2013 2.5L stuck in park

Hey everyone
I’m not really into cars and this is my first one but I had a problem today. I went to the gas station to fill up, and when I got back in my car, I couldn’t drive away from the spot

I switched the car to D but it won’t light up on the display and the car doesn’t move

Sounds like the shifter cable bushing might have broken. Happened to my 2016 Fusion and the dealer replaced it for free since it was a recall.

Oak said:
Sounds like the shifter cable bushing might have broken. Happened to my 2016 Fusion and the dealer replaced it for free since it was a recall.

That’s probably it - the shifter seems disconnected from everything. My 2014 Escape had the same issue. The bushing crumbles over time and eventually breaks off.

There’s a recall for this, or you can get a replacement part for about $10 at most parts stores.

@Chen
You might want to take it to the dealer to get the recall noted on your VIN. It could make things tricky if you decide to sell it later.

Oak said:
Sounds like the shifter cable bushing might have broken. Happened to my 2016 Fusion and the dealer replaced it for free since it was a recall.

This also happened to my 2019. It’s likely the same fix, and it’s cheap. If you’re up for it, it can be a quick DIY job.

Oak said:
Sounds like the shifter cable bushing might have broken. Happened to my 2016 Fusion and the dealer replaced it for free since it was a recall.

I can confirm this. Your shifter has a cable connected to it, and that cable is held by a bushing that tends to fail.

I got stuck trying to reverse in a parking lot before. My dad fixed it once, but then I found out there was a recall and I had it replaced to be safe.

@Chen
Does this happen a lot? I’m at a friend who’s a mechanic and want to know if this is a recurring issue.

Yan said:
@Chen
Does this happen a lot? I’m at a friend who’s a mechanic and want to know if this is a recurring issue.

It can happen. My 2017 has a plastic piece, which can break easily since it’s plastic and gets hot. It’s a common issue.

Oak said:
Sounds like the shifter cable bushing might have broken. Happened to my 2016 Fusion and the dealer replaced it for free since it was a recall.

Thanks everyone! I was really worried, but my mechanic friend is helping out. I think I need to learn more about cars.

Have you checked if your tires need air

Ben said:
Have you checked if your tires need air

I think that’s just a sensor issue, my mechanic checked and said the tires are fine

Maybe stop chewing on the shifter

Quin said:
Maybe stop chewing on the shifter

But it has a good taste :frowning:

Yan said:

Quin said:
Maybe stop chewing on the shifter

But it has a good taste :frowning:

My wife’s shifter got sticky and began falling apart. I got her a leather wrap from an online store.

It’s likely the shifter cable

Nuri said:
It’s likely the shifter cable

You’re right, thanks!

I agree with the others, it’s probably the cable. Your dashboard lights say the hood is open, which can prevent the car from moving as a safety feature. Close the hood and try again. If it still doesn’t work, then it’s likely the cable.

@Hadi
The hood lights were on because I opened it to check. I got someone to look at it and it turns out it was indeed the transmission cable :sweat_smile: Thanks for your help!

Yan said:
@Hadi
The hood lights were on because I opened it to check. I got someone to look at it and it turns out it was indeed the transmission cable :sweat_smile: Thanks for your help!

Good to hear it was an easy fix. On newer models, you can’t shift out of park with the hood open without doing an override.

You can override the shifter to force it into gear, but if it’s really disconnected, that won’t help. It’s mostly useful for getting into neutral to tow.