Possible for clutch to be slipping at with less 15K miles?

[bavarian06]

Last week, my car was towed into service since the engine idler broke and the engine wouldn't crank. Ever since I got it back, I have been more alert about my car.

Couple of things, do our engines vibrate and "knock" when it first starts up and its idling? I notice every 2-3 seconds the engine would shake violently, as if the engine is knocking (like a premature explosion or retarding a cylinder). This dies down after 30seconds of idling.

Second thing, I noticed my car stutters when I mash the pedal at 80%. This happens when the car is already moving (can be at 40 or at 80mph) and the rpm is at a mere 3000rpm. At first I thought it was my rear tires slipping but I just got new tires put on the other day and its still doing the same thing. The traction control light doesn't come on and my M button isn't turned on (Default is comfort setting on everything). When I hard accelerate I can feel the transmission stuttering, then 1 second later the stuttering ceases. I do not do peels out or launch my car and I am not new to driving stick (I put over 120K on my old nissan with the original manual tranny before I sold it). I generally baby my car.

Can anyone relate or help explain why my car is doing this? I can easily replicate these events and I'm thinking I should send my car back to the dealer to have a tech experience this for himself. Thanks in advance.

[bavarian06]

Update for those that are interested:

I took the car into the dealer and it turns out ignition coil on cylinder 1 went bad. That was replaced along with a new throttle actuator.

The car idles a lot smoother and I get instant power, no stutter, when do I rapid accelerations.

[jchan27]

did the car throw any fault codes or did it just feel sluggish.

[bavarian06]

Originally Posted by jchan27

did the car throw any fault codes or did it just feel sluggish.

That's the scary part. No error codes.

I'm glad I took it it. Tech was saying had this gone unattended, the pistons wouldve damaged my cylinder walls.

The difference is stark. I can drive the car so much smoother now. There's no initial jerkiness from stop to go. Car idles so smooth at lights now.