Gas pedal unresponsive, then suddenly jerks the car forward

I have a very serious problem with the car that I consider a major safety issue. It has a CVT transmission and only 13,000 miles on it. When I'm driving and stop the car at the traffic light for instance, when it's time to accelerate, the gas pedal becomes unresponsive. I would press it, floor it but it just quits working. But, then, it would suddenly start working and the car would have such a violent jerk forward as if the RPM is over 3500. I went to the dealership and there are no error codes. The dealer doesn't know why this happens. The issue is intermittent.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. The new electronic throttle systems are very sensitive to a driver using two feet to drive and if you are still touching the brakes and trying to accelerate it will not let you. This programming is due to all the problems in the past where some vehicles had problems with accelerating on their own and it could not be stopped. Now if the brakes are on the vehicle cannot be accelerated. If you are not touching the brakes, then your dealer will need to verify the problem to find a solution. Since your car is likely still under warranty, they may have these repairs covered.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

An indication that a vehicle is not receiving the right mixture of air and fuel is if the vehicle jerks or surges forward at high speed.
An engine that is hesitating to accelerate is most likely dealing with a fuel/air mixture that is too lean. Engine`s that are running inefficiently will begin to show signs like hesitation which will only become worse over time.
When a cars rpm goes up and the car is not picking up speed, this usually means that there is a problem inside the transmission. The valve body, shift solenoids, and or clutches of the transmission probably had gone bad or are worn out to the point they are causing a transmission shifting issue.
Usually when the car will `jerk` when you press the accelerator and lift from the accelerator, it`s likely due to clogged fuel injectors, damage to the throttle body or other fuel system components. It could also be due to worn out motor mounts or perhaps a small exhaust leak.
A Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) provides simple, efficient power delivery creating better fuel economy than traditional transmissions. With CVT, shifting is seamless – the vehicle performs as though it has a variable gear for every driving situation, and you won`t feel any shift shock.
The problem: The continuously variable automatic transmission may shake, shudder, bump or vibrate during normal operation in certain Nissan vehicles, including select Altimas and Rogues. This is due to either a faulty valve body inside the transmission or the CVT needing to be replaced.
Loss of acceleration: Multiple Rogue years struggled with transmission problems, which got Nissan into a class-action lawsuit. The problematic transmission system is the likely culprit for the Rogue`s most reported issue: acceleration loss.
There are a few reasons why your car might hesitate when you press the gas pedal. It could be due to a problem with the mass air flow sensor, the oxygen sensor, the TPS, or the fuel filter. It could also be due to a clogged or dirty air filter.
If the RPMs are too high, try dropping it down a gear. This can solve the problem quickly and easily. Depending on what equipment the engine is hooked up to, you may be able to control the RPMs with gears. If the RPMs are too high, try dropping it down a gear.
If your engine revs up as you press down on the gas but your vehicle doesn`t accelerate as much as you`d expect, you may be dealing with transmission slipping. If you`ve ever tried to accelerate on ice, where your engine revs but your vehicle goes nowhere, you know the feeling.
In addition to vibrations, a damaged mount also causes heavy jerks and jolts when you change gears, as the transmission too is attached to the engine unit. This jerk can be noticed at higher speeds, or simply when you change gears.
Depending on the vehicle and the driver, a CVT can provide a smoother driving experience when comparing it to a traditional automatic. According to Carfax, one of the most significant advantages to having a CVT is that they are often more fuel-efficient than a regular automatic.
Pros of Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT)

Unlike typical automatics, the CVT can change the gear ratio forever to maintain the engine running at peak efficiency. On the whole, the more gears offered in a typical automatic transmission, the better engine power is optimized.

The CVT unit will not last nearly if the typical automatic transmission. In fact, most of these units last around 150 000 kilometres or less. Even more important to note is the fact that when they fail, 9 times out of 10 they must be replaced.
Clogged Fuel Injectors

A clogged fuel injector can prevent the fuel your car needs to accelerate, thus causing you car to jerk in the process. If you hear your car engine stuttering, then the injectors may not be providing an adequate amount of fuel. To fix this, you should clean the injectors on a regular basis.

If your car hesitates when accelerating at low speed, you likely have a lean air-to-fuel mixture—meaning the gas getting to your engine doesn`t have the correct mix of fuel and air.
Rough starts, hesitation and poor acceleration are all common symptoms of a bad spark plug. If a spark plug or multiple spark plugs are faulty, they will have trouble creating the spark that causes the ignition process in your vehicle.
Power train and engine issues are a big concern for 2015 Nissan Rogue drivers, with one recall and over 100 complaints total, mostly having to do with the car accidentally shifting out of Park, and potential transmission failure.
Yes. While the damage may seem small initially, the longer you drive with a bad oxygen sensor, the worse the damage will become. Eventually, you may experience rough idling, poor acceleration, engine misfires, an illuminated check engine light, and failed emission tests.
Bad gas can directly affect your ability to accelerate on the road. If any portion of your gas is not as quality as the rest, you may notice varying degrees of power, seemingly randomly, within even one tank of gas. It is important to test the acceleration power of a car when test driving any new or used vehicle.
4000 rpm is no problem, high rpm can wear down on the head where the camshaft rotates but that`s no really a problem until you get near 7000 rpm.
Typically, engines idle at about 600-800 rpm. Older engines may go up to 1200 rpm or more while warming up. But if the engine is revving up while idling, even after it`s sufficiently warmed up, you might have a problem. High idle speeds waste fuel, cause extra wear and tear on your engine, and can be unsafe as well.
At times, you may find your car`s RPMs high. RPM stands for Revolutions Per Minute. When this happens, your engine may start shaking and produce loud sounds. Unfortunately, these sounds also indicate a missing in your engine and can result in engine failure if you continue to drive your car with such a missing.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Gas pedal unresponsive, then suddenly jerks the car forward – 2015 Nissan Rogue
ANSWER : Hello. The new electronic throttle systems are very sensitive to a driver using two feet to drive and if you are still touching the brakes and trying to accelerate it will not let you. This programming is due to all the problems in the past where some vehicles had problems with accelerating on their own and it could not be stopped. Now if the brakes are on the vehicle cannot be accelerated. If you are not touching the brakes, then your dealer will need to verify the problem to find a solution. Since your car is likely still under warranty, they may have these repairs covered.

Car revs high and jerks when first starting to drive car, while driving.
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have low transmission fluid or a faulty transmission control solenoid. As you know, automatic transmissions use pressurized hydraulic fluid to change gears. Every time a gear change is required, the car’s computer activates a transmission solenoid, which directs transmission fluid into the valve body to engage the correct gear. When this is faulty or not working properly, this can cause a delay in gear shifting or in some cases cause the car to not shift at all. This type of problem is amplified any time the transmission is low on fluid creating a drop in hydraulic pressure. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.

Car almost stalled, steering wheel locked up, all lights on dashboard came on, pushed gas pedal and nothing happened.
ANSWER : Hi there. When the engine is stalling and sputtering, this is an indication that the fuel system has lost pressure. Check the fuel pump relay and see if it is hot and if its clicking on when the key is turned on. If the relay is hot when the engine stalls or sputters, then there is an issue with the wiring to and from the fuel pump or the fuel pump maybe weak. For the steering column to lock up, the locking solenoid in the steering column losing power when the engine stalls. This could be an issue with the ignition switch as the solenoid is energized with the key turning in the ’ON’ position. The shaking could be either the brake rotors are worn causing the shaking when the brakes are applied or if the brakes are not applied, then the CV Shafts could have a joint that is felt when loaded when coasting. I suggest checking out the rotors, CV Shafts, the fuel pump relay, and the ignition switch. If you need further assistance with your engine stalling, shaking, and sputtering, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

When I crank my car it won’t keep running unless I keep my foot on the gas. As soon as I release the gas pedal my car stops running
ANSWER : The first thing you need to check for in a case like yours is air leaks. Check all the rubber parts and hoses under the hood for good condition and connection. The amount of fuel delivered to your engine is determined by the air that flows in and any air that gets in through a leak without being measured means less fuel being injected. There are of course a number of other possible causes; a failed Mass Air Flow Sensor for example, but they will require special skills and equipment to be examined. You can have this conveniently checked out by contacting Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office to check out your car and let you know exactly what it will take to solve your problem.

The engine of the car runs, but when I push the gas pedal it does not accelerate, and the engine does not rev.
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds like you may have an issue with your throttle position sensor. This sensor sends a reference voltage to your power-train control module, which uses that to determine ignition timing and fuel trims. If the power-train control module is not detecting the proper signal from the throttle position sensor, the engine may not accelerate properly. It’s probably a good idea for you to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a car is slow to accelerate inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is causing this issue to occur and they will recommend the right repairs be completed.

I changed the throttle body on my Murano and ever since gas pedal is unresponsive? I did all 3 relearn procedures. What is wrong? 2004 Nissan Murano
ANSWER : Hello – there are a couple of possibilities for the "failure to relearn" of the new throttle position sensor". If engine management recognizes an invalid parameter during the relearn process (low system voltage, AC compressor kicking on, etc.), it cancels the learning process and goes back to defaults. It is also possible that a wiring connection to the new TPS does not have a good connection. If checking for these issues, and going through the relearn again does not resolve this issue, I recommend a throttle control service performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, complete this repair, and get you back on the road again.

when starting the car once you press the gas pedal it does not respond right away .Also happened on the highway
ANSWER : Hello. I usually start by checking the computer for codes. I also use the scan tool to see what the sensor are reading. Most of the time this is caused by an airflow sensor that is not reading right or a failing throttle body. It can also occur if the vehicle needs a tune up or if the timing belt is worn out and stretched. All of these need to be checked. If you need to have this checked, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your acceleration issue firsthand.

Car is jerking forward when trying to come to a stop. Jerking started today after filling gas. Service engine soon light is on
ANSWER : Hi There,
The check engine light is likely related to your gas cap not locking. This may also cause the jerking reaction as this is connected to the EVAP system in your car. Your car has a small purge valve with a purge solenoid in the Evaporative Emissions system that controls the venting of fumes from the fuel tank as these fumes build up inside, particularly when you are refueling the car with gas. The EVAP system prevents fuel vapors from the fuel tank from escaping into the atmosphere. I would recommend having an expert from Your Mechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.