Feds probe engine stalling at speed in Jeep Patriot

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into complaints of Jeep Patriot engine stalling at highway speeds.

NHTSA has 12 complaints of alleged incidents of stalling involving 2011 and 2012 models of the small crossover, according to documents posted on its website. It says about 10 of the incidents occurred at speeds of 65 mph or more.

And one complaint alleges that the stalling resulted in a crash and injury.

NHTSA says that all 12 complaints say the Patriot then could not be immediately restarted and eight of them report it could not be restarted at all or was towed to a dealer. And it says the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with all but three coming in the past six months.

A NHTSA "preliminary evaluation" assesses the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences and may or may not lead to a more intensive "engineering analysis" and a potential recall.