🚨 2026 Jeep Gladiator: Emergency Neutral
The 2026 Gladiator is expected to continue using a traditional center console-mounted electronic shifter with a button on the side for releasing from Park.
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — details like the exact override location may vary by trim; verify visually before prying anything.
⚠️ Chock the wheels first — neutral means the car can roll. Set the parking brake while you work, never stand downhill of the vehicle, and try a 12-volt jump before any override: power fixes most stuck-in-park problems instantly.
The procedure
- Apply the parking brake firmly and chock the wheels.
- Locate the small rectangular plastic cap on the console to the right of the shifter base (driver's side).
- Use a small flathead screwdriver or trim tool to carefully pry off the cap.
- Insert a screwdriver, key, or similar tool into the revealed shift lock override slot.
- While pressing down on the brake pedal (if possible) and holding the tool in the override slot, press the shifter button and move the shifter to Neutral.
- If the battery is completely dead and you cannot start the vehicle, the shifter may still move to Neutral using the override—you do not need electrical power for the mechanical override to function.
Shift-lock override location
Small rectangular cap on the console to the right of the shifter base; override slot is directly beneath this cap.
With zero electrical power
The shift lock override is a mechanical release and does not require battery power. Insert a tool into the override slot and move the shifter to Neutral. The vehicle can then be rolled or winched onto a flatbed.