🚨 2022 Kia Niro EV: Emergency Neutral
The 2022 Niro EV uses an electronic push-button gear selector (P-R-N-D buttons) on the center console.
✓ Expert-verified by Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — master technicians, 20+ years each.
⚠️ 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
- Ensure the vehicle is chocked and secure, and apply the parking brake if functional.
- If the 12V battery has any remaining charge, press the start button twice (without pressing the brake) to turn ignition ON, then press the N button.
- If the 12V battery is completely dead, you must use the manual shift lock override.
- Locate a small rectangular cover on the lower console panel in the vicinity of the push-button shifter (typically below or to the right).
- Carefully pry off the cover using a flat tool.
- Inside the cavity is a pull tab or pull loop (often yellow or white plastic) - grasp and pull this tab firmly.
- While holding the override tab, press or apply pressure to the Park button area to help release the mechanical pawl.
- The transmission should release into Neutral, allowing the vehicle to be rolled.
- If the manual override is ineffective, connect 12V jumper power to the underhood jump posts to temporarily energize the electronic shifter and shift to N.
Shift-lock override location
Small rectangular cover on the lower console near the push-button gear selector - pull tab mechanism inside
With zero electrical power
The electronic push-button shifter will not function without 12V power. Use the manual shift lock override (pull tab accessed under a small cover near the shifter base) to mechanically release the parking pawl. If that fails, apply 12V jumper power to the underhood terminals to briefly power the shifter electronics. The high-voltage EV system does not need to be operational.
⚡ EV / hybrid warning
CRITICAL: The 2022 Niro EV must be towed on a flatbed only - never tow with any wheels on the ground. The electric drive motor is mechanically coupled to the front wheels at all times. Towing with wheels down, even in Neutral, will force the motor to spin and generate electricity, which will cause severe damage to the motor, power inverter, and electrical system. Flat-towing or dolly-towing is prohibited.