Symptoms
- Car creeps forward or backward on a slope while in park
- Shifter feels like it goes into park but doesn't fully hold
- Clunk or looseness felt when shifting to park
- Parking brake needed to actually hold the car still
Likely causes
- CommonWorn or broken parking pawlThis small internal part locks the output shaft when you select park; if it's worn or broken, it can't hold the car.
- PossibleShift linkage not fully engaging parkA misadjusted or worn linkage can leave the transmission just short of full park engagement.
- PossibleWorn parking pawl springThe spring that keeps the pawl engaged can weaken, letting it slip under load.
- Less commonInternal transmission damageMore extensive wear can affect the pawl mechanism along with other components.
What to do
- Always use the parking brake in addition to park, especially on any slope, until this is fixed.
- Confirm the shifter is going fully into the park position and not stopping short.
- Do not rely on park alone to hold the vehicle if you've noticed any rolling, since this is a safety issue for anyone near the vehicle.
- Avoid parking on inclines until repaired if at all possible.
- Have a transmission shop inspect the parking pawl, spring, and linkage as soon as possible.
- Get the pawl or related linkage repaired rather than just compensating with the parking brake long-term.
- Warn anyone else who drives the vehicle about the issue until it's fixed.
When to call a pro
See a transmission shop as soon as possible; a failing parking pawl is a safety issue, not just an inconvenience.
Safety
Use caution
A car that rolls in park isn't actually secured; always set the parking brake as a backup and get this fixed promptly, especially before parking on any incline.