Mercedes Shifter Stuck – Problem and Solutions

Is your Shifter stuck in Park? You start your Mercedes-Benz but realize the transmission gear selector won’t move out of Park. The shifter can’t be moved from Park (P) to Drive (D). Or you turn off the car but can’t move the shifter back to Park. Don’t panic; this is typically not a transmission problem. In this article, we will show you how to get the car out of park manually and how to troubleshoot gear selector shifter problems yourself. We discuss the common Mercedes-Benz stuck-in-park problems.

Mercedes Shifter Stuck in Park Problem

Your car starts fine, but when you try to move the shifter into Drive, the car won’t shift. You notice that the shifter is stuck and hesitates to move. Here is a list of typical symptoms related to the automatic transmission shifter stuck.

Mercedes-Benz cars that are equipped with automatic transmissions have a gear selector shifter interlock safety feature. This safety feature locks the shifter in Park when you turn off the ignition. If you need to move the shifter out of Park and into Drive, you need to reinsert the key into the ignition and turn it to position I or II.

The interlock mechanism will allow the shifter to move out of PARK when both of these conditions are met:

1. Turn the ignition to Position, I, II, or Run.
2. Press the brake pedal.

Common Causes – Shifter Stuck in Park

Here is a list of the most common reasons why the gear selector does not move out or Park.

1. Defective Brake Light Switch
2. Low Voltage or Dead Battery
3. Spilled Liquid on the shifter assembly
4. Defective shift interlock solenoid
5. Faulty Engine Control Unit (ECU) or Transmission Control Unit (TCU)
6. Transmission Shift Cable Broken or Shift Rod Bent / Loose

Possible Solutions

If the shifter on your Mercedes-Benz will not move out of the park, you should first check the battery. Once you confirm the battery is fully charged, the two most common problems are a defective brake light switch or a shifter module being damaged.

Brake Light Switch
Brake light switche fail very frequently and are the most common cause of transmission stuck in Park problem. The shifter will not be released unless you press the brake pedal, which is proper operation, as required by Federal Law. Once the brake light switch stops working properly, the shifter doesn’t know if you are pressing the brake pedal or not. Therefore, it will get stuck in the park. You may be tempted to check if the brake lights are working to confirm whether the brake light switch is working. This is not a good test to troubleshoot whether the brake light switch is working. A common symptom when the brake light switch fails, and you can’t get the car out of the park is that the ESP, ABS, or BAS lights will also turn on. This is an indication that the brake light switch may need to be replaced. Read this article on How to replace the brake light switch on a Mercedes-Benz.

Gear Shifter Assembly
  The shifter assembly (gear shift module) may fail due to wear or internal failure. The shift interlock solenoid, which is located inside the shifter assembly, can fail or quit working. Plastic parts inside the shifter can break. In this case, you will need to manually get the car out of park until you get the part replaced.
Hint: If you look at the gear selector on your instrument cluster, and it doesn’t display the current shifter position, such as P, R, N, and D, it is a good indication that the shifter module is defective.

Battery
One common reason for the shifter not getting out of the park is low battery voltage or dead battery. If your battery is dead, replace it before you proceed with other repairs. Replacing the battery on your car is very easy, and you can replace it yourself without the need for a mechanic. Here are several Group 94 batteries on Amazon that is an exact fit for most Mercedes-Benz cost and cost a lot less than the battery that you buy at the dealer

Ignition Switch
The ignition switch needs to be in the position I, II or engine running. Once you turn the key to any of these positions, the shifter is unlocked via a cable or electronic switch from the park. If the cable or the ignition switch itself fails, the shifter may get stuck in the park.

How to Manually Release Shifter Stuck in Park

Do not force the shifter into gear. You could break other parts by forcing the car to drive. Instead, try the following steps to get your car out of the park manually. You can also use the same procedure to get the shifter from Neutral or Reverse into the Park position and remove the keys.

The following video will show you how to get a C-Class W203 out of the park manually. The instructions are similar for other Mercedes-Benz models, including E, C, S, CL, CLK, CLS,  ML, GL, GLK, and SLK Class. Just look around the shifter module for an access hole. It will be covered with a plastic cap in most cases.

Step-by-step instruction on how to get your Mercedes out of park

1. Start by pressing the emergency brakes on your car.
2. Insert the key into the ignition and turn it to Position, I, II or start the car. Starting the car is not necessary but optional.
3. Press the brake pedal and keep them pressed while you follow these instructions to ensure the car does not roll away while trying to get out of Park.
4. Find the gear shifter lock/override on the center console. It is typically near the shifter lever. In most cases, you will see a small plastic cap that is covering this port.
5. Remove the small plastic cover. Typically, this is used to store coins. Lift it up using a flat screwdriver.
6. Press the manual release switch using a screwdriver, pen, or similar object. Push on the override switch and hold.
7. Use the screwdriver to push the unlock tab to release the shifter manually.

Troubleshooting a shifter that is stuck and won’t go into the drive

Step 1:

Turn the key to position II  and press the brake pedal a few times. As you press the brake pedal, the solenoid inside the shifter releases the shifter from Park. Listen carefully for a click sound by the shifter module. You may be able to hear the solenoid unlock. If you can hear the click, that is a good sign. The ignition is activating the interlock mechanism and allows the gear selector lever to be moved out of PARK.

Step 2:

Read trouble codes. Get hold of an advanced diagnostic scanner and read the trouble codes. Ask your friends who own Mercedes-Benz if any of them owns a Star Diagnostic Scanner. If not, consider getting a diagnostic scanner. They are affordable, easy to use, and pay for themselves. Here is the YOUCANIC full system scanner for Mercedes-Benz. It will scan most control units on your Mercedes-Benz and point you to the problem. An OBD2 scanner is very easy, even if you have never used one.

Step 3:
Next, remove the brake light switch and troubleshoot it using a digital multimeter. If you don’t know how to use a multimeter, consider replacing the brake light switch instead of testing it. The brake light switch is very inexpensive if you get it from Amazon. Click here to check the best price on Mercedes-Benz brake lights.

Step 4:

If the Mercedes-Benz shifter is still stuck and the transmission can not be moved out of park position. It is possible that the shifter selector module is defective. This could be due to a broken plastic shifter inside the shifter or drinks getting spilled on the center console. This is a common problem with Mercedes-Benz S-Class W220 S430, S500, and CL-Class models such as CL500 and CL600. If you have an S-Class or CL-Class and are handy with tools, you can open the shifter module and replace the broken plastic inside. You can buy a Mercedes Benz S-Class W220 Automatic Shift Gear Repair Kit on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the shifter interlock feature required?

Yes. The shift interlock mechanism is a safety feature on your car. It prevents the car from accidentally getting out of Park unless the ignition is turned on and the car brake pedal is pressed.

Do all Mercedes-Benz cars have a shifter unlock/override mechanism?

Yes, all Mercedes-Benz cars 200o and newer have a shifter lock feature.

I tried the manual release, but I still, can’t get my Mercedes-Benz out of the park.

Try using a different object to release the shifter manually.

Can I lubricate the shifter mechanism?

You need to be very careful if you decide to lubricate parts of the shifter mechanism. Do not get any liquid in the electronic components of the shifter. You can lubricate the moving parts, including the ball and metal steam. Do not try to do this if you are unsure what to lubricate.

How can I get my Mercedes-Benz out of PARK in order to tow it?

Use the method described above to get your Mercedes-Benz out of the park.

I can’t find a shifter release on my Mercedes-Benz.

Some models, such as S-Class W220 and CL-Class, didn’t have a hole for you to manually release the shifter from Park. They can still be manually moved into the park. Watch the video in this article on How to get an S-Class out of the Park.

What is the Best OBD-II Scanner for Mercedes-Benz Vehicles?

If you’re experiencing problems with your Mercedes-Benz, using a YOUCANIC full system diagnostic scanner can help you troubleshoot the issues. This advanced diagnostic tool can read and interpret the fault codes stored in your car’s computer system, providing detailed information about any problems with the engine, transmission, brakes, or other critical systems.

The YOUCANIC scanner can also perform diagnostic tests on various systems, including the ABS, airbag, and steering systems, to help pinpoint the root cause of any issues. With this information, you can make more informed decisions about repairs and maintenance, potentially saving time and money on costly repairs.

Applicable Models

2006-2007 C230 / 2001-2005 C240 W203 / 1998-2007 C280 / 2008-2012 C300 / 2002-2004 C32 AMG / 2001-2005 C320 / 2006-2011 C350 / 2012 M272 C350 / 1998-2000 / 2005-2006 C55 AMG / 2000-2006 CL500 W215 / 2001-2006 CL55 AMG / 2007-2011 CL550 / 2001-2002 CL600 / 1998-2005 CLK320  W208 / 2006-2009 CLK350 W209 / 1999-2003 CLK430 / 2003-2006 CLK500 / 2001-2006 CLK55 AMG / 2007-2009 CLK550 / 2006 CLS500 CLS55 AMG S350 / 2007-2011 CLS550 / 1998-2004 E320 W210 / 2005 GAS E320 / 2006-2009 E350 W203 / 2010-2011 GAS E350 / 2003-2006 E500 / 1999-2006 E55 AMG / 2007-2011 E550 / 2002-2008 G500 / 2003-2011 G55 AMG / 2009-2011 G550 / 2007-2012 GL450 / 2008-2012 GL550 / 2008-2012 GL550 / 2010-2012 GLK350 / 1998-2003 ML320 W163 / 2003-2009 ML350 / 2010-2011 GAS ML350 / 1999-2001 ML430 / 2010-2011 ML450 / 2002-2007 ML500 / 2000-2003 ML55 AMG / 2008-2011 ML550 / 2006-2009 R350 / 2010-2012 GAS R350 / 2006-2007 R500 / 2010-2012 S400 / 2000-2006 S430 S500 / 2001-2006 S55 AMG / 2007-2011 S550 / 2012 M273 S550 / 2001-2012 S600 / 1999-2006 SL500 / 2003-2008 SL55 AMG / 2007-2012 SL550 / 2006-2008 SLK280 / 2009-2011 SLK300 / 2002-2004 SLK32 AMG / 2001-2004 SLK320 / 2005-2011 SLK350