shaking and jerking -- dashboard lights up

I was at a stop light when I pressed on the accelerator the vehicle abruptly shook side to side several times and it was jerking back and forth. The dashboard was lit up and there was a message about the traction control. When I starting moving forward I pulled over and turned off the car for a minute then turned it back on. I have not had the problem since then. I didn't take the car in right away and when I did they said nothing registered as a problem.