If the shifter is stuck in park, the most common cause is the brake-shift interlock: the car needs to see the brake pedal pressed before it releases the shifter, so a failed brake light switch, a blown brake light fuse or a faulty shift interlock solenoid will lock it in park. Parking on a slope without the parking brake can also jam the parking pawl. Most vehicles have a shift lock release you can use to move the shifter out of park.
Common causes
| Cause | Clues |
|---|---|
| Brake light switch | Brake lights do not come on when you press the pedal |
| Blown brake light fuse | Brake lights out on both sides |
| Shift interlock solenoid | Brake lights work, but no click from the console when you press the brake |
| Weight on the parking pawl | Parked on a slope; shifter very hard to pull out of park |
| Spills or debris in the console | Sticky shifter, after a drink spill |
| Shift cable or linkage | Shifter moves but the transmission stays in park |
How to get it out of park
- Press the brake firmly and try again; have someone check whether the brake lights come on.
- Check your owner’s manual for the shift lock release, usually a small slot or cover near the shifter. With the parking brake set and the brake pressed, pressing the release lets you move the shifter.
- If parked on a slope, have someone push the car gently uphill to take the load off the pawl while you shift.
Transmission stuck in park but the shifter moves
If the shifter moves through the gears but the car stays in park, the cable or its bushing has broken or come off the transmission lever. The gear indicator often still changes because it follows the shifter, not the transmission. A shift cable is a relatively simple repair.
When the interlock is the problem
A failed brake light switch is a safety problem as well as an inconvenience, because drivers behind you get no warning when you brake. Replace it promptly, and check the brake light fuse first, since a blown fuse gives the same symptoms.
Preventing it
- On a slope, set the parking brake before shifting into park, so the brake holds the car rather than the pawl.
- Replace a failed brake light switch promptly: it also affects brake lights, cruise control and, on many cars, stability control.
Related problems
If the car rolls after it is in park, see car rolls in park; if it will not move once in drive, see car won’t move in drive. A faulty transmission range sensor can also confuse the car about which gear is selected. For internal failures, compare a rebuild with our transmissions.
Trouble codes: P0705 Transmission Range Sensor Circuit · P0707 Range Sensor Circuit Low · P0504 Brake Switch A/B Correlation · P0571 Brake Switch A Circuit · all OBD2 codes.
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