US safety regulators are investigating complaints that the engines of some small SUVs can shut down while driving.
The investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers about 229,000 Jeep Compass SUVs produced in 2019 and 2020.
Documents released by the agency on Tuesday said there were 15 complaints in which drivers received messages on the dashboard that the coolant temperature was too high, followed by an immediate engine shutdown.
In most cases, the messages self-corrected or were temporarily fixed when the Jeeps were stopped and restarted, the agency said. One complaint said the compass wouldn’t restart and had to be pulled.
Stellantis, the maker of Jeeps, said owners who see the warning light on their dashboard should contact their dealers. The company says it is cooperating with the investigation.
The agency will determine how often the problem occurs and the safety implications. This may require memorization.
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