🚨 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS450 X167: Emergency Neutral
The X167 GLS uses a console-mounted electronic selector lever with electric park brake integration and push-button start.
🧰 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
- Press the brake pedal and push the START/STOP button to attempt to get ignition to ON position (may work with weak battery)
- Press and hold the brake pedal firmly
- If the shifter will not move out of Park, locate the shift lock override access
- Look for a small covered slot near the shifter base on the right side of the center console
- Remove the protective cap carefully with a small flat tool or your fingernail
- Insert a small flathead screwdriver or key blade into the override slot and press down firmly
- While holding the override down, press the release button on the shifter and move it to N
- All GLS 4MATIC models require flatbed towing with all four wheels off the ground if the vehicle cannot be shifted to neutral
Shift-lock override location
Near the right side of the shifter base in the center console, under a small removable cap
With zero electrical power
With completely dead 12V battery, the electronic shifter and electronic parking brake are both inoperative. Jump-starting the battery is essential to provide power to these systems. If jump-start is not possible, flatbed towing with all wheels off the ground is mandatory due to the 4MATIC AWD system.