NHTSA Closes Jeep Compass Probe

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration won't recall 229,000 Jeep Compass sports-utility vehicles from the 2019 and 2020 model years over a concern with sudden engine shutdowns.

NHTSA launched an investigation in December 2022 after 15 motorists complained about coolant temperature warnings and sudden engine shutdowns.

After the complaints, manufacturer Stellantis told NHTSA that the problem didn't pose an unreasonable safety risk. Before the engine shut down, the driver would receive an alert about the overheating condition. After the vehicle shut down, drivers were alerted to place the vehicle in park, and once parked, the vehicle could be restarted and driven immediately with no problems, the automaker reported.

The NHTSA probe revealed a low failure rate and found that most times, the SUVs could be parked and restarted immediately after an engine shutdown. The agency discovered just one crash allegation and no injuries.

Based on the analysis, the NHTSA closed its investigation.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today