Mazda Manual Override Shifter Stuck in Park, Won't go into gear

It's not uncommon for Mazda vehicles to be stuck in park. In such cases, you won't be able to move the shifter lever from P to R, N, D or vice versa.

In this guide, you will learn how to manually move the shifter on Mazda out of Park. This guide will help you if your Mazda won't go into gear. These instructions are meant to help owners of Mazda 3, 5, 6, CX-5 CX-7 CX-9.

Common Causes

Mazda can get stuck in park for various reasons including:

• bad shifter assembly,
• shift interlock solenoid bad
• defective brake switch.

Mazda Manual Override Instructions

Step 1

Set the emergency brakes on your Mazda. Insert the key into the ignition of your Mazda. Turn the key to ON position.

Step 2

Locate the shift override slot next to the shifter of your Mazda. Remove the plastic cover if your Mazda has one.

Step 3

Insert a screwdriver into the slot and push down. Keep the brake pedal pressed as you try this. If you don't set the emergency brakes or aren't keeping the brakes pressed your Mazda may roll when you move the shifter from Park to Drive.

Step 4

Move the shifter to any position. You should be able to move the shifter from Park to Reverse, Neutral, and Drive.

Intermittent Shifter Locked in Park

If your Mazda gets stuck in park intermittently, one of the most common issues causing this problem is the shifter interlock solenoid.

The brake switch could also be causing intermittent problems where your shifter gets stuck in park.

Lastly, the shifter assembly itself could be the problem. The shifter may need to be replaced.

At Mazda dealerships, a new shifter can cost anywhere from $500-$800. A cheaper alternative would be to install a used or aftermarket Mazda shifter assembly.