🚨 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser: Emergency Neutral
The 2020 Land Cruiser uses a traditional floor-mounted console shifter with an electronic shift lock that prevents movement out of Park without the brake pedal depressed.
🧰 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 set the parking brake firmly.
- Turn the ignition to the ACC or ON position if you have any 12V power available.
- Locate the shift lock override slot, which is a small covered opening on the right side of the shifter base near the P position.
- Use a flat-head screwdriver or similar tool to pry off the small plastic cap covering the override slot.
- Insert a small flat-head screwdriver, key, or similar tool into the override slot and push down firmly.
- While holding the tool down in the override slot, move the shifter out of Park into Neutral.
- Remove the tool and replace the plastic cap once the vehicle is in Neutral.
Shift-lock override location
Small covered slot on the right side of the shifter base, adjacent to the Park position indicator
With zero electrical power
With no 12V power, you cannot turn the ignition to ACC/ON, but the mechanical shift lock override still functions. Simply use the override slot procedure without turning the key—the override is purely mechanical and will release the shifter.