Arrrrgh! I cannot lift the interior door panel off at the top after removing the 2 screws under the arm rest and the one in the rear. I've disconnected the power window, seats and door lock assemblies, pulled the panel away from the door all around, but cannot get it loose at the top! Did I miss something or is there a way to finesse the panel loose?.

Armrest Door Pull
Remove Rubber Cover
Remove 10mm ***** The first step is to pry out the plastic trim plate behind the chrome colored door release handle using a small flathead screwdriver.Then remove the 10mm ***** behind the plate using a ratcheting wrench with an extension bar attached.
Next pry out the rubber cover at the bottom of the door pull located in the center of the arm rest. Use a Torx T-25 (star bit) screwdriver to remove the two screws.
Remove Torx T25 Screws
2 T-25 Torx & 1 10mm *****
Pry Up Arm Rest Panel Use a flathead screwdriver to pry up the rear of the plastic arm rest panel. There is a plastic hook at the front of the panel, so only pry it up from the rear edge.
Lift Rear End First
Plastic Hook At Front of Panel
Power Window Connector After you lift out the arm rest panel, you'll need to disconnect the power connector for the window and door lock switches.
Push Connector Release Tab
Power Connector Unplugged
Two More T25 Screws Push on the release tab with a flathead screwdriver and pull out the power window / door lock connector.Use a Torx T25 screwdriver to remove the two screws located below the arm rest panel.
Remove T25 Torx Screws
Outer Edge of Panel
Push In Center of Fastener Then move to the outer edge of the door panel and locate the two small round fasteners. Use a small screwdriver to pop in the center pins of the two fasteners.
Pull Out Plastic Rivet
Black Plastic Fastener Removed
Remove Lower Fastener Pull out the two plastic rivet fasteners and set them aside in a safe place.
Pull Panel Away From Door
White Plastic Pop Rivets
Pull Off Sail Panel Grab the door pull in the arm rest and tug it towards yourself to disengage the pop rivet friction fasteners that hold the panel to the door frame.Move to the top corner of the door panel and pry off the triangular "sail" panel. On some vehicles, the sail panel contains the tweeter speaker.
Lift Panel Off Door Lock
Pull Out Door Pull Cable Lift the door panel off the door lock button and tilt the top of it out towards yourself.Use a pair of needle nose pliers to gently lift the metal ball at the end of the door opener cable out of the mechanism.
Disconnect the door cable from the back side of the door panel.
Door Pull Cable Removed
Disconnect Power Mirror Then disconnect the power connector for the side view mirror by lifting up on the release tab. Slide the power connector off the plastic anchor on the metal door frame.
Slide Connector Off Anchor
Unlock Connector
Connector Detached Look behind the door panel and locate the large wire connector with the pink lever lock. Swing the lever open to unlock the connector and separate it from the socket.


Door Panel Removed
Power Window Motor
10mm Bolts Now the door panel can be completely removed by lifting it up and off the door frame.To replace the power window motor, remove the 10mm bolts.
Stock OEM Door Speaker
Remove 7mm ***** The stock "OEM" speaker is held in place by a single 7 mm *****. Remove it with a socket and ratcheting wrench.
Pry Off OEM Speaker
Speaker Removed
Disconnect Power Plug If the speaker is stuck to the door frame, gently pry it off with a small flathead screwdriver.Disconnect the speaker's power plug by pressing the release tab with the small flathead screwdriver.
Fits 5.25", 6.5", 6.75"
Re-installing Door Panel According to the Crutchfield website, the 2008 to 2012 Chevrolet Malibu's front door speakers can be replaced withaftermarket speakers in the following sizes: 5 1/4", 6 1/2" or 6 3/4" speakers with the use of a bracket.If you'd like to reduce road noise, make your car quieter and also improve the sound from your speakers, I'd recommend applying some Dynamat Sound Deadener on to the metal door frame.
Re-Attach To Anchor
Plug In Power Side View Mirror
Re-Insert Power Connector To re-install the door panel, first hold the panel close to the door frame before re-connecting the large wire plug. Swing the pink lever closed to lock it in place.Slide the socket for the power side view mirror back on to its anchor and insert the power plug.
Lock Power Connector
Pink Lever Locked
Re-Insert Door Pull Cable Ball Insert the metal ball at the end of the door opener cable back in to the door handle mechanism.Slide the black plastic cone part of the cable back into the slot in the door opener assembly.
Door Opener Cable Reinstalled
Hang Door Panel On Frame Gently lower the door panel down on to the edge of the door frame with the door lock switch through the opening at the top.
Line Up White Plastic Fasteners
Push On Sail Panel
Push Door Panel In Place Move to the bottom of the door panel and line up the white plastic pop rivet fasteners with the holes in the metal door frame.Push all around the door panel to re-insert the pop rivet fasteners.
Re-attach the sail panel at the top corner of the door frame.
Push Panel Flush Against Frame
Insert Side Edge Fasteners
Insert Larger Piece First Next move to the side edge of the door panel and first re-insert the larger piece of the two fasteners. Then insert the smaller "pin" piece of the fastener into the middle of the larger piece.
Insert Small "Pin" Piece
Install Lower Edge Fastener
Tighten 2 T25 Torx Screws
Re-Attach Power Connector
Insert Front Hook First Insert and tighten the two Torx T-25 screws located under the arm rest.Re-attach the power connector to the plastic arm rest panel.
First insert the hook at the front of the arm rest panel and then snap the rear end in place.
Pop Arm Rest Panel In Place
Tighten 2 T25 Screws
Replace Rubber Cover Insert and tighten the two T25 Torx screws into the door pull cup. Then replace the rubber cover over the two screws.
Tighten 10mm Door Handle *****
Replace Door Handle Trim Plate
Malibu Door Panel Replaced Replace the 10mm ***** that goes above and behind the door opener handle and tighten it. Pop in the plastic trim plate behind the door handle.

2 screws in arm rest 1 on the both side 3 on the bottom 1 in the door handle lift up if power windows watch for wires

Remove one Phillips screw from leading edge of door panel (near latch). Remove small cap behind the door handle, inside another Phillips screw - remove screw and then the cup behind the handle. Look down in arm rest and there is another Phillips screw. Last screw is behind the approximately 1 1/2 inch plug on front upper corner of panel. At this point, gently pry around lower edge and sides - there are either five or six clips pressed into the door frame. Once all are disengaged, gently swing the bottom of the panel out and lift off the top edge of door next to window opening. Once panel is off door, gently remove the control plug from the door lock/window control on the rear of panel. Install in reverse order
hope this helps

to remove door trim you have to disconnect negative battery cable.then remove two screws attaching arm rest to door trim.remove arm rest it held in place by front and rear hooks that fit into slots in door trim.to release the hooks grasp the arm rest with both hands push it towards thr door pull up on the side of the arm rest facing door.remove four speaker grille mounting screws and the grille.then remove door trim panel screwss from bottom edge of the panel.remove the three remote control plate screws from the plate and the single screw in the rear edge of the door.then lift up on the door trim panel to release the molding from the top edge of the door then slide the panel forward to clear the latch release handle and down to clear the lock rod knob.if job look to difficult let a body shop fix.removing window door motor need tools to drill out rivets and reinstall rivots you need special tools to fix window motor and regulator.

On the inside trim, you can remove screws (these screws may be covered by filler pieces or may be visible, or they may require you pry a plastic piece off that covers the screws) that are by the door handle, arm rest, under door and side of door and then gently pull back on the panel as there will also be retaining clips attached and you don't want to break them. You'll need to lift the door panel upwards in order to get it off the window ledge. Then you'll need to manipulate the panel and disconnect the door handle linkage from the door handle and disconnect the wiring for your controls.

where you pull the door to or the arm rest thar 2 screws their thay are philp head

You have to remove the interior door panel first and the plastic behind it. There are 3 bolts holding the window motor in place, the nuts are not welded to the body, so 2 wrench's are necessary. With the bolts out, just slide the arms out of the window track. Don't forget to hold the window or it will fall down and possibly break. Installation is just the reverse.
To remove the door panel, unscrew the door lock and take the 2 screws out of the arm rest. You will find 2 more screws under the arm rest that have to come out.Use a screwdriver and pop the panel from the door and lift it up to remove it from the window lip. Hope this helps.

This is the same front or rear door. 1. remove rubber insert at the bottom of the arm rest/door handle 2. remove the 2. philip head screws. 3. run hand along bottom edge of door panel to ensure no other securing screws. 4. starting at the top rear edge of the door panel side a large flat screw drive/door panel tool(what ever you have) 5. lift sharply and you will here poping noises fromt the push clips lifting out of the socket. 6. as you work down the rear edge of the door panel you will see the trim around the interior door handle lift away. remove it. 7. the interior door handle will remain on the door. 8. remove the rest of the door panel.

on the inside trim, you can remove screws that are by the door handle, arm rest, under door and side of door and then gently pull back on the panel as there will also be retaining clips attached and you don't want to break them. You'll need to lift the door panel upwards in order to get it off the window ledge.pull back the weather seal and you'll be able to get to the track

This is great as I am doing one of these right this moment and this one has gone long since unanswered and there appears to be no solution.

For the front panel.

1. Remove the two Phillips screws front and rear at the top of the panel.
2. Remove 3 - 4mm Hex head screws in the arm rest, these are expansion fasteners so you will not be able to completely remove the screw. When you have these loose enough the arm rest will slip straight out.
3. Pull interior door handle until you can see the Phillips screw hidden near the hinge and remove.
4. Pull out door handle and carefully release cable from the handle assembly. Be careful with this clip as it can easily be bent and damaged.
5. Start at bottom of door panel and pull the panel straight out, once the bottom is free lift upward until panel comes off.