🚨 2019 Mercedes-Benz S560 W222: Emergency Neutral
The 2019 S560 (W222 facelift) uses a column-mounted electronic gear selector stalk with full electronic control and no mechanical linkage.
✓ 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 apply the electric parking brake if functional.
- If any battery power remains, turn the ignition to ON by pressing the start button without pressing the brake pedal (or insert key fob into slot and turn).
- Press the brake pedal and move the column stalk down (toward D) to the first detent position, which selects Neutral.
- If the electronic shifter does not respond due to power issues, locate the shift lock override access point: look for a small round or rectangular cap on the upper right side of the column shroud near the shifter stalk base.
- Remove the override cap and insert a small screwdriver or key blade into the slot.
- While pressing the override and depressing the brake pedal (if any power available), attempt to move the stalk to Neutral.
- If successful, the instrument cluster should display 'N' and the vehicle can roll.
Shift-lock override location
Small cap on the upper right side of the column shroud near the shifter stalk base (exact position may vary; inspect the column shroud carefully)
With zero electrical power
With completely dead 12V battery, the W222 electronic shifter may not release even with the override due to the fully electronic transmission control system. The 9G-TRONIC transmission has an electronic park lock actuator. If the override method fails: (1) Attempt to jump-start or provide auxiliary 12V power to the vehicle first, or (2) access the transmission from underneath—locate the park lock actuator on the transmission case (left side), disconnect the electrical connector, and manually release the park pawl using the emergency release lever (requires removing a protective cap and rotating a lever mechanism). This is complex and typically requires a professional or flatbed transport.