Hesitating when put in drive-- engine light on-- what might this be?

I would just about bet a weak fuel pump. With a scan tool connected you can monitor your fuel pressure thru live data. Low fuel pressure will not set a check engine light except if the O2 sensors register a lean condition.

hot engine, or cold, or both
does it reach full 180F coolant temp or more and HOLD?

id have to drive it, on here ,, im blind. and can't drive.
but here is a wild guess. based on almost no inputs.
bad TPS.
low fuel pressure

is the check engine light on, key, then goes out driving? does it?
CEL lamp. is first.
then 2nd is a FULL OBD2 scan of the PCM. look for problems.
i look at live data. and know what to expect, but most folks don't.
we watch all sensors, and look for factory only DTC errors.
the sensor are easy to monitor.
as is LTFT and 02 ops.

The cooling system shouldn't be losing much coolant.

If you're putting in coolant regularly
If you're seeing slick oil in the coolant
If you're hearing noise in the engine while driving

You may have a crack in your engine block and your engine isn't being lubricated properly anymore. This will cause noise and leaks, make a motor run really rough and cause rough starting.

I suggest you bring your vehicle in for a coolant system pressure test and a chassis leak check. This should be a free service from any auto shop that wants your money for repairs.

Spark plugs usually degrade your performance slowly and don't make noise while doing it unless in extreme cases.

Good luck!

The blue light is only supposed to indicate low engine temperature, reminding you to go easy on the engine until the light goes out.
The flashing is either for low coolant or for overheating, and it sounds like you are having a low coolant problem.
If after you add coolant the lights comes back, you have a coolant leak. The most common place for a leak is the coolant flange on the end of the cylinder head. If you take the engine cover off and look at the area where the transmission meets the engine, you should see either pink coolant puddling or pink crusty residue.
It's also possible to have other leaks from the radiator, heater core, water pump, etc. The nice thing is that with the pink coolant it will leave a trace of pink residue leading to the leak if you take a good look around with a flashlight.

Take it to a shop and ask them to put it up on a lift, take a look and figure out where it is leaking. They can tell you and also how much to fix.

have you actually checked your coolant level? if so and coolant was good, try checking your coolant level sensor and its connections

need to be more specific with the exclamation light... color, description of what the light looks like with the exclamation.

Red usually means your brakes,
Orange should be coolant related

If the engine is overheating, that's why the light is on. Its a P0271 code I beleive. Its a "OVERHEATING" code.Dont drive the car. You are loosing coolant or its out of coolant, check the coolant level in the overflow bottle. We have seen some headgasket issues on that model car. I would remove the spark plugs and look into the cylinder for any signs of coolant on top of the pistons. Let me know what you find.

Hi. ok, the low coolant light is a bad sign. this can be a minor leak in many areas on the engine. i would ask the dealer about the service record on the coolant system. you will want to know when the last radiator flush was preformed as well as, when was the last thermostat replacement was done. next, ask the dealer for an accident record. this can be done online on carfacts.com but, the dealer should do this. if he is hesitant, don't buy this vehicle. I would also do a lemon test. Look at the tail pipe and rub the inside of this pipe with the tip of your finger. if its black and smells like rich gas/oil mixture, it will need a re-haul soon. one more thing, when driving, pay attention to the way the steering reacts to your command. if its lose, its not good. check all light functions as well.

Hi. ok, the low coolant light is a bad sign. this can be a minor leak in many areas on the engine. i would ask the dealer about the service record on the coolant system. you will want to know when the last radiator flush was preformed as well as, when was the last thermostat replacement was done. next, ask the dealer for an accident record. this can be done online on carfacts.com but, the dealer should do this. if he is hesitant, don't buy this vehicle. I would also do a lemon test. Look at the tail pipe and rub the inside of this pipe with the tip of your finger. if its black and smells like rich gas/oil mixture, it will need a re-haul soon. one more thing, when driving, pay attention to the way the steering reacts to your command. if its lose, its not good. check all light functions as well.