The Lemon IndexA car that won’t shift into gear, or is slow to engage, usually has a transmission or shifter problem.
Fix soon. Don’t force it. If it won’t engage, have it towed.
Low transmission fluid. Then: a broken shifter cable or linkage; a faulty brake switch or shift interlock.
Owners describe this in 12,236 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford F-Series.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Chrysler 300 | 141 | 8% |
| 2013 Ford F-Series | 125 | 4% |
| 2005 Chrysler 300 | 107 | 10% |
| 2014 Jeep Cherokee | 107 | 4% |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 104 | 3% |
| 2002 Ford Explorer | 102 | 3% |
| 2007 Dodge Charger | 98 | 17% |
| 2003 Honda Accord | 92 | 5% |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 92 | 3% |
| 2007 Chrysler 300 | 90 | 14% |
| 2015 Chrysler 200 | 89 | 4% |
| 2008 Dodge Avenger | 87 | 10% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2007 Dodge Charger · 17% 2007 Chrysler 300 · 14% 2013 Dodge Dart · 12% 2000 BMW 3 Series · 12% 2008 Dodge Avenger · 10% 2005 Chrysler 300 · 10% 2016 Dodge Dart · 8% 2006 Chrysler 300 · 8%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of car won't go into gear
- Low transmission fluid
- A broken shifter cable or linkage
- A faulty brake switch or shift interlock
- A transmission control fault
- Internal transmission wear
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if your car won't go into gear?
Fix soon. Don’t force it. If it won’t engage, have it towed.
Get help right away if it slips out of gear while driving.
Of the 12,236 complaints describing it, 2% mention a crash, 3% say the car was towed, 0.7% mention a fire and 0.9% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: power train (79%), electrical system (15%), engine (11%), vehicle speed control (6%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 70,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (3,029), Dodge (1,126), Chevrolet (1,030), Jeep (834), Chrysler (755).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (4x4 & axles, transmission repairs): the middle half ran $2,200 to $6,000, typical $3,900, from 329 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
P0700 P0720 P0722 P0776 P0747 P0717 P0740 P0741
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Transmission shifting hard Transmission slipping Transmission shudder Car rolled away in park Whining noise when accelerating Clutch pedal stuck to the floor
Quick answers
What causes car won't go into gear?
A car that won’t shift into gear, or is slow to engage, usually has a transmission or shifter problem. Common causes: low transmission fluid; a broken shifter cable or linkage; a faulty brake switch or shift interlock; a transmission control fault; internal transmission wear.
Is it safe to drive if your car won't go into gear?
Fix soon. Don’t force it. If it won’t engage, have it towed.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford F-Series, Ford Focus and Chrysler 300. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 329 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $2,200 to $6,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup