Release the Shift Lock (Stuck in Park)

Last updated: June 9, 2026

If the gear lever on your automatic DS 4 (2011–2018) won’t move out of P — typically after a flat 12 V battery or a shift-lock fault — there’s an emergency release under the lever trim so you can free the transmission and move the car. It takes a screwdriver and a minute.

When You Need This

• The gear lever is stuck in ‘P’ and won’t shift even with the brake pressed.
• Common after a flat or disconnected 12 V battery, or a shift-lock fault on the automatic gearbox.

Releasing the Lever

1. Apply the parking brake (or chock the wheels) so the car can’t roll.
2. Remove the gear-lever cover (prise it up) to expose the shift-lock override.
3. Insert a screwdriver into the override and press it as shown in the car’s handbook.
4. While pressing, move the lever to ‘N’, then remove the screwdriver.
5. Refit the cover — the car can now be moved or towed.

After You’ve Freed It

• If this happened because of a flat 12 V battery, charge or renew it — see our DS 4 battery guide.
• If the lever keeps sticking with a healthy battery, the shift-lock or brake-light switch may be faulty — that usually stores a code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my DS 4 stuck in Park?

Most often a flat 12 V battery or a shift-lock fault; the override under the lever cover frees it.

Where is the emergency release?

Under the gear-lever cover — prise the cover off to reach the override.

Is it safe to do myself?

Yes — apply the parking brake or chock the wheels first so the car can’t roll.

It keeps sticking — what now?

With a good battery, a sticking lever points to the shift-lock or brake-light switch; look up any stored code on autodtcs.com.

For the underlying battery fix, see our DS 4 battery disconnect/reconnect guide.