These instructions apply to the Dodge Charger Mk6 (LX) 2006-2010.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If your automatic Dodge Charger (LX, 2006–2010) is jammed in Park and the lever won’t budge — typically a flat 12 V battery, a blown fuse or a shift-interlock fault — you can free it by hand so the car can be rolled or winched onto a flatbed. This is the factory shift-lock override, and on the SRT8 and R/T it lives right where you’d hope: a red release lever in the console by the selector. It’s a recovery step, not a repair.
When you need it
The Charger holds the selector in P until the car has power, your foot is on the brake, and the electronics release the shift-lock. Kill the power — and on the LX the battery is in the boot, so a dead cell here is common — and the lever simply won’t leave Park. The override mechanically frees it so you can select neutral and move the car.
Before you start
- Set the parking brake or chock the wheels first. Once it’s in neutral a 1,900 kg Charger will roll on the slightest slope.
- Work on level ground, or with the car already strapped to the recovery truck.
- Turn the ignition on — do not start the engine.
- Lift out the small storage tray/liner in the bin just below the gear selector — the red shift-lock release lever sits in the recess underneath.
- Press the red release lever and hold it.
- With the lever held, move the gear selector out of P into N (neutral).
- Release the lever and refit the bin. The car can now be rolled or winched — keep it braked or chocked until it’s secured.
If it still won’t move
Make sure the ignition is on (not off) — the lever needs the interlock powered to travel cleanly — and that you’ve reached neutral, not just reverse. If the selector frees but the car won’t roll, the parking brake is still set or a wheel is chocked.
After the emergency release
This only frees the car; it doesn’t fix the cause. Nine times out of ten it’s a flat or tired 12 V battery in the boot — once power is back the selector behaves normally. See our Charger battery disconnect & reconnect guide. If the battery is healthy but it keeps sticking, a fault will be logged — a brake-light switch or the shift-interlock solenoid are common culprits; look the code up on autodtcs.com.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my automatic Charger stuck in Park?
Almost always a flat 12 V battery or a blown fuse that stops the shift-lock releasing. A failed brake-light switch or interlock solenoid does the same.
Will the red lever damage anything?
No — it’s the factory override designed for exactly this. Press it gently, select neutral, and refit the bin afterwards.
Where is the shift-lock release on the Charger?
In the small console storage bin directly below the gear selector — it’s the red lever in the recess.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Dodge. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.