🚨 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE: Emergency Neutral
The 2016 GLE (W166 platform) uses Mercedes' traditional center console-mounted electronic shifter with a lever that returns to center position after each selection.
✓ 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 on a level surface and the parking brake is engaged.
- Turn the ignition to position II (or press start button twice without brake pedal) to energize the transmission control module.
- Press and hold the brake pedal firmly.
- Push the shifter lever upward once to select Neutral (from Park, one movement up).
- If the shifter will not move due to a failed brake-light switch, locate the shift-lock override slot on the center console.
- Look for a small rectangular cap directly to the left of the shifter base, near the driver's side edge of the shifter surround.
- Pry off the cap with a flathead screwdriver or your fingernail to expose the override slot.
- Insert a small flathead screwdriver or key blade into the slot and press down firmly while simultaneously moving the shifter upward to Neutral.
- The shifter should release and allow movement to Neutral; you may need to maintain pressure on the override while shifting.
- Once in Neutral, the vehicle can be pushed or winched onto a flatbed.
Shift-lock override location
Under a small rectangular cap directly to the left of the shifter base on the center console, near the driver's side of the shifter surround
With zero electrical power
With a completely dead battery, you must first connect a jump pack or jumper cables to provide 12V power to the vehicle. The electronic shifter and shift-lock solenoid require power to function. Once power is supplied, turn the ignition to position II and use the shift-lock override procedure above. If no power source is available, the vehicle must be winched onto a flatbed with all four wheels off the ground (AWD models) or rear wheels off the ground (RWD models).