These instructions apply to the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross Mk2 (AK) 2022-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If the gear lever on your automatic Suzuki SX4 S-Cross Mk2 (AK, 2022–present) (6-speed Aisin auto) won’t come out of P — typically with a flat battery or a shift-interlock fault — there’s a built-in emergency shift-lock release so you can move the car. It’s a cabin-only override; no high-voltage or under-car work is involved. It’s a designed-in feature, not a workaround, and it’s there so you can free the car when the normal electronic release has no power.
How the Shift Lock Works
On the S-Cross automatic, a shift-interlock keeps the lever in P unless the ignition is on and the brake pedal is pressed. It’s a safety measure that stops the car being knocked out of Park by accident. Because the interlock is electrically operated, a flat 12 V battery means there’s no power to release it, and the lever stays locked. The emergency release is a small mechanical override that lets you free the lever by hand so the car can be pushed clear or loaded onto a recovery truck.
You’re deliberately defeating the interlock here, so the car can roll as soon as the lever leaves P — nothing is holding it in place. That’s exactly why you secure the car before touching the release.
Before You Start
Apply the parking brake or chock the wheels first. Releasing the lock lets the car roll, so secure it before you touch anything.
- Choose level ground where you can, and leave the wheels pointing straight.
- Keep the key/fob in the cabin so the ignition will switch on.
- Have a small flat screwdriver ready — that’s the only tool you need.
- Check no one is standing in the car’s path before you release the lever.
How to Release the Lever from P
- Apply the parking brake and turn the engine off.
- Switch the ignition on without pressing the brake pedal:
- Push-button start: press the start/stop button once (don’t touch the brake).
- Key start: turn the key to position ‘1’.
- Prise off the small cover by the gear lever with a flat screwdriver.
- Press and hold the shift-lock release in the opening, hold the lever’s normal shift button, and move the lever out of P.
- Remove the screwdriver and refit the cover.
On right-hand-drive cars the release sits slightly differently but works the same way — hold it while moving the lever.
If It Won’t Release
If the lever still won’t budge, first check the ignition genuinely came on — a very flat battery may not power up, and then the interlock stays jammed until you’ve boosted or jumped the battery. Make sure you’re holding the shift-lock release and the lever’s own shift button at the same time. Double-check you’ve lifted the right cover next to the lever and can see the release in the opening. If the car is on a slope, its weight can load the lever against the lock — keeping the parking brake on and, if safe, having someone steady the car can ease that. If it still won’t free, don’t force it; call for recovery.
Then What?
This only gets you mobile (for example to roll off a driveway or onto a recovery truck). If the lever wouldn’t release because the battery is flat, sort the battery; if it happens with a healthy battery, have the shift interlock checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
My S-Cross automatic is stuck in Park — how do I move it?
Apply the parking brake, switch the ignition on without the brake pedal, pop the cover by the lever and hold the shift-lock release while moving the lever out of P. Secure the car first, as it can roll the moment it leaves Park.
Is this safe to do myself?
Yes — it’s a cabin override with no electrical risk. Just secure the car first, as it can roll once released. There’s no high-voltage or under-car work involved, only lifting a small trim cover beside the lever.
Why did the lever lock in P?
Usually a flat 12 V battery (no power to the interlock) or an interlock fault. The interlock needs power to let go, so a dead battery is the most common reason the lever stays stuck in Park.
Do I need a tool?
Only a small flat screwdriver to lift the cover. You don’t need anything else, and there’s no work under the bonnet or beneath the car.
Will using the release damage anything?
No — it’s a built-in emergency function designed for this situation. Work gently when prising the cover so the trim isn’t marked, and refit it once the car is moved.
Do I still need to fix the cause afterwards?
Yes. The override only gets you moving once. If the battery was flat, charge or replace it; if it locked with a healthy battery, have the shift interlock checked so it doesn’t strand you again.
If the lever locked because of a dead battery, see our S-Cross battery guide. For a stored fault code, look it up on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Suzuki. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.