These instructions apply to the Skoda Kodiaq Mk1 (NS) 2016-2024.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If your DSG-equipped Skoda Kodiaq Mk1 (NS, 2016–2024) won’t come out of P — typically with a flat battery or a shift-interlock fault — there’s a built-in emergency release so you can move the car. It’s a cabin-only override; no high-voltage or under-car work is involved. Knowing where the release tab sits and how to reach it turns a stranded car into a five-minute job you can do on a driveway or at the roadside while you wait for help.
What the Emergency Release Actually Does
On the automatic Kodiaq, the gear selector is held in P by an electric shift-lock (interlock). Under normal use that lock only frees the lever when the ignition is on and your foot is on the brake, which stops the car being knocked out of Park by accident. The catch is that the interlock needs power to release. If the 12 V battery is flat, or the interlock solenoid or its wiring develops a fault, the electrical release never happens and the lever stays mechanically trapped in P — so the car can’t roll and can’t be pushed onto a transporter.
The emergency release is a small mechanical override built into the selector housing for exactly this situation. Pressing the hidden tab pushes the interlock pawl aside by hand, doing the job the solenoid would normally do electrically. It is a designed-in function, not a bodge, and using it causes no damage. It simply lets you move the lever so the wheels can turn while you deal with whatever caused the lock in the first place.
First, a Few Checks
- Pull the handbrake or chock the wheels first. Releasing the gear-lever lock lets the car roll, so secure it before you touch anything.
- Park on level ground where possible — on a slope the car will want to move the instant the lever leaves P.
- Have a slim flat-bladed screwdriver ready; it is the only tool you need.
- If you have any 12 V power at all, switch the ignition on and keep the brake pedal pressed as you release — the same conditions the lever normally needs.
- Keep passengers, children and pets out of the car’s path before it can roll.
How to Release the Lever from P
- Apply the parking brake.
- Remove the cover around the gear lever — carefully unclip the trim panel beside the selector.
- You’ll see a release tab in the opening. Press and hold it down with a slim flat screwdriver (Skoda’s service tool is T30098, but a small screwdriver does the same job).
- With the brake pedal pressed and the ignition on, move the gear lever out of ‘P’.
- Refit the cover.
If the Lever Still Won’t Move
- You may not be pressing the tab far enough. The override needs firm, steady pressure held down while you nudge the lever — do both at the same time, not one after the other.
- Make sure the trim is fully unclipped so the tab is exposed. Forcing the lever against a still-latched interlock will not work and risks marking the trim.
- Try with the brake pedal pressed even if the dash is dead — the mechanical override still expects the lever to be free to slide.
- If it moves but the car won’t coast, confirm the parking brake has actually released (the electronic brake also needs power) before assuming the gearbox is at fault.
Then What?
This only gets you mobile — for example to roll off a driveway or onto a recovery truck. It is not a repair. 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 the lever will lock and unlock normally, and you can refit the trim without any further reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Kodiaq DSG is stuck in Park — how do I move it?
Set the handbrake, unclip the gear-lever cover, hold the release tab down with a small screwdriver, and move the lever out of P. Keep the brake pedal pressed and the ignition on if you have any power, and make sure the car is chocked before it can roll.
Is this safe to do myself?
Yes — it’s a cabin override with no electrical risk and no under-car work. The only real hazard is the car rolling once the lever leaves P, so secure it with the handbrake or chocks first and keep people clear of its path.
Why did the lever lock in P?
Usually a flat 12 V battery, which leaves the interlock solenoid without the power it needs to release. It can also be an interlock fault or a wiring problem. If it happens with a known-good battery, that points to the interlock itself rather than a charging issue.
Do I need the special tool?
No — Skoda lists tool T30098, but a slim flat-bladed screwdriver presses the same release tab. The tool is simply a neat, purpose-shaped version of what a screwdriver does; there is no electronics or coding involved in the override itself.
Will using the override damage the gearbox?
No. The emergency release is a designed-in mechanical function meant for exactly this scenario. It only frees the selector lock — it does not touch the transmission internals — so using it correctly causes no harm and needs no reset afterward.
Do I need to reset anything once the battery is fixed?
No reset is required for the selector itself. Once 12 V power is restored the interlock works normally again. A flat battery can, however, wipe learned settings elsewhere in the car, so it is worth checking windows and other convenience functions once you are back up and running.
If the lever locked because of a dead battery, see our Kodiaq battery guide. For a stored fault code behind the interlock warning, look it up on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Skoda. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.