Shifter is stuck in park and car says it's in neutral

Tiny
ANGELSWITHME22
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 58,000 MILES
And the shifter will not move we got the trim off and tried to release with screwdriver still wouldn't release any idea?
Sunday, December 18th, 2011 AT 1:04 AM

33 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have a gear range sensor that is out and needs to be replaced here are diagrams below to help you do the repair. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Sunday, December 18th, 2011 AT 1:13 AM
Tiny
KISSAB16
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  • 1 POST
Thanks! I had this problem had to get the sensor replaced all fixed!
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:39 PM
Tiny
SLB1483
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 43,000 MILES
When I press on the brakes the gear shift wont allow me to go to drive. Whats worng with it?

Also I do not know if my car is a 2 wheel drive or a 6 cyl as well.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
The problem here is the shift interlock control system-could be the shift lock solenoid. Is your brake lights working?
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BARLOWBABY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 58,000 MILES
My gear shift is stuck in park and will not move. We have tried to mess with the nuetral release but nothing. Any ideas?
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMH1497
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
You can't take the console out while the shifter is stuck in park and you can't move the shifter without the console out. But, take the trim ring off around the shifter. Carefully lift it by hand, it pulls off. Look thru the crack on the left of the shifter. There's a pink plastic lever with a silver wire attached to it. Push this toward the rear of the car with a flat screwdriver while the car is running and your foot is on the brake pedal. The shifter will release from park. Leave it in neutral, turn the car off, block the wheels and then continue to remove the center console. My car had the spring broken off at the pink part. I found the small spring laying under the console and I drilled a hole thru the pink plastic lever because the hook busted off the pink lever. Bend the spring eyelet and thread it thru the hole you drill. Now, that's better than new. Any Chrysler engineers out there? Take some notes!
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SIXBATHROOMS`
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
You bet your a$$ that fixed it. Knew is was something stupid. This car just 'feels' cheap.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SLB1483
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Great but I think I need a mechanic to do it because I pushed the pink thing back, but it wont go all the way back, I dont have enough force. I tried but I think it needs a mans force. How much do you think a mechanic will charge to do that?

Also I pushed it as hard as I could too.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
COWBOYS2012
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I tried this but I had difficulty removing the center console. My car has the same problem but it is a 2008 Sebring convertible. What is the easiest way to remove the center console?
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MOBLEY20
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • AUTOMATIC
2007 Chrysler Sebring. Stuck in Park.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,727 POSTS
Check the brake light fuse.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
Y2PEACHES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
There's a recall on this, almost caused me to loss my job cuz no one to help me get it going. I paid a auto tow service which luckily didn't charge me anymore to take to a dealer who I paid over $200 to fix. However several months later Chrysler sent me a recall note about the issue. They did refund after taking time and money to send the repair and payment info to them. Look on your insurance website for the recall info for your specific car, sorry I've forgotten the recall info and don't have handy but its easy to find. Hope this helps quicken the fix and gets you going again soon!
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,727 POSTS
Thanks y2peaches.

There's two different versions of the Sebring. I looked it up on the Chrysler web site and found recall RC-K16-10 and RC-CK16-10. Both refer to a "gear shift lever interlock spring retainer hook" that can break. The recall that pertains to this car is determined by the build date. Time to give the dealer a call.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KIGULLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2007 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 68,500 MILES
Gear shift currently stuck in park; drove vehicle day before all day with no issues or notice by car of any issues.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
See if the brake lights work, if not the brake switch has probably gone bad, and it controls the shift lock as well as the brake lights. Check all fuses with a test light too (fuse 14)
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RONALDCHENNAULT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 50,000 MILES
Why is my car stuck in park and the gearshift will not change.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,727 POSTS
If the wheels aren't straight ahead, try tugging on the steering wheel to relieve pressure on the steering wheel lock mechanism.

Caradiodoc
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TCGIESIGE
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1995 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 128,000 MILES
I'm looking to purchase this used car, and the transmission has been replaced and now when the car is in drive the shifter shows it is in neutral. The car drives fine, no slipping or problems shifting from gear to gear but I'm wondering if I should be concerned by the indicator no showing the right position?
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
Just need to pop the shifter cover and adjust the pointer. It is quite possible when they installed the transmission, they "screwed" up the pointer
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:41 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TCGIESIGE
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you Zackman.
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Thursday, January 17th, 2019 AT 7:41 PM (Merged)

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