🚨 2023 Smart ForTwo: Emergency Neutral
Smart ForTwo was not officially sold as a new vehicle in the United States for the 2023 model year (discontinued after 2019).
🧰 Drafted with AI under the editorial review of Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — details like the exact override location may vary by trim; verify visually before prying anything.
⚠️ 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
- NOTE: The Smart ForTwo was discontinued in the US market after the 2019 model year and production ended globally
- If you have a 2023-titled vehicle, verify the actual model year and market of origin
- For any C453-generation ForTwo (2016-2019 US, through ~2019 globally), locate the shift lock override on the right side of the shifter base
- Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the small cover cap
- Insert a tool into the override slot and press down while moving the shifter to Neutral
Shift-lock override location
If this is a C453-generation vehicle, the override is typically on the right side of the shifter base under a cover cap
With zero electrical power
With zero electrical power, use the mechanical shift lock override. Note that Smart ForTwo production ended globally around 2019-2020, so a 2023 model year is highly unlikely.