Car Stuck in Park? Causes and Shift Lock Release Steps

A car that will not shift out of Park is usually being held by its shift lock, a safety system that keeps the lever in P until the ignition is on and the brake pedal is pressed. If the brake lamps, a fuse, the 12-volt battery or the key signal is not right, the lever stays locked. Owner manuals from Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Kia, Mazda and Nissan describe the same causes and a similar last-resort release, and this guide puts them side by side so you can see what your own manual is likely to say.

Safety first: once the lever leaves P, the vehicle can roll. Ford’s manual says to fully apply the parking brake before using its release and to use wheel chocks if appropriate, and Kia’s manual says to be on flat level ground. Your owner’s manual shows the exact release point for your car, so treat this page as general information and follow the manual for your vehicle.

Common Causes of a Car Stuck in Park

The manuals reviewed for this page name the following causes.

• The brake pedal is not pressed, or the ignition is not on. Kia’s manual says to depress and hold the brake pedal, start the engine or turn the ignition to ON, and then move the lever. Chevrolet describes the same rule: the shift lock release keeps the lever from moving out of P unless the ignition is on and the brake pedal is applied.
• Brake lamps or a fuse. Ford’s manual says that if the lever will not leave P with the ignition on and the brake pedal pressed, a fuse may be blown or the brake lamps may not be operating properly. Nissan’s manual warns that when the lever cannot be moved from P with the engine running and the brake pedal pressed, the brake lights may not work.
• A low or dead 12-volt battery. Chevrolet says the shift lock release is always functional except with an uncharged or low voltage battery, defined as less than 9 volts, and suggests charging or jump starting. Nissan says a low or discharged battery can keep the lever in P even with the brake pressed and the lever button pushed.
• The key is not detected. Ford’s manual notes that you may not be able to shift out of park unless the intelligent access key is inside the vehicle.
• A seat belt feature. Chevrolet notes that its Buckle to Drive feature may prevent the vehicle from shifting out of P, and points to the Seat Belts section of the manual.
• Torque lock after parking on a hill. Chevrolet describes torque lock as the vehicle’s weight putting too much force on the parking pawl, which makes it hard to shift out of P. It is covered in its own section below.

For the case where the fuse is not blown and the brake lamps work, Ford’s manual gives a manual procedure for moving the lever, and says: “See your authorized dealer as soon as possible if this procedure is used.” Our guide on whether a bad transmission interlock switch can stop your car covers the switch side of the problem.

How to Use the Shift Lock Override

Several manuals describe a shift lock release or override for a lever that will not leave P. Honda says: “Have the shift lever checked by a dealer as soon as possible.” Ford says to see an authorized dealer as soon as possible, Kia says to have the system checked by a professional workshop, and Mazda says to take the vehicle to an expert repairer.

Before you touch the release

• Apply the parking brake. Ford, Honda, Kia and Nissan list this as a step before the release.
• Turn the ignition or power mode off where the manual says so. Honda says VEHICLE OFF, Kia says LOCK/OFF, Nissan says OFF or LOCK, and Ford says to switch off the vehicle.
• Park on flat level ground if you can. Kia’s manual adds this as a caution for releasing the shift lock.
• Chock the wheels if appropriate. Ford’s manual says this because the vehicle can roll freely once the lever is out of park.
• Keep the brake pedal pressed where the manual says to, as Kia, Mazda and Ford do.

What the release looks like in six manuals

The access point differs by maker, which is why the owner’s manual matters. The table below summarizes what each manual says. It is not a substitute for the steps in your own manual.

Manual	Cause or condition named	Where the release is	What the manual says to do after
Chevrolet Malibu (2020)	Ignition off, brake not applied, battery below 9 volts, or Buckle to Drive	Normal method only in the section reviewed: ignition on or Service Mode, brake pedal, press the lever button. If it still fails, release the button fully, hold the brake and press it again	See your dealer if you still cannot shift
Ford (10-speed SelectShift model)	Blown fuse or brake lamps not working	Access panel beside the shifter, with a white brake shift interlock lever on the passenger side	See your authorized dealer as soon as possible
Ford (electronic shifter with manual park release)	Electrical malfunction or emergency	Access cover under the armrest console, with a manual park release lever slot	Return to normal mode by the manual steps; have the vehicle checked if park is not shown
Honda CR-V (2023)	Lever will not move out of P	Shift lock release slot, covered, reached with the built-in key from the keyless remote	Have the shift lever checked by a dealer as soon as possible
Kia Carnival (2024)	Lever will not move with the brake depressed	Access hole under the knob boots, pressed with a tool such as a flathead screwdriver	If it still does not move, have it checked by a professional workshop
Mazda CX-5	Lever will not move using the proper shift procedure	Override cover, opened with a cloth-wrapped flat head screwdriver, then a lock-release button	Take the vehicle to an expert repairer to have the system checked
Nissan Juke (2024, dual clutch)	Low or discharged battery	Console finisher ring, then the shift lock release button	Turn the ignition to ON to unlock the steering wheel; manual warns about brake lights

The pattern across the manuals

1. Set the parking brake and, where the manual says so, switch the ignition or power mode off.
2. Expose the release by removing the cover, boot, mat or console ring your manual names. Kia and Mazda specify a flathead screwdriver, and Honda uses the built-in key from the remote wrapped with cloth.
3. Press or hold the release as described, then move the lever. Honda, Ford and Nissan describe moving it into N.
4. Put everything back. Ford says to install the access panel and mat, apply the brake pedal, start the vehicle and release the parking brake.

Ford’s electronic-shifter manual adds two cautions worth knowing. If the vehicle battery is dead you need an external power supply to apply the electric parking brake, and the car then stays in neutral for emergency towing purposes. The same page says not to drive the vehicle until you verify that the stoplamps are working. Our guide on putting a car in neutral without a key covers the related no-key situation.

How to Check the Brake Pedal and Brake Light Switch

Because Ford and Nissan both link a locked shifter to brake lamps, the quickest useful test is simple. With the ignition on, press the brake pedal while someone watches the rear of the car. If the lamps do not light, Ford’s manual says a fuse may be blown or the brake lamps may not be operating properly, and Nissan’s says the brake lights may not work. If the lamps light normally and the fuse is not blown, Ford’s manual gives a separate procedure for moving the lever out of P, described above.

Watch the brake warning lamp as well. Ford’s manual says that if the parking brake is fully released but the brake warning lamp stays on, the brakes may not be working properly and the vehicle should be checked as soon as possible.

One harmless noise is worth knowing about. Kia’s manual says that if you repeatedly press and release the brake pedal with the lever in P, a chattering noise near the shift lever may be heard, and it calls this a normal condition. See also our explanation of what the brake light means in a car.

Low Battery, Dead Battery and Push-Button Cars

Chevrolet describes an electronic shift lock release system. It puts a number on the battery condition: the release works except with an uncharged battery or one below 9 volts, and the manual says to try charging or jump starting the battery. Nissan says a low or discharged battery may keep the lever from moving out of P.

Ford adds a key condition: you may not be able to shift out of park unless the intelligent access key is inside the vehicle. For the battery side, see our guides on what causes a dead battery in a car and how to jump start a car with a dead battery safely.

Parked on a Hill: Torque Lock and Shifting Into Park Properly

Chevrolet’s manual describes torque lock as the weight of the vehicle putting too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. It happens when you park on a hill and the shift into P is not done properly, which makes it difficult to shift out of P later. To prevent it, the manual says to set the parking brake and then shift into P.

1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake.
2. Move the lever into P by holding in the button on the lever and pushing it all the way toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Before leaving, check that the lever is fully in P. Chevrolet says to hold the regular brake pedal down and see if you can move the lever away from P without first pressing the button. If you can, the lever was not fully locked in P.

If torque lock does occur, Chevrolet says the vehicle may need to be pushed uphill by another vehicle to relieve the pressure on the parking pawl so you can shift out of P. Chevrolet’s manual adds: “If you are still having a problem shifting, see your dealer.”

When to Call a Mechanic

The manuals reviewed point to a dealer or qualified shop in these cases:

• The lever still does not move after the release procedure. Kia and Mazda both say to have the system checked at that point.
• You needed the release at all. Honda and Ford say to have the shift lever or system checked as soon as possible after using it.
• The brake lamps do not light. Ford and Nissan tie the locked shifter to brake lamps, and Ford says not to drive until the stoplamps are verified.
• The brake warning lamp stays on after the parking brake is released.
• A message such as Park Not Available, Transmission Not in Park or Shift System Fault appears on a Ford with the manual park release. Ford says to apply the electric parking brake before exiting and have the vehicle checked as soon as possible.

If the car is stuck in neutral rather than park, that is a different problem; see our guide to why a car gets stuck in neutral.

What this guide does not cover: repair prices (ask a shop for an estimate), manual transmissions, and release steps for models not listed in the table above. Check your own owner’s manual for those.

Keep reading

• Car Stalls in Reverse: What It Means And How to Fix It
• Why Does My Car Say Shift to Park? GM Fix, TSB & Costs
• How to Take a Key Out of a Car When It’s Stuck in the Ignition

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I check first if my car is stuck in park?

Confirm the ignition is on and press the brake pedal firmly, then try the shifter again. If it still will not move, have someone check that the brake lights come on, because Ford and Nissan manuals both tie a locked shifter to brake lamps that are not working. Then consider the battery: Chevrolet says the shift lock release stops working when battery voltage drops below 9 volts.

What causes a car to get stuck in park?

The owner manuals reviewed name a brake pedal that is not pressed with the ignition on, a blown fuse or brake lamps that are not working, a low or dead 12-volt battery, a key that the car does not detect, a seat belt feature such as Chevrolet Buckle to Drive, and torque lock after parking on a hill without the parking brake set first.

Can a dead battery keep a car stuck in park?

Yes. Chevrolet states that the shift lock release is always functional except with an uncharged or low voltage battery, and suggests charging or jump starting it. Nissan says a low or discharged battery may keep the lever from leaving P even with the brake pressed and the lever button pushed.

Is it safe to use the shift lock override to move the car?

Only with precautions. Once the lever leaves P the vehicle can roll, so Ford says to fully apply the parking brake first and use wheel chocks if appropriate, and Kia says to be on flat level ground. Honda, Ford, Kia and Mazda also say to have the system checked after the release is used.

Conclusion

The manuals reviewed tie a locked shifter to the same conditions: ignition on, brake pedal pressed, working brake lamps, a charged battery and, on some Fords, a detected key. If you use the shift lock release, set the parking brake, use wheel chocks if appropriate as Ford says, follow your own manual’s steps, and have the system checked as Honda, Ford, Kia and Mazda advise.