Release the Shift Lock (Stuck in Park)

Last updated: June 10, 2026

If the gear lever on your Subaru Outback (2015–2019) — the BS — won’t come out of P, typically after a flat 12 V battery or a shift-lock fault, there’s an emergency release hidden by the gear lever so you can free it and move the car.

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 solenoid fault.

Releasing the Lever

1. Apply the parking brake (or chock the wheels) and stop the engine.
2. Open the small storage compartment lid beside the gear lever and lift up the interior trim to expose the release.
3. Press the release (a screwdriver helps) and, holding it, move the lever out of ‘P’.
4. Refit the trim and lid — the car can now be moved.

After You’ve Freed It

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Subaru Outback stuck in Park?

Most often a flat 12 V battery or a shift-lock fault; the release by the gear lever frees it.

Where is the release?

Under the storage-compartment lid/trim beside the gear lever.

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 Outback battery disconnect/reconnect guide.