2019 Kia stinger GTS losing power on the freeway after reaching a certain speed

[Juan.s.003]

Recently, I encountered an issue with my car. When I am on the highway and start getting to around 75 to 80 mph, the traction control light starts to flash and all the sudden I lose power and the car just starts to slow down. As you can see in the video, I am pressing the gas pedal all the way, but the car is not responding and the revolution start to go down as well. If I let go of the gas pedal altogether and press it again, traction control light turns off and I am able to start accelerating but the same thing will happen again once I start to hit that 75 mph speed. Anyone know why this is happening? This happens in every mode except sport mode. In sport mode, this issue doesn't happen at all and I can go past 80 mph.

I was told there was a fuel pump recall which may or may not be the answer to my issue but when I called the dealer they said there were no active recalls on my vehicle. I am out of warranty as well so I can’t take it to the dealer.
Also, I’m not sure if this has anything to do with the issue but one of my front bumper sensors fell off so I’m in the process of replacing it. The dash says “check system” for the front sensor. Not sure if this correlates with my issue but I just had to put it out there just in case.

Anyone know what else could be causing this issue? I don’t entirely believe it could be because of a bad fuel pump as it drives with no issues on sport which makes it all the more confusing.

 

[Ah GetFd]

Just because it is out of warranty doesn't mean you can't take it to the dealer. This is the exact reason why you should because they can diagnose the problem. You say you have a faulty front sensor. That may have everything to do with it.
Spend the money and get it fixed.

 

[Snowwhite]

what size tires are you running front and rear?

 

[Snicklefritz]

Your issue sounds very similar to this one. https://stingerforum.org/threads/ls...tial-more-traction-control.28607/#post-453737 The "in sport mode only" aspect in particular.

 

[D.J.]

what size tires are you running front and rear?

and, is the vehicle RWD or AWD?

Is the issue intermittent? or 100% repeatable?
Does it occur in sport mode? or only in eco/comfort mode?

 

[Juan.s.003]

and, is the vehicle RWD or AWD?

Is the issue intermittent? or 100% repeatable?
Does it occur in sport mode? or only in eco/comfort mo

I

and, is the vehicle RWD or AWD?

Is the issue intermittent? or 100% repeatable?
Does it occur in sport mode? or only in eco/comfort mode?

I missed a lot of details. Sorry!

225/40×19 front and 255/35×19 rear

RWD.

It starts to happen when I hit a really small bump or hole in the road and will continuously happen after that, even if it’s a flat road. Sometimes it will happen when I’m driving at a flat road as well. It occurs on every mode except sport mode. I can drive with no issues in sport mode.

 

[Snowwhite]

sounds and looks to me like a wheel speed sensor, or perhaps a loose/exposed connection to one. I see your TPMS light is on, is that a result of low tire pressure or perhaps one of those sensors is bad as well. May be related, may not.

 

[D.J.]

I

I missed a lot of details. Sorry!

225/40×19 front and 255/35×19 rear

RWD.

It starts to happen when I hit a really small bump or hole in the road and will continuously happen after that, even if it’s a flat road. Sometimes it will happen when I’m driving at a flat road as well. It occurs on every mode except sport mode. I can drive with no issues in sport mode.

Being that is behaves correctly in sport mode, that should rule out the wheel speed sensors being faulty.

Seems like you are describing that a traction/stability control event happens, but it never self recovers, instead, you have to lift off the throttle for it to get back to normal.

I don't know what could cause that

 

[D.J.]

sounds and looks to me like a wheel speed sensor, or perhaps a loose/exposed connection to one. I see your TPMS light is on, is that a result of low tire pressure or perhaps one of those sensors is bad as well. May be related, may not.

The wheel speed sensor/connection - would also apply to sport mode!

 

[Juan.s.003]

Thank you! I knew it had to be something relating to the wheel sensors. I have had time to take the wheels out and look for any broken or missing plugs but I now know what to look for exactly. Thank you!

 

[Thomby]

The wheel speed sensor/connection - would also apply to sport mode!

True, but the TC would have a different threshold for intervening, so maybe it's a marginal issue that's just enough to trigger TC in certain scenarios (speed/accel/drive mode) but not others. Making it a real pain to diagnose of course.

 

[Snowwhite]

The wheel speed sensor/connection - would also apply to sport mode!

yes, but sport does allow more difference in wheel speeds, not sure how much though.

 

[D.J.]

True, but the TC would have a different threshold for intervening, so maybe it's a marginal issue that's just enough to trigger TC in certain scenarios (speed/accel/drive mode) but not others. Making it a real pain to diagnose of course.

yes, but sport does allow more difference in wheel speeds, not sure how much though.

True enough.

Worth a check/inspection I suppose.

 

[7Andrei7]

Wow, this really sounds exactly like what I'm facing right now.
The behaviour is very similar to yours. The car triggers TC in a straight line, only in comfort/eco/smart but NOT in sport. Once TC is triggered the car stops accelerating unless I lift off the gas and then reapply pressure.

In my case, the start of these problems coincided with me replacing the rear diff, meaning most of the rear suspension was taken apart and reattached. Including wheel speed sensors.
I took it to the dealer and they said there are no errors and blamed the new diff (which is an LSD).

Let me ask you this:
1. What is with that TPMS error in your dash?
2. Do you have an LSD or an open diff?
3. Did you do any changes prior to this problem appearing? Or was it out of the blue?

 

[GT Elite]

Wow, this really sounds exactly like what I'm facing right now.
The behaviour is very similar to yours. The car triggers TC in a straight line, only in comfort/eco/smart but NOT in sport. Once TC is triggered the car stops accelerating unless I lift off the gas and then reapply pressure.

In my case, the start of these problems coincided with me replacing the rear diff, meaning most of the rear suspension was taken apart and reattached. Including wheel speed sensors.
I took it to the dealer and they said there are no errors and blamed the new diff (which is an LSD).

Let me ask you this:
1. What is with that TPMS error in your dash?
2. Do you have an LSD or an open diff?
3. Did you do any changes prior to this problem appearing? Or was it out of the blue?

If the TPMS light is on, that could cause the car to be speed limited to about 80 mph. This was the case with a 2005 Corvette that I had.

Another issue I had was a “lazy” MAF (it did not respond fast enough to changing air velocity through it. When accelerating to get up to highway speed with “some” wheel spin and the TC was starting to intervene, the car would go into limp mode and stop accelerating. Not fun when accelerating to get in front of a semi barreling down on me!

 

[D.J.]

@Juan.s.003 & 7Andrei7

Can either of you access and view the live data for your wheel speed sensors?
This video (different car) shows generally how to access the sensors with a scan tool.
See if one is lazy or delayed vs the others.

first random video showing live data on wheel speed sensors

 

[GT Elite]

Thank you! I knew it had to be something relating to the wheel sensors. I have had time to take the wheels out and look for any broken or missing plugs but I now know what to look for exactly. Thank you!

Have you checked the terminals inside the connector housings to se if any are bent or slightly dislodged?

 

[D.J.]

If the TPMS light is on, that could cause the car to be speed limited to about 80 mph. This was the case with a 2005 Corvette that I had.

Stingers do not do this. We can happily drive at any speed with TPMS errors or low pressures.

 

[7Andrei7]

@Juan.s.003 & 7Andrei7

Can either of you access and view the live data for your wheel speed sensors?

I am planning to do this on Thursday. Hoping that my OBD reader can display live ABS sensor data at higher speeds. Will see!

 

[7Andrei7]

Another issue I had was a “lazy” MAF (it did not respond fast enough to changing air velocity through it. When accelerating to get up to highway speed with “some” wheel spin and the TC was starting to intervene, the car would go into limp mode and stop accelerating. Not fun when accelerating to get in front of a semi barreling down on me!

Did the MAF malfunction prompt any error codes?
They did a full scan of my car and found nothing wrong.