If Your Car Rolls in Park it Could Mean Your Transmission is About to Fail
If you have an automatic transmission, you expect your car to stay in place when you put it in park. If your car rolls when in park, or your transmission is slipping or you’re experiencing other issues, bring your car to AAMCO for a complete Vehicle Courtesy Check. This will help identify any issues that need to be looked into and possibly repaired. See our current specials and coupons.
Automatic transmissions are the most complex mechanical systems in a car. There are over 800 moving parts in a transmission, so when something goes wrong it’s a good idea to have it checked out – especially something like your car rolling when it’s supposed to be parked. This can be a safety hazard and result in damage and injury – or even worse, as proven by the tragic story of the actor, Anton Yelchin. In that case, the design of the shifter was a major safety issue, and cars with that feature are now under recall. But whether due to design or mechanical failure, if your car rolls when it is in park, you should to take it to a mechanic right away.
Stay! Good Car…
When we put our cars in park, we expect them to stay where they are. But there are certain parts of the transmission that are key to keeping the car from rolling, especially if the car is on an incline. We’ll call these parts the parking mechanism, and these parts make it possible to:
- Disengage the parking mechanism when the car is on an incline
- Engage the parking mechanism even when the lever doesn’t line up with the gear
- Prevent the lever from disengaging and permitting the car to roll
When the transmission is shifted into park, a lever called the parking pawl engages the teeth on the transmission output – the piece of the transmission that connects to the driveshaft. If this piece or the transmission can’t spin, the car can’t move.
The parking mechanism is able to disengage from the transmission because it is tapered on both sides, which also helps the parking brake disengage when parked on a hill. When a car is parked on an incline, a lot of stress is placed on the parking mechanism, which means it is more difficult for the mechanism to engage and disengage – be put into and out of park.
A Little Roll is OK
If the parking mechanism lines up so it goes into one of the notches between the teeth on the output gear section, the tapered bushing will push the mechanism down. If the mechanism lines up on one of the high spots on the output, the spring pushes on the tapered bushing and the lever will not lock into place until the car rolls a little so the teeth can line up with the pawl. This is why your car rolls a little bit after you put it in park and let off the brake. It has to roll a little for the teeth on the output to line up so the parking mechanism can click into place and stop the transmission from spinning.
Set the brake first, then put it in park
Your car’s transmission will wear over the years. Believe it or not, even just parking can wear on the transmission. The parking mechanism can experience greater than normal wear if you consistently park on inclines. One thing to remember if you do have to park on inclines a lot – and it’s just good parking practice – is to set the parking brake before you put the car in park. This way any pressure from an incline will be absorbed by the brake and it won’t be up to the parking mechanism all by itself to hold all that weight and keep your car in place.
A Lot of Roll is Dangerous
If your car rolls significantly – more than an inch or two – when first put in park, bring it to your local Colorado AAMCO as soon as you can for inspection. This is a dangerous condition that could cause injury to people, damage to property, or worse if not addressed quickly by a transmission expert. Whether your car rolls forwards or backwards, it is an indicator of either the parking mechanism being worn out, or something else such as the engagement of the pawl just not working. If you think there is an issue with your transmission, you should have it checked immediately.
Visit an AAMCO Colorado location near you for a complete transmission inspection. Schedule an appointment online now for a transmission inspection and Vehicle Courtesy Check before it is too late.
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Watch this video – see a transmission explode in slow motion.
I have a Chrysler 300c 2005 5.7 hemi got in it one day no crank no start good battery so itwas another issue it was the startor replace that still the car no crank no start all fuses good all relays we’re good all lights Bright radio played too then notice something else the car would rows why pack so got thinking if car in p it’s not supposed to more but a little bit now I no why it want start it only will start p or n it was the cable came off the shifer it took me 3 days to figure it out that’s why I wasn’t getting any fire to my ignition solved
What makes my 200ford f150 jerk when I park on a slight hill
Hi Cathy,
Please submit your question through AAMCO Colorado Ask a Mechanic and an AAMCO mechanic will respond.
Thanks!
Your Friends at AAMCO Colorado
I put truck in park 2004 tundra and it just rolled back. Any clues what might cause that
Jamie,
While we can’t say for sure without seeing your vehicle in person, you might be interested in this article about reasons why your car rolls when you put it in park. If the problem persists, we suggest visiting your local AAMCO Colorado service center and one of our expert technicians will perform a thorough diagnostic scan to diagnose your problem and get your car back on the road fast.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Rodeo izusu got out shop for transmission repair..started a few times, won’t start now. Then I noticed it rolled in park.. is that why it won’t start?
I have a 2006 suzuki forenza. It already has a number problems. Bad transmission Range sensor, which only allows me to drive using 123. Not it won’t let me shift in park, and due to the Range Sensor malfunctioning, I can’t start the car in neutral because it doesn’t read. I used to be able to park by pressing down the shifter and shaking it until I heard a ckick, while on an incline. Now it rolls back with a light clicking sound and doesn’t engage. I don’t know if it’s the shifter cables, or the pawl. Pls help.
Please submit your question through AAMCO Colorado Ask a Mechanic and an AAMCO mechanic will respond, or stop by one of our 14 Colorado service centers so that we can perform a thorough diagnostic test.
Thanks!
Your Friends at AAMCO Colorado
Flora,
While we can’t say for sure what your problem is over the internet, we’d be happy to take a look if you want to stop by one of our 14 Colorado service centers so that we can perform a thorough diagnostic test.
Thanks!
Your Friends at AAMCO Colorado
i have a 2006 Toyota sienna and while on the highway the vehicle shut off. I had the vehicle towed home and the vehicle starts but doesn’t move and makes a loud grinding noise when you put your foot on the gas. also when the vehicle is off and in park the vehicle will still roll. I need help what does this mean?
when I put my 2005 outback in park with the motor running it engages an holds the car (even on a slight incline) however when I turn the car off it disengages and rolls backwards.
Tiffany,
We suggest asking your question through our Ask a Mechanic feature, and a real mechanic can get back to you soon. Or, if you are local, stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Rick,
If you are experiencing these problems we suggest visiting one of our 14 AAMCO Colorado service centers where our expert mechanics can perform a free diagnostic scan to determine the issue with your car.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
I have a Jaguar xe 66 plate if I park on an incline and put my foot on the foot brake and change from drive to park and then release the foot break the car tools back slightly and then stops, if I apply the electronic hand break manually before putting it in park and release foot brake then the car doesn’t roll back at all is this normal
Mark,
Unfortunately, we can not diagnose your vehicle without seeing it in one of our service centers. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
I’m having a “chugging” problem with my 1999 Pontiac grand am. when i am about to park, i hold down my brake pedal, then i put my car into park, when i release my brake pedal, my car will sort of “chug” or “pull” forward a little, but remain parked. is this an issue that i should have looked at?
Josh,
If your car rolls after you have placed it in park this could indicate a problem with your car, and we strongly suggest visiting a trusted mechanics to be safe. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
I have a 203 Dodge Ram, when I put it in park it continues to roll backwards, what could be causing this,it has 165 thousands miles, just happened tonight June 21 2019 Park does not hold the truck when I release the parking brake or the foot brake
My car want move in ether of the gears
Paul,
Depending on the amount of roll, this could indicate a growing transmission issue. Unfortunately, we can not diagnose your vehicle without seeing it in one of our service centers. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
John,
Typically if your car won’t move in gear this could indicate a few different problems, including a problem with your transmission. Unfortunately, we can not diagnose your vehicle without seeing it in one of our service centers. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
2005 Ford Ranger.
Truck rolls about a foot in park. Sometimes I have to roll it back with my hand holding the shifter in park before it grabs And then I can start the truck. Does that sound like a transmission problem ?
Damien,
If your truck rolls when you put it in park, or you are having other issues related to shifting this can indicate a transmission problem. However, we can not diagnose your vehicle without seeing it in one of our service centers. If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 14 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can access any repair needs your vehicle may have. You can also contact one of our mechanics directly by using our Ask A Mechanic feature.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado
Will my c-6 transmission turn freely by hand if the gear selector is in park or drive?
Kenneth,
If you are local to Colorado stop by one of 15 Colorado AAMCO Service centers and we can perform a free diagnostic check on your vehicle where we can assess any repair needs your vehicle may have or help you with any questions about your car. If you have additional questions, be sure to check out our “Ask a Mechanic” feature, where you can email in your question to one of our AAMCO Colorado mechanics.
Thanks,
AAMCO Colorado