Why and how did my gear shift become stuck

Tiny
CLCHOWARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 KIA OPTIMA
  • 50,000 MILES
My 2009 kia optima won't shift out of drive or neutral, its stuck. We had to put the car in neutral to park. This happened while my husband was driving today and never showed any signs of trouble. He couldn't even get the keys out of the car but eventually did somehow. What could be the problem and is this expensive to fix?
Saturday, August 11th, 2012 AT 4:36 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
That could be the shift interlock solenoid or gear shift mechanism gettin stuck. If the gear shift is not in Park, you would not be able to turn the key to lock position to get it out.

If you had forced the key out, you could have damaged something.
You need to check under the gear shift for problems and cost depends on what is wrong.
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Saturday, August 11th, 2012 AT 8:04 AM
Tiny
CLCHOWARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you i'll let him know. Actually he never removed the keys he just put it in neutral.
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Saturday, August 11th, 2012 AT 2:36 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Ok, let me know if you need any other information regarding repairs.
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Saturday, August 11th, 2012 AT 2:57 PM

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