Jerky Cruise Control?

[MerlintheMad]

Isn't there another thread on this? I commented, even quoted the passage from the manual (which I cannot now find, grrr), which clearly warns that we might feel a pulsating during operation, which is "normal operation". Some people are more sensitive to this kind of thing. Without riding in the actual car, I am going to assume a greater than "normal" "normal operation" of the cruise control system(s). If the cruise is working efficiently and consistently, and you don't like how it feels, that is a problem. But is it Kia's problem?

 

[Kazz]

Isn't there another thread on this? I commented, even quoted the passage from the manual (which I cannot now find, grrr), which clearly warns that we might feel a pulsating during operation, which is "normal operation". Some people are more sensitive to this kind of thing. Without riding in the actual car, I am going to assume a greater than "normal" "normal operation" of the cruise control system(s). If the cruise is working efficiently and consistently, and you don't like how it feels, that is a problem. But is it Kia's problem?

If Kia made it and their customers are unhappy with it, of course it's a problem of Kia's making.

 

[MerlintheMad]

If Kia made it and their customers are unhappy with it, of course it's a problem of Kia's making.

Not if they made it to function a certain way and they describe it as a heads up. If the result is displeasing to a significant number of their customer base, then this problem of their own making will affect their sales and reputation. If a very small number of customers dislike this or that feature, Kia can't please everybody all of the time.

 

[Mike_TX]

Not if they made it to function a certain way and they describe it as a heads up. If the result is displeasing to a significant number of their customer base, then this problem of their own making will affect their sales and reputation. If a very small number of customers dislike this or that feature, Kia can't please everybody all of the time.

With all due respect, if Kia "made it this way" they should get their head thumped by my grandmother. And she thumps hard. Most every other carmaker (and Kia, in its other models) manufactures cars with smooth-operating cruise control, so it isn't rocket science.

I don't have a Stinger, but if it's like the Infiniti I had with the problem, it's loathsome enough to make you want to hurt someone. It's like the car phases in and out of cruise, bumping and jerking each time, enough to make the heads of the occupants wobble like bobbleheads. It feels like there is some kind of slack in the drivetrain that gets taken up, then let out over and over again. As I mentioned before, it was enough to make me trade that car after only about 6 months of ownership.

It saddens me to hear the Stinger may have the same problem, because I will not endure that again.

 

[MerlintheMad]

It saddens me to hear the Stinger may have the same problem, because I will not endure that again.

I didn't get any of that imagery from others' descriptions. Your experience sounds positively loathsome. The "pulsating" described in the owner's manual does not remotely assert any such behavior, but rather something subtle that might be noticed by some drivers/passengers.

 

[Kazz]

Not if they made it to function a certain way and they describe it as a heads up. If the result is displeasing to a significant number of their customer base, then this problem of their own making will affect their sales and reputation. If a very small number of customers dislike this or that feature, Kia can't please everybody all of the time.

If you've not experienced it, how can you say it's not "a problem", let alone Kia's?

 

[Grewzuff]

Just throwing my name in the list that has experienced this jerky cruise control. Sometimes it is very pronounced and if I had my wife in the car she would be car sick. Sometimes I do not even notice it or feel it.

Edit:. GT1 w/o adaptive cruise

 

[MerlintheMad]

If you've not experienced it, how can you say it's not "a problem", let alone Kia's?

I'm trying to make sense out of the different descriptions. Some sound not too bad. The last one by @Mike_TX sounds totally different than the ones before; much more extreme. The manual does say there can be a "pulsating". What is pulsating to one will be "jerky" to another.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm trying to rectify this:

Maybe what you are hearing/feeling is this: "When the Electronic Stability Control is operating properly, you can feel a slight pulsation in the vehicle. This is only the effect of brake control and indicates nothing unusual." (manual page 5|57) Or: "VSM Operation, When the VSM is in operation, ESC indicator light blinks. When the vehicle stability management is operating properly, you can feel a slight pulsation in the vehicle and/or abnormal steering responses (EPS- Electronic Power Steering). This is only the effect of brake and EPS control and indicates nothing unusual." (ibid page 5|60) (posted to the Road/Tire noise thread)

... with what is being described, in view of differing sensitivities to vibration/noise/"jerkiness". Is the traction/stability control, in conjunction with cruise control, producing an exaggerated "pulsation" to the point of more than a little bit annoying? Has anyone tried disengaging their Stability Control (ESC or VSM) to see if the "jerky" ride diminishes or goes away?

But as extreme as @Mike_TX's description is, some of these are genuine fubar conditions. Some or most of them are not, I'm thinking.

 

[Ucinn]

I will try that tomorrow as long as traffic isn't too bad.

 

[ScottE]

I wonder how many people are talking about when the adaptive cruise applies the brakes to maintain speed, versus the slight pulsation that happens even when going uphill? I have felt the pulsation, but after a couple thousand miles driving with the cruise, it doesn't bother me, personally. If you think this is annoying, try the cruise control in my GMC pickup - whenever you go up hill it floors the accelerator, dropping the trans down to 2nd gear, which causes a 5-10 MPH over-speed at 5500 RPM. I'll take the pulsation. ;-)

 

[Mike_TX]

Keep in mind the issues I described were not in a Stinger, but in another brand of car. That car did NOT have adaptive cruise control, so it had nothing to do with braking. It was all about how the power was applied to maintain a set speed. I suspect it also had something to do with the torque converter lockup/unlocking, although the dealer denied that.

It does sound like there is a range of "jerkiness" involved here, as well as a range of sensitivity to it.

 

[BlaydeX15]

I wonder how many people are talking about when the adaptive cruise applies the brakes to maintain speed, versus the slight pulsation that happens even when going uphill? I have felt the pulsation, but after a couple thousand miles driving with the cruise, it doesn't bother me, personally. If you think this is annoying, try the cruise control in my GMC pickup - whenever you go up hill it floors the accelerator, dropping the trans down to 2nd gear, which causes a 5-10 MPH over-speed at 5500 RPM. I'll take the pulsation. ;-)

My wife's Mazda 3 had like a 5 second lag on the cruise, so you would be cresting a hill and the car would basically be redlining it to keep speed, and then when you crested the hill and started going downhill, it would still be going all out for another few seconds. I think I hit 75 with cruise set at 55 once, worst cruise control I've ever seen.

I posted in here earlier about my issues with cruise on the Stinger though. Just passed 2600 miles, and I honestly haven't noticed it in the last few weeks. Either I've gotten used to it, or the car has stopped. For me, it was just surging. It felt like the car was toeing the accelerator to get to speed and then letting go, instead staying at a constant throttle.

The hatch has started rattling though. Fun!

 

[MerlintheMad]

The hatch has started rattling though. Fun!

No! Now I am worried. What are you planning on doing about that one?

 

[Kamauxx]

Keep in mind the issues I described were not in a Stinger, but in another brand of car. That car did NOT have adaptive cruise control, so it had nothing to do with braking. It was all about how the power was applied to maintain a set speed. I suspect it also had something to do with the torque converter lockup/unlocking, although the dealer denied that.

It does sound like there is a range of "jerkiness" involved here, as well as a range of sensitivity to it.

My car is a GT1 w/o adaptive cruise so that isn't the problem.

I had adaptive cruise in my Optima and it didn't surge or buck at all, so it wouldn't be an excuse even if I did have it. This is my third Kia, they know how to build cars with normal operating cruise. There is no excuse for the car to behave the way it does with cruise activated.

 

[MerlintheMad]

My car is a GT1 w/o adaptive cruise so that isn't the problem.

I had adaptive cruise in my Optima and it didn't surge or buck at all, so it wouldn't be an excuse even if I did have it. This is my third Kia, they know how to build cars with normal operating cruise. There is no excuse for the car to behave the way it does with cruise activated.

And stability/traction control deactivated? If you tried this and said so, I missed it. If deactivating stability/traction control made the annoyance subside or disappear, I don't know what the solution should be either. Because using cruise with STC shouldn't be any trouble. But it might help isolate the cause.

 

[Kamauxx]

And stability/traction control deactivated? If you tried this and said so, I missed it. If deactivating stability/traction control made the annoyance subside or disappear, I don't know what the solution should be either. Because using cruise with STC shouldn't be any trouble. But it might help isolate the cause.

There is no reason for traction or stability control to constantly activate/deactivate itself while I'm driving on a straight, flat, dry road. No one should have to deactivate the car's safety features to have a smooth ride.

If traction and stability control are constantly engaging and disengaging itself Kia STILL needs to resolve the problem.

If traction and stability control aren't being activated/deactivated but are causing the car to "pulsate" Kia STILL needs to resolve the problem.

Any way you slice it, it isn't normal and Kia needs to resolve it.

 

[BlaydeX15]

No! Now I am worried. What are you planning on doing about that one?

I'll have the dealer do the hatch recalls, I don't think they pre-emptively did it to my car on the lot.

Assuming I have the same issue. It's not a rattle, its more of a thump, like it's partially open and is shutting itself when I go over a floaty bump at low speeds.

 

[MerlintheMad]

It's not a rattle, its more of a thump, like it's partially open and is shutting itself when I go over a floaty bump at low speeds.

It must be the same thing, just manifesting individually, uniquely. What could be causing these "rattling" hatches? I said it before: this isn't high tech stuff, it is fit and seal stuff, easy to fix. Come on service people, find it and fix it.

 

[MikeysGT]

I've owned my car for a week, and so far, the only complaint I have is the cruise control. Since I spend 75 percent of time behind the wheel driving up and down the highway, the surging is definitely noticeable, however not a deal breaker. I told my service advisor about it and he blamed it on the adaptive cruise, which I do not have. A very confused look then came over his face.. Wondering if anyone has created a ticket with Kia Motors? If enough of us make the complaint maybe they will eventually put out a TSB for it? I also wonder if they browse these boards