to tighten it to a small fraction of a turn past finger tight (about 1/16 to 1/8 of a turn).

Try to avoid over tightening the spark plugs to prevent from cracking the ceramic part of the plug or stripping the aluminum threads in the cylinder head.

If you plan on using a torque wrench to tighten the spark plugs, consult with the spark plug manufacturer for their torque recommendation.

The torque recommendation from GM for the earlier Malibu models with the Ecotec 2.4L I4 engine is 11 lb-ft if you applied anti-seize lubricant and 18 lb-ft if the threads are dry with no anti-seize applied.

The torque specification in the service manual for the 2011 to 2016 Malibu models with the 2.0L or 2.5L engines is 15 lb-ft (or 20 N.m).

If you use a torque wrench, please verify the torque specification for your vehicle before proceeding.

Double check that the new spark plug is tight before moving on to the next steps.

The dielectric grease well help keep out any moisture or debris and ensure a reliable electrical connection.

Lower the ignition coil down into the well and push the rubber dust boot over the top of the new spark plug.

Rotate the ignition coil back and forth a few times to help spread the dielectric grease.

Line up the bolt hole in the ignition coil with the bolt hole in the valve cover.

Spin in the ignition coil bolt a few turns by hand in the clockwise direction to help prevent it from becoming cross threaded.

Try to avoid over tightening the bolt to prevent from cracking the plastic ignition coil housing.

Slide the electrical connector straight on to the ignition coil.

You should feel or hear the electrical connector "click" securely into place.

Slide the red lock tab in towards the ignition coil to secure the power plug.

Lower the foam rubber noise dampening cover over the top of the engine.

Lower the plastic cover down into place.

Tighten the screw with the Torx T30 screwdriver in the clockwise direction until it is snug.

Remove the small towel from the oil fill hole.

Replace the oil fill cap by tightening it in the clockwise direction until it is snug.

Start the engine and listen closely for any strange sounds.

If you do hear a weird noise, turn off the ignition and double check your work for a disconnected power plug or a loose spark plug.

According to the maintenance specifications in the owner's manual, the service interval for the spark plugs in the 1.5L I4 engine and the 2.0L I4 engine is to change them every 60,000 miles (or 96,000 km).

(If you have a Malibu equipped with the 1.8L hybrid engine, the spark plugs only need to be changed every 97,500 miles.)

Don't forget to write down the spark plug change in your vehicle's service records.

Please check out all of the 2016-2023 GM Chevrolet Malibu DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.