Cannot shift out of drive

[jkcondon]

Saturday, 5:46 PM. 22 Forester; no problems x 3 years. Wife got home from a shopping trip and could not put the car in PARK. I couldn't either; engine could not be turned off and I didn't know what else to try. I went in the house and tried to call the dealer but got no one; was looking for user forum on computer when wife called me to tell me she got it in PARK somehow. She tried using all the buttons but doesn't know which one did it. Temporary relief! What happened -- and how do we prevent this?

If this has been answered previously, I apologize for not reading all 34 pages of questions; I read only 10 but it took an hour and a half. This forum could be better ORGANIZED BY SUBARU.

 

[Dick Foster]

Wow that's strange. What model year?
I don't think Suburu really has anything to do with this forum. It's just enthusiasts and owners.

 

[bmart]

Buttons?

 

[jkcondon]

It's a 1922, purchased in December 2021: our first, and we like it alot. I don't know what buttons / switches she tried; I was in the house looking up this forum. She doesn't understand all the various controls and functions but she was getting desperate to be able to turn off the engine and put it in PARK; she (and I) couldn't get the shift lever out of DRIVE or turn the engine off. Sticky situation.

 

[Dick Foster]

It's a 1922, purchased in December 2021: our first, and we like it alot. I don't know what buttons / switches she tried; I was in the house looking up this forum. She doesn't understand all the various controls and functions but she was getting desperate to be able to turn off the engine and put it in PARK; she (and I) couldn't get the shift lever out of DRIVE or turn the engine off. Sticky situation.

LOL I don't think Suburu was making anything, must less cars in 1922. How many miles were on the clock after all those years? 99 by my count. Sometimes typos are funny.

 

[Stevsub4]

LOL I don't think Suburu ....

I'm guilty of typos too - but not typically with the name Subaru! Since there are many transmission possibilities - 5 and 6 speed manual, 4 speed and CVT automatic, specifying which one is significant. I can't help with that though, I believe there are others on here that have great knowledge and experience that hopefully can.

I do wonder about 'buttons and switches' though - maybe to turn the engine off? As Dick stated, it's not likely Subaru is at all involved with this forum, it's extremely unlikely they organized or maintain it.

 

[Stormy]

I have had a similar, but different situation with our 2010 Subaru Forester. Sometimes if I left the car parked with the wheels turned a certain way, it would not let the car start. I don't remember if the shift was involved or not. However, it was one of those unique things that can happen with various vehicles. Just for preventive measures, try to park with the wheels in a straight forward position. And notice carefully if your shift locks up again whether wheels, or key position etc might be triggering this unique issue. Just my thoughts.