Release the Gear Selector from Park in an Emergency

Last updated: June 12, 2026

If your automatic Suzuki Vitara Mk4 (LY, 2015–2024) with the 6-speed automatic gearbox is stuck in Park and the lever won’t move — usually because of a flat 12 V battery, a blown fuse or a shift-interlock fault — you can release it manually so the car can be rolled or loaded onto a recovery truck. This guide shows the emergency park-release for the Vitara 6AT. It is a recovery step, not a repair.

When You Need This

The automatic Vitara locks the selector in P until the car has power, your foot is on the brake and the electronics release the shift-lock. If the battery is dead or a fault prevents that, the lever stays in P and the parking pawl keeps the car immobile. The manual override frees the selector so you can select neutral.

Safety First

• Apply the parking brake or chock the wheels before releasing — the car can roll once it is in neutral.
• Work on level ground, or with the car already secured on a recovery vehicle.
• Do not press the brake pedal during this procedure — Suzuki specifies the override is done with the ignition on but the brake released.

How to Release the Vitara from Park

1. Apply the parking brake (or chock the wheels) and turn the engine off.
2. Turn the ignition on: press the start/stop button once (do not press the brake), or turn the key to position “1” on cars without a start button.
3. Beside the gear selector, use a flat screwdriver (tape sharp edges) to prise off the cover lip.
4. Insert the screwdriver into the opening.
5. Press and hold the gear-shift lock button down, and at the same time press and hold the release button in the opening. (On right-hand-drive cars there are two buttons to press and hold together.)
6. With both held, move the gear lever out of P into N.
7. Remove the screwdriver and refit the cover.

With the car in neutral it can be rolled or winched — keep it braked or chocked until it is secured.

After the Emergency Release

This only frees the car — it does not fix the cause. The most common reason is a flat or failing 12 V battery; once power is restored the selector works normally. See our Vitara battery guide if that was the cause. If the battery is healthy but it keeps sticking, a fault will be stored — look it up on autodtcs.com and have the cause checked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my automatic Vitara stuck in Park?

Almost always a flat 12 V battery or a blown fuse that stops the shift-lock releasing. A brake-light switch or selector fault can do the same.

Why must I NOT press the brake during the release?

Suzuki’s procedure has you turn the ignition on without the brake, then operate the mechanical override. Pressing the brake can interfere with the shift-lock logic on this gearbox.

Will I damage anything?

No — the shift-lock override is designed for exactly this. Operate it gently and refit the cover afterwards.

Does this apply to the manual Vitara?

No — only the 6-speed automatic has a shift-lock to override. A manual is freed simply by depressing the clutch.

To clear a service reminder after related work, see our Suzuki Vitara service indicator reset guide.