2009 Chevrolet Malibu stability control problems

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, it lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The failure reoccurred every mile while driving, requiring the driver to pull over to the side of the road to restart the vehicle. The power steering, ESC, and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated who was a retired independent mechanic, determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

NHTSA complaint #11716945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, it lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle, and the power steering functionality returned. The failure reoccurred every mile while driving, requiring the driver to pull over to the side of the road to restart the vehicle. The power steering, ESC, and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated who was a retired independent mechanic, determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.

NHTSA complaint #11716945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that in 2017 the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electronic Stability Control) however, the brake lights would illuminate randomly without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact stated that the brake lights would fail to illuminate whenever the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred at various speeds. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who added di-electric grease to the harness, replaced the brake harness, replaced the position sensor, and inspected the brake light. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer approximately 7 times since the recall repair was performed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA complaint #11490852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the steering wheel started to vibrate. The contact stated that the power steering assist and traction control warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed her that the vehicle needed further diagnostic testing and should be taken to an authorized dealer. The dealer was contacted and informed her of an unknown recall however, the recall had expired. The contact stated that she then contacted the manufacturer who referred her to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was 103,967.

NHTSA complaint #11455752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE REGISTERING WHICH GEAR IT IS IN. THE GEARS SHIFT HARD, AND WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE VIGOROUSLY JERKS BACK AND FORTH. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, IT SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND WHEN IT FINALLY DID, IT JUST TAKES OFF WITH NO WARNING. WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE ON PARK, AT TIMES IT WOULD STILL ROLL.. THERE IS ALSO THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSORS THAT ARE BOTH ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE STEERING STIFFENING IN THE VEHICLE IS AN ISSUE ONLY SOMETIMES. HOWEVER, IT STILL WORRIES ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD WITH MY TODDLER IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I DID RESEARCH RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN EACH AREA I'M HAVING TROUBLE IN. HOWEVER, WHEN I SPOKE WITH A CHEVROLET ASSOCIATE, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I WON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE AND I'M AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT TAKING PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #11372618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. DASHBOARD WILL SAY "TRACTION OFF, ESC OFF" AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN BUSY INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IN ORDER TO GAIN POWER STEERING AGAIN. MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED IT AS TORQUE SENSOR/STEERING COLUMN. THIS WAS RECALLED ON MANY OTHER MALIBUS, BUT NOT MINE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM BUT WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE SEVEN YEARS AGO AT 80,000 MILES (ABOUT ONCE PER YEAR) AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE RECENTLY AT 170,000 MILES (MULTIPLE TIMES PER MONTH). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND VERY EXPENSIVE.*DT

NHTSA complaint #11366516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN GOING OVER ANY BUMP OR TURNING THE FRONT END SHAKES AND MAKES A CLACKING NOISE. ESC IS OFF. TRACTION CONTROL IS ALWAYS OFF. ERROR CODES READ P0010 P0449 P0013 P0722 P0011

NHTSA complaint #11366176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND SENSOR LIGHT SERVICE ESC/POWER STEERING STARTED FLASHING. THE STEERING FELT NO DIFFERENT PRIOR TO LOSING, NO NOISES. DROVE IT THIS WAY UNTIL I REACHED MY DESTINATION ABOUT 4 MILES AWAY. CAR SAT FOR 4 HOURS, TURNED IT BACK ON AND HAD REGAINED ALL STEERING AND NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT FOR ABOUT THE PAST 4 YEARS, DURING THE COLDER MONTHS, THE SERVICE ESC/SERVICE TRACTION NOTIFICATION WILL RANDOMLY POP ON FOR NO OTHER REASON THEN THE COLD AND I LOSE TIRE TRACTION. PRETTY POSITIVE THIS IS WHAT CAUSED ME TO SLIDE OFF THE ROAD 2 YEARS AGO. WHENEVER I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS, THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BECAUSE THE LIGHT POPS OFF AS QUICK AS IT COMES ON. I HAVE ALSO SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT AND LOOKED UP A RECALL FOR THIS, AND WHEN MY VIN IS ENTERED IT SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT NEEDED. I FOUND THE RECALL FROM 2014 FOR THE POWER STEERING ISSUE, SO EITHER THE PRIOR OWNER HAD IT FIXED AND IT DIDN'T LAST, OR IT WAS NEVER DONE TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG HERE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR ISSUE AND THE FIRST TIME I HAVE LOST MY STEERING. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 7 YEARS, STAYING ON TOP OF ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND THEN SOME. GM NEEDS TO GET A FIX FOR THIS!!!

NHTSA complaint #11364504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

OUR 2009 MALIBU JUST TURNED 67,000 MILES TODAY AND THE ECM STARTED FLASHING SERVICE STEERING AND NO TRACTION CONTROL ON A TWO-HOUR DRIVE HOME. AFTER LIMPING HOME BY PHYSICALLY MAN-HANDLING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A TURN, WE MADE IT HOME. SEARCHED ON-LINE FOR POSSIBLE ISSUES AND FOUND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER 2009 MALIBU OWNERS FACING THE SAME IDENTICAL ISSUE. CHECKED THE GM WEBSITE FOR ANY POSSIBLE RECALLS AND NONE WERE FOUND. THE SAME WAS TRUE WHEN CONTACTING A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT, WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN IF NOT FIXED. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11364175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

POWER STEERING FAILS OFTEN IN COLD WEATHER BUT HAS GROWN TO HAPPEN IN WARMER WEATHER AS WELL. GETTING WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 3 YEARS. HAPPENS BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL BUT NOT ALWAYS. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH OLDER MODEL MALIBUS AND OTHER GM VEHICLES BUT NOT THIS MODEL EVEN THOUGH OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11360239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN I BOUGHT IT WORKED GOOD FOR BOUT 2 DAYS AND I STARTED NOTICING A LIGHT WOULD BE BLINKING LIKE THE ENGINE LIGHT AND A LIGHT WITH LIKE A EXCLAMATION MARK IN SIDE OF LIKE A BOWL AND THE SPEED WOULD REDUCE AND THEN IT WOULD JUST QUIT EVEN WHILE YOUR IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT ,GOING UP A HILL IT WOULD DO IT JUST WHEN IT GOT READY

NHTSA complaint #11355033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND STOPS MY WHOLE CAR AND DRIVE EXTREMELY SLOW AND MY WHOLE JUST MESSED UP AND I NEED IT FIXED ASAP I CAN'T EVEN GET TO WORK WITHOUT MY CAR MESSING UP

NHTSA complaint #11353290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1) RE-OCCURRING RECALL FAULT 13036 -BRAKE LIGHTS ON - ESC - TRACTION CONTROL - ETC, THESE WERE REPAIRED BUT YOU CANT REPAIR A DEFECT 2) POWER STEERING TURNS OFF AND ON - MENTIONED TO DEALER END LAST YEAR 2019 - MENTIONED DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL 14116 - SPOKE WITH GM REP TODAY 8/21/20 (JOHN) AT NBR 800-222-1020 HE STATED THIS RECALL EXPIRED DEC LAST YEAR ANY REPAIRS GOING FORWARD COST ON ME WHICH ISNT RIGHT. THESE REPAIRS - RECALLS - SHOULD BE HANDLED NO MATTER MILEAGE/AGE. UPON ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN ALL POWER TO STEERING WHEEL WAS LOST BUT REGAINED SLOWLY - MY THOUGHT WAS LOW POWER FLUID. I PARKED THE NIGHT AND IN MORNING SEARCHED VEHICLE FOR POWER STEERING RESERVOIR TO NO AVAIL DID I FIND IT - DEALER ADVISED IT WAS ELECTRONIC - STILL AT THAT DATE I RECEIVED NO RECALL TO POWER STEERING TRBL - THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT GM EXPENSE

NHTSA complaint #11350490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHENEVER IT'S EXTREMELY HOT OUTSIDE MY VEHICLE START TO ACT UP AS IN THE 2 FRONT WHEELS WOULD JERK LIKE THEY'RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH POWER. MY CAR WOULD ALSO STALL OUT WHENEVER IT'S EXTREMELY HOT BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD STILL SHOW AS THE CAR BEING 1/4 NEAR COLD. ALL OF THIS WOULD HAVE AT A STATIONARY POSITION OR CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #11342917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

CAR WAS DRIVING FINE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. ESC LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION LIGHT. BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. ESPECIALLY WHILE GOING SLOWER.

NHTSA complaint #11337362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WAS DRIVING DOWN BUSY STREET AND THEN A SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON MY CAR AND STARTED LOOSING POWER TO CAR AND THE DASH BOARD KEPT FLASHING SERVICE ESC AND POWER STEERING LIGHT. IT KEPT DOING THE SAME THING LIKE EVERY MINUTE. EVEN IT FINALLY STARTS RUNNING OUT STARTS JERKING BUT THEN IT LOOSES POWER AGAIN BUT GOES NECK ON.

NHTSA complaint #11331520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

SINCE 2018 MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL COME ON WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, MY CRUISE CONTROL WON'T WORK. I CAN TAP THE BRAKES AND THEY'LL GO OFF FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON. AFTER AWHILE, THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WILL POP UP ON MY DASHBOARD. I'VE HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED/RESET 5-6 TIMES SINCE AUGUST OF 2018, WITH THE MOST RECENT JUNE 2020. IT WORKED FINE THAT DAY, BUT THE NEXT DAY THEY ALL CAME BACK ON. TODAY, IT WAS FINE, BUT LATER WILL PROBABLY BE ANOTHER STORY.,

NHTSA complaint #11330317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE ESC LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING GETS KINDA STIFF LIKE IT'S GOING TO LOCK UP AND THEN IT FLASHES ENGINE POWER REDUCED AS I WAS AT A STOP SIGN I PRESSED ON THE GAS TO GO AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AS NORMAL THEN AS I WAS TURNING ONTO THE OTHER STREET TO ENTER THE FREEWAY ON-RAMP THE ESC LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THE STEERING BEGAN FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO LOCK UP AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED STARTED FLASHING.

NHTSA complaint #11328357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

RECENTLY BOUGHT A MALIBU 2009 ,4 CYLINDER. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKY AS I DROVE THE CAR. AFTER A 4 DAYS OF PURCHASE I WENT ON THE FREEWAY AND THE SERVICE ESC / POWER STEERING CAME ON THE DASH BOARD . I EXITED THE FREEWAY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL . I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE CAR WAS AGAIN DRIVABLE BUT AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AGAIN AND I COULD NOT MANAGE TO STEER THE WHEEL TO MAKE LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS.

NHTSA complaint #11323759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

POWER STEERING SERVICE ECS LIGHT LOSS OF POWER SHUT THE STEERING ON MID ROAD VERY DANGEROUS IT'S A SHAME WE DON'T HAVE A RECALL YET AND I READ OVER 100 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS MOST ON THE 2009 CHEVY MALIBU

NHTSA complaint #11319009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED, STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING, AND ESC POPS UP ON INFO SYSTEM, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. WHEN I TURN VEHICLE OFF AND ON AGAIN STEERING WORKS AGAIN, FOR INDETERMINATE AMOUNT OF TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11317468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ESC DISPLAYS ACROSS DRIVER INFO CENTER WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, FOLLOWED BY NO POWER STEERING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN WET/COLD WEATHER. BASED ON FORUMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND REQUIRES A STEERING WHEEL SENSOR

NHTSA complaint #11315847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND I ALMOST ENDED UP IN A FIELD, COULD NOT TURN IT. STOPPED AND TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL, AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED CAR UP AND IT HAD ITS WARNINGS ACROSS MY DASH AND THE STEERING WAS OUT AGAIN. I JUST PICKED IT UP FROM THE SHOP AND IT COST ME $1562.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED. THE STEERING ASSIST MOTOR, A NEW STEERING COLUMN(ELECTRIC) AND R&R STEERING COLUMN W/SGL SWITCH AND NEW TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. IT'S ALL CONNECTED. I HAVE YET TO FIND A RECALL FOR MY CAR ON MY VIN NUMBER BUT YET THERE WERE A FEW RECALLS ON MANY CARS INCLUDING MY 2009 MALIBU FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT YET I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING IN THE MAIL ABOUT IT. I HOPE THAT THEY INTEND ON DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHILE TRYING TO TAKE A CURVE AND HAD TO STRUGGLE JUST TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD IN THE OTHER PERSONS LANE UNTIL I COULD GET PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. FROM READING ALL THAT I HAVE READ ON HERE IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11311457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE YESTERDAY AND STARTED FEELING SMALL JERKS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. LIKE SOMETHING ON THE OTHER SIDE JERKING IT IN MY HAND. NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE CAR JUST IN MY HAND. NOW TODAY GO OUTSIDE, CRANK IT AND STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE. THE ESC AND POWER STEERING INDICATORS CAME ON.

NHTSA complaint #11310892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

POST RECALL REPAIR FOR BREAKLIGHTS, BREAK LIGHTS STAY ILLUMINATED WHEN NOT PRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL. 3RD BREAK LIGHT DOESN'T ALWAYS TURN ON. RANDOM EPISODES OF CAR SPUTTERING AND THEN DASH WARNINGS INCLUDING: SERVICE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION, SERVICE HILL START. HEAD LAMPS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT EVERY 3 TO 6MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #11310902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

VEHICLE HAS HAD POWER STEERING ASSIST QUIT TWICE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE IN A TURN ON COUNTY ROADS. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING MID TURN. MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #11310270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY VEHICLE HAS LOST STEERING AFTER STARTING SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST WEEK. MY INFO SCREEN DISPLAYS AN ESC AND POWER STEERING MESSAGE AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED IN PLACE. ONCE THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE MESSAGES GO AWAY AND STEERING IS BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE FOUND A RECALL RELATED TO THIS ON CERTAIN VEHICLES OF MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL AND ALSO MANY FORUMS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. HOWEVER, WHEN SEARCHING BY VIN IT SAYS MY VEHICLE HAS 0 RECALLS. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED WHEN MY VEHICLE IS STOPPED, OR IN PARK MY STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE FOR A MOMENT AND THEN STOP.

NHTSA complaint #11309281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND SERVICE ESC MESSAGE COMES ACROSS THE MESSAGE CENTER. TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHT GOES OUT, POWER STEERING COMES BACK FOR A SECOND THEN THE LIGHT TRIPS AGAIN AND IT'S OUT AGAIN. I HAVE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND ALSO WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IF I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN AND I LOOSING POWER STEERING, I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND HOPE THAT POWER STEERING TURNS BACK ON.

NHTSA complaint #11308628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.