periodically, like once a day, when I take off from a stop light, the car will n

Hello, Look at the rear of the vehicle, put it in reverse, and see if you get reverse lights. The neutral safety switch may be faulty, or the range sensor, depending on which the vehicle uses for reverse. If the reverse lights come on, you may be dealing with internal damage, but the range sensor should be inspected first. If the vehicle has a readout on the gauge cluster to show what gear you are in, make sure it reflects "D" when in drive. Testing the range sensor may not be the easiest thing, so don't be afraid to contact one of the RepairPal certified shops in your area.