When a cars map sensor goes bad the bad map sensor can cause the car to sputter, misfire, run rich, surge and even die out.
A map sensor is essential to a properly running engine because it monitors the vacuum on the engine and tells the computer how much fuel to send to your fuel injectors.
When the map sensor is bad it can cause the engine to get too much fuel which causes the engine to run rich, run rough, have black smoke out the exhaust etc.
The bad map sensor also can cause the engine RPM to fluctuate or surge, primarily at idle or low speeds.
The map sensor stands for Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor and it helps monitor the airflow and control fuel to air ration on the engine.