These instructions apply to the Audi Q2 Mk1 (GA) 2016-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If your S tronic (dual-clutch) Audi Q2 (GA, 2016–present) won’t come out of P — typically with a flat battery or a shift-interlock fault — there’s a built-in emergency release by the gear lever so you can move the car. It’s a cabin-only override; no high-voltage or under-car work is involved. The idea is simple: on a dead car you can’t press the brake and shift electronically out of Park, so the designers built a mechanical bypass into the selector that frees the lever by hand. It exists purely to get a stranded car rolling — off a driveway, out of a tight bay, or onto a recovery truck — and once you have power and the fault sorted, normal shifting returns on its own.
Why the Lever Locks in P
A dual-clutch automatic uses an electric shift-lock that keeps the selector in Park until the system sees a switched-on car, a pressed brake pedal and a valid signal to release. That interlock is a safety feature — it stops the car being knocked out of Park accidentally. But it relies on 12 V power. Take that power away, whether from a dead battery, a blown fuse, or a fault in the interlock itself, and the lock stays engaged with no electrical way to free it. The emergency release is the mechanical answer: it lets you disengage that lock physically so the lever can move even though the car is otherwise dead.
Before You Start
- Check for blown fuses and a flat battery first — those are the usual causes, and fixing them may free the lever normally without any override.
- Apply the parking brake or chock the wheels before you release the lock — the car can roll the instant Park is disengaged.
- Park thinking about where it will roll: on a slope, be ready and have the brakes covered, or chock the downhill wheels.
- Have a slim flat-bladed screwdriver ready and work gently around the trim so you don’t crack the selector surround.
- Only use this to get mobile — it is a recovery aid, not a repair for the underlying fault.
How to Release the Lever from P
- Apply the parking brake.
- Remove the gear-lever cover — carefully unclip the trim by the selector.
- Push the release lever to the arrow mark (Audi’s service tool is T10383, but a slim flat screwdriver does the same).
- With a screwdriver, press the button and move the gear lever out of ‘P’.
- Remove the screwdriver and refit the cover.
If It Won’t Release
- Make sure the parking brake is set and, if needed, keep light pressure on the foot brake — some interlocks free more easily when the car is properly held.
- Confirm you’ve found the release lever, not just the trim. It sits under the selector cover; push it fully to the marked arrow before trying to move the selector.
- Press the button and move the lever together. The override frees the lock only while it is held to the arrow, so hold it there as you shift.
- Re-seat the trim and try again if it feels like the cover is fouling the mechanism.
- If it still won’t budge, stop and call recovery rather than forcing it — forcing risks breaking the selector.
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. Once the car has power again and any fuse or interlock fault is fixed, refit the cover fully and confirm the selector moves normally between P, R, N and D with the brake pressed before driving as usual.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Audi Q2 S tronic is stuck in Park — how do I move it?
Set the parking brake, unclip the lever cover, push the release lever to the arrow and press the button with a screwdriver, then move the lever out of P. Secure the car first, because it can roll the moment the lock frees.
Is this safe to do myself?
Yes — it’s a cabin override with no electrical risk. The only real hazard is the car rolling once Park is released, so apply the parking brake or chock the wheels before you start, and be especially careful on any slope.
Why did the lever lock in P?
Usually a flat 12 V battery leaving no power to the interlock, a blown fuse in that circuit, or a fault in the shift-lock itself. The override gets you moving, but you still need to trace and fix the underlying cause afterwards.
Do I need the special tool?
No — Audi lists tool T10383, but a slim flat-bladed screwdriver does the same job. The tool simply pushes the release lever to its arrow mark; anything slim and rigid that fits without damaging the trim will work.
Will using the override cause any damage?
No, provided you unclip the trim gently and don’t force the lever. It is a designed-in emergency function. Just refit the cover properly afterwards and check the selector operates normally once power is restored.
Does the car shift normally again after this?
Yes, once the battery, fuse or interlock fault is resolved. The override doesn’t change anything permanently — it only bypasses the lock for that one move. With power and a working interlock, normal brake-and-shift operation returns by itself.
If it locked because of a dead battery, see our Q2 battery guide. For a stored fault code, look it up on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Audi. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.