These instructions apply to the Maserati Levante (M161) 2016-2024.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If the gear lever on your Maserati Levante (2016–2024) won’t move out of ‘P’ — typically after a flat battery or an electrical fault — there’s a manual emergency release you can operate to free the transmission so the car can be moved or towed. It is a designed-in recovery feature, not a sign the gearbox has failed, and it exists for exactly the situation where the car has no electrical power to unlock the selector. Knowing where it is turns a Levante that seems immovable — stranded in a garage, on a driveway, or waiting for a recovery truck — into something you can free in a few minutes.
Why the Lever Locks in Park
The automatic transmission holds the selector in ‘P’ with an electrically controlled interlock, so the car can’t be shifted out of Park unless the ignition is on and the brake pedal is pressed. That lock needs power to release. When the 12 V battery is flat or disconnected, or an electrical fault stops the shift-lock working, the lever stays held and normal shifting does nothing at all. The manual release lets you disengage the parking pawl mechanically, bypassing the dead electrics, so the car is free to roll.
Before You Start — Safety
- Apply the parking brake or block the wheels — releasing ‘P’ on a slope lets the car roll.
- Only use this when the lever genuinely won’t leave ‘P’ by normal means.
- Park on level ground where you can keep control of the car once it’s free.
- Have a screwdriver ready and someone at the wheel before you begin.
Releasing the Transmission
- On the driver’s side, move the seat fully back for access.
- Remove the driver’s side floor mat.
- Remove the protective cap covering the release point.
- Using a screwdriver, press the securing clip downwards and at the same time pull the manual release cable.
- The transmission is freed from ‘P’ and the car can be moved.
Refit the cap and floor mat afterwards (installation is the reverse of removal).
If It Won’t Release
- Check the protective cap is fully removed so the securing clip and cable are clear — a partly seated cap gets in the way.
- Keep the clip pressed down while you pull the cable; both have to happen at once for the release to act.
- If the car is resting hard against the parking pawl on a gradient, the cable can feel tight — steady the car with the handbrake and try again.
- Pull the cable firmly and in line rather than at an angle so it doesn’t snag.
- If it still won’t free, stop and arrange recovery rather than forcing the mechanism.
After Using the Release
- Have the cause investigated — this is an emergency measure, not a fix.
- A flat 12 V battery is a common trigger — the battery is in the boot on this car.
- Once power is restored, the shift-lock should work normally again with the ignition on and brake pressed.
- A stored fault can be read — look it up on autodtcs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the emergency park release on a Levante?
It’s under the driver’s side floor mat, behind a protective cap. Slide the seat back, lift out the mat and remove the cap to reach the securing clip and the manual release cable. It’s positioned to be operated by hand with a simple screwdriver when the car has lost power.
Is it safe to use?
Only with the parking brake applied or the wheels blocked. Once ‘P’ is released the transmission no longer holds the car, so it can roll freely. Set up on level ground, chock a wheel and have someone ready at the steering wheel before you pull the release cable.
Why won’t my lever come out of P?
Most often it’s a flat or disconnected 12 V battery, or an electrical fault in the shift-lock circuit. The interlock needs power to unlock, so when there’s none the lever stays in Park. Investigate the electrical cause after you’ve released the car and can move it safely.
Do I need a tool?
Just a screwdriver to press the securing clip while you pull the release cable. The ignition doesn’t need to be on — the release is purely mechanical, which is why it still works when the battery is dead and the electric shift-lock can’t operate at all.
Where is the battery on this car?
The 12 V battery is located in the boot on the Levante. Because a flat battery is the usual reason the lever locks, checking and charging or replacing it is often the real fix. With good power restored the electric shift-lock releases normally and the manual release isn’t needed.
If the lever stuck after a battery issue, see our Levante battery guide, and decode any fault on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Maserati. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.