So yesterday i'm on the highway going about 70, as i gas it a little to speed up the car downshifts, then all hell brakes loose...she starts stuttering and jerking losing power. I give it more gas and nothing happens just alot more stuttering and jerking!!! I was able to get to the shoulder and shut the car off for a quick second. I start the car again and try to accelerate but only manage to get to about 35. I finally get the car to the pad and decide to take it back to the dealer. but on the way there the car starts running just fine. Has anyone ran into this problem??? I drove the car around all day today and absolutely nothing was wrong. I have been downshifting using the paddles while still in "D". From my understanding this shouldn't be a problem but I do remember the dealer mentioning that I shouldn't do this too much. Should it make a difference? Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

My first thought is bad gas, maybe water in the tanks at the gas station. I've had similar experiences in other cars, and it came back to a single gas station that had gotten water in their tanks. I avoided that station after that, and didn't have any issues after running through that tank of gas.

If it's something transmission related, I'd think the dealer's service dept could pull any trouble codes from the onboard computer.

I don't have the automatic, but I don't think that using the paddles to shift would cause a problem. I'm thinking the manual has some info on their proper use though.

 

You should bring it to the dealer and see if the on board computer registered any code like Stuart said.

 

I always play with the paddle shifters while in D - usually more to shift down, get a nice engine sound and slow down quicker

Is this bad? or will it cause issues?

 

I will be taking it to the dealer to get it checked out within the next couple of days...didn't think about the water in the tank. How did you figure out it was water?

 

it probably went into "limp" mode... or as some call it, safe mode....

Did you get a CEL?