Gear Selector Stuck in Park: Causes and Repair Tips

Have you ever heard stories about shifters that become stuck and refuse to budge no matter how much the drivers pushed and pulled them? Knowing why the shifter is stuck in Park gear can help you avoid the problem and fix the issue if it happens in your car.

Why Is the Gear Selector Stuck in Park Mode?

The following are the most common reasons behind the shifter stuck in Park gear:

Parking on Inclines

Not every parking spot is on level ground. Sometimes, you can only park your car on an inclined surface. Unfortunately, parking an automatic vehicle on an incline might lead to the shifter stuck in Park mode. Some vehicles are more subject to this than others, but if the incline is steep enough, it can happen to just about any vehicle that has a Park mode and a PRNDL stick.

If you park your automatic car on an incline, the vehicle’s weight as it tries to roll can cause the park pawl to bind and make it hard to remove the vehicle from park.

You’ll struggle to move the shifter out of the Park gear if the parking pawl is still engaged. In the worst-case scenario, the gear shifter becomes stuck in Park or you damage or even break the shift lever mechanism using excessive force.

Shifting Gears Without Pressing the Brake Pedal

Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) requires the brake to be applied before the car can be removed from Park. By 2006, about 80% of vehicles already had BTSI systems due to industry agreements. But the law ensured that all new vehicles would include it starting in 2010.

Theshift interlock solenoid is usually mounted in the console or on the shift column and it must be energized by applying the brake pedal to prevent the shift lever from being taken out of park unless the brake is depressed. The solenoid defaults to the position where it prevents the shifter from being taken out of park.

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Pro Tip: Between 1978 and 1986, hundreds of Audi 5000 vehicles were reported to accelerate suddenly after being shifted out of Park. Audi and Volkswagen of America initially blamed driver error, suggesting that drivers were mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake.

Failing to push the brake pedal down and forgetting to press the pedal will keep the shift interlock solenoid engaged. Alternatively, the brake pedal might also have a problem that prevents it from going down to the floor, preventing you from turning off the shift interlock.

But note that, if you drive the vehicle every day, you aren’t likely to make that mistake. And you don’t have to press the brake pedal all the way to the floor; you just have to engage the brake lights to activate the solenoid.

Bad Shift Interlock Solenoid Or Wiring

Like any other car part, the shift interlock solenoid could wear out and eventually fail. The wiring can also be damaged (like on 2000s GM cars) due to the solenoid assembly moving with the shifter and bending the wires at the connector. A damaged or worn-out solenoid might keep the shifter locked until the brake lights turn on.

Bad Brake Light Switch Or Wiring

While the shift solenoid is fine, it might not unlock the shifter when you press the brake pedal down. The problem might lie with thebrake light switch.

The brake light switch controls the brake lights. Stepping on the brake pedal turns on the switch, which transmits the activation signal to the lights.

It so happens that the shift interlock solenoid looks for the signal from the brake light switch or from the BCM if it receives the brake light switch signal, which is very common on modern vehicles that simply use the brake light switch as an input rather than having it carry current to the brake lights and lock solenoid.

Tips on How To Fix a Gear Shifter Stuck in Park

The first step in unlocking the shifter from Park gear is identifying what caused the problem. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can take the appropriate steps to fix it.

The smart thing to do is make sure the brake lights are working. If they’re not, then turn the key to the position right before ON, put the gear selector in Neutral, then start the car and drive away. Some shifters will have a slot where you can put the key to push a release if the shift interlock fails. Check your owner’s manual for this.

Warning: Do not try to force the gear selector out of Park under any circumstances. You break things that way.

Here are tips on what to do when the gear selector gets stuck in Park mode because you’re parked on a hill and the park pawl is bound up:

Rock the Car

Is the gear selector stuck in Park because you left your car parked on an incline with the parking brake engaged? It’s possible to free the shifter by shaking your vehicle.

This approach calls for at least two people. If you’re alone, contact someone you trust to help you or call for a tow. One of you must stay in the car and press the brake pedal. The other person should gently rock the car from outside.

The rocking motion shifts how the vehicle’s weight gets distributed. It might reduce the stress on the parking pawl, allowing the pin to move.

While the vehicle shakes, the car’s occupant should work the shifter until it disengages from the Parking gear.

Use Manual Interlock Override

As mentioned above, some cars usually have a safety feature that manually overrides the shift interlock. Engaging the interlock override lets you bypass the erratic shift interlock solenoid and unlock the shifter.

You’ll need a flathead screwdriver.

Check your owner’s manual to determine if your car has an interlock override. The manual can also show you where to find the feature.

A plastic cap covers the interlock override slot. Remove the cap and insert the screwdriver. Push and hold the screwdriver down. Simultaneously, step on the brake pedal and push it down. The shifter should now unlock.

Replace the Bad Brake Light Switch Or Repair the Wiring

Do the brake lights stay dark when you step on the brake pedal? A bad brake light switch is probably the reason. Fortunately, you can easily replace 

Before you replace the brake light switch, disconnect the battery. You don’t want a short circuit damaging wiring and electronics.

Most brake light switches are located on the top of or beside the brake pedal lever or under the dashboard. Detach the switch from the wiring harness, remove the bad part, and install a replacement.

After installing the new brake light switch, test it by pressing the pedal and seeing if the light turns on. If the brake lights illuminate, attempt to shift out of Park gear. Otherwise, you might have to reinstall the switch or look for other issues.

Transmission Service

Having a gear selector stuck in Park might indicate other issues with the transmission. Contact trusted mechanics and schedule a transmission service as early as possible.

Tips on How to Avoid Getting the Shifter Stuck in Park Position

Here are some good habits that can prevent the shifter from getting stuck in park:

Engage the Parking Brake First

Before you shift the gear selector to Park, always engage the parking brake first. The brakes take tension away from the parking pawl, ensuring the pin can still move.

Floor the Brake Pedal

Press the brake pedal down before moving the shifter out of Park and into a new gear.