🚨 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 X166: Emergency Neutral
The X166 GLS uses a console-mounted electronic selector lever with a traditional PRND pattern.
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — cross-check against your owner’s manual when possible.
⚠️ 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 flat surface and wheel chocks are in place
- Attempt to turn ignition to position 2 (ON) using the key
- Press and hold the brake pedal firmly
- If the shifter will not move out of Park, locate the shift lock override access
- The override access is a small rectangular slot covered by a cap, located to the right of the shifter base in the center console
- Carefully pry off the plastic cap using a small flat tool
- Insert a small flathead screwdriver or key blade into the slot and press down firmly
- While holding the override down, move the shifter to N position
- If vehicle has 4MATIC all-wheel drive and no power is available, flatbed towing with all four wheels off the ground is required
Shift-lock override location
Small rectangular slot to the right of the shifter base in the center console, under a removable plastic cap
With zero electrical power
With completely dead battery, attempt to jump-start the 12V battery to provide minimum power for the electronic shifter. If jump-start is impossible, the mechanical override should still function, but the electronic transmission module may prevent engagement. Flatbed towing is the safest option for 4MATIC models.