Use the Emergency Park Release

Last updated: June 6, 2026

If your Kia Niro Mk2 (SG2, 2022–present) won’t come out of P — typically with a flat 12 V 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.

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.

How to Release the Selector from P

1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition off.
3. Apply the parking brake.
4. Remove the small cover next to the gear selector to reveal the access hole.
5. Insert a screwdriver into the hole and press the release button; hold it and move the selector out of ‘P’.
6. Remove the screwdriver and refit the cover.

Then What?

This only gets you mobile — for example to roll off a driveway or onto a recovery truck. If the selector wouldn’t release because the 12 V battery is flat, sort the battery; if it happens with a healthy battery, have the shift interlock checked.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Kia Niro is stuck in Park — how do I move it?

Press the brake, set the parking brake, remove the cover by the selector, press the release button through the access hole with a screwdriver, and move the selector out of P.

Is this safe to do myself?

Yes — it’s a cabin override with no electrical risk. Secure the car first, as it can roll once released.

Why did it lock in P?

Usually a flat 12 V battery (no power to the interlock) or an interlock fault.

Do I need a tool?

A small flat screwdriver to lift the cover and press the release.

If it locked because of a dead battery, see our Niro battery guide. For a stored fault code, look it up on autodtcs.com.