CarComplaints.com Notes: This is a classic example of why you should avoid the first model year of a new car. Sure, it's new and shiny but there's going to be some growing pains.
The Fix To Your Shifter Problems - This just happened to my 2005 Magnum, found this online and it worked like a dream. A couple hours of your time is all you need.
THE FIX - I've got a 2005 Magnum that this just happened to. Could not shift it out of park. I found this very helpful, a few hours of your time is all you need. I did it to mine and it works like a dream.
SHOULD BE A RECALL IF OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE CHANGED OVER 300 DODGE GEAR SHIFT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PARK. DODGE NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT, RECALL OR ANYTHING? I AM FRUSTRATED AND NEED DODGE'S HELP!
Had this same problem. Shifter stuck in park and will not budge. Website here says average cost to fix is $300-500 dollars but also lists a do it yourself fix that is a lot cheaper. I have no mechanical skills at all but since my car is long out of warranty I might see if my local mechanic can do this fix rather than simply have the dealership replace the flawed system with one exactly like it.
Had issues with shifter. Had towed to Greenbrier Dodge for repairs. They dismantled shifter assembly and replaced a small plastic tab. Worked for about 4 mos, then started happening again. Again went to Greenbrier Dodge. They stated that they would have to completely dismantle shifter/ transmission to determine the problem. If it was same thing again, they would replace (and I would have to pay labor). Or if it was different plastic piece, i would be responsible for ALL cost incurred. Why not replace both plastic pieces at time of initial problem (they were aware of the multiple problems/ complaints with both).
Not only did they fail to examine the true problem; they wanted to charge me twice for the same service, despite failing to determine the cause of REPEATED service issue. So now I am stuck having to shove finger into the space to trip the release. Not able to cover the cost to replace issue, AGAIN.
Update from Jul 27, 2015: Actual mileage was 90,000. It happened around 2013, instead of previously reported date and mileage.
Car was giving us problems here and there for a few years with getting stuck in park. Was able to press the brake and release several times checking in between to see if it would let us get it out of park and eventually it would work. But one day it didn't do anything.
My husband took everything apart, the worse problem we had was getting the gear shift off; we found out later it just screws off (duh). We watched a few videos on how to fix it and my dad attached a piece of metal, making a circle in it for the spring to attach to and attached the metal with a small screw to the pink piece of plastic. So far so good.
I buy my 2005 Dodge Magnum 6 months ago. Always have transmission problem. I spend so much money on dat f*cking transmission man, I wish I never buy dat dammm Dodge Magnum. My first Dodge and last one too.
- mikecharles,
Lake Worth, FL, US
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As like with all makes of the Dodge Magnum 2005 even Triple A is familiar with towing these vehicles regularly for this problem. Listed under recall for other years but not 2005 which is absolutely absurd!!!!!!
Used to Love my 2005 magnum, Now I consider it one of the worst cars I have ever owned! My wife was going to work and I was away working out of the state, the car got stuck on park and would not disengage. I tried to guide her over the phone to check the common sense just to get both of us upset over the phone! we called the dealer, they told us we need to remove the coverings and access the freaking pink crap button to put it on drive. They already knew what the problem was. They also said bring it in and it would be about 500 bucks! freaking unbelievable! I don't have that much money. any ways wife missed work for two days until her friend picked her up. When I returned I removed all the coverings just to find the pink crap free floating. got it to shift to drive. haven't been able to fix it and we just keep it on neutral and never put it on park just use the E-brake to keep car from rolling away since 2011!. After doing some research, sounds like this is a major flaw with the car. I will try to perform the fix my self after looking at this post. hopefully I don't break something else. Will probably be the last Dodge I will ever buy! :(
The little pink thingy got stuck the first time while I was at work in 2011. I finally got it to unengaged and went to a mechanic who told me he see's this all the time. He showed me how to use a screwdriver or other thin long object to push the "pink thingy" and the gear shifter would move. It worked for a long time. Then in late June of 2012 my husband sold some weight equipment. The guy who bought it was a service writer at Dodge. My husband told him about the problem. He said they fix at least 3 a month of this problem and that it was on recall. I called Dodge and was told yes it was on recall but get this every model except 2005. WTF. I decided to continue to use the screwdriver until 9/11/12 (for real) It was quitting time at work and I went to my car and believe it the screwdriver trick stopped working. I had to call a tow truck have it towed to the closest dealer some 20 miles and leave it. The tow truck driver told me he towed at least one dodge per week with the same issue. The next morning I got a call from the dealer that they had the part for my 2005 in stock and they could have it ready by noon. WOW how lucky they have a 2005 part available...gee I wonder if its because THEY REPLACE SEVERAL every week. If this is not a manufacturers defect I don't know what is. Long story short $354.97 later my car works again...until the little pink thingy dries out again I live in the desert so probably next summer.
I cannot get my car out of park. I found the pink thing but it doesn't work. I can't find the metal thing that Edward talked about. Still workin on it off and on. I don't have the money to get this fixed but I guess I'll have to come with it somehow. My husband is disabled and needs to get to the doctor. This is the pitts and I didn't even get the cherry.
My wife and I got up Sunday morning went to Ihop for breakfast and went shopping at a local store in Sacramento. My 2005 Magnum was running fine, No transmission slipping, no noise and no leaks of any kind. My gas was low so we decided to pull into a near by AM PM to fill up. When I was done filling the car with gas, I started it up and tried to put the car into gear and it wouldn't budge. I tried to move the gear for over an hour. It was 94 degrees that day and my wife and I were getting very frustrated. I don't have roadside assistance on my insurance, so I had to call a near by towing company to tow my my car home, (UNDER 5 MILES) An hour later the first tow truck arrived but he had a flat bed. Since my car was locked in park, my car could not go into neutral and its a all wheel drive. I had to call another tow truck company with dollies for special towing. It cost me $185 to have them tow my car home under 5 miles. My car is home now and I am reading about other complaints about the same problem. YES! this needs to be a recall because I do not want to go to the dealer and spend $600 on something that is simple. I had my transmission serviced 3 months prior to this incident, so I am pretty sure its not my transmission. Does anyone know who to call or where to go to fix this problem?
I bought my Magnum in the beginning of 2008, it had around 60,000 miles on it. One day, later that year sometime, I start it up and shift...try to shift...try to shift again...turn the car off lol. It was a big inconvenience having to deal with this, having no money, and know idea what to do. The Pink button was the solution though for the most part. When I applied the brake, sometimes it wouldn't get stuck, sometimes it would (not a good idea to put it in park if your in a fast food line haha...before I found out abou the Pink button). Eventually though, another problem arose! The button would get it out of park, but it would still get stuck at the corner right before dropping it down into gear. Something, I don't know what, broke inside the case, not allowing it to shift at all. I pulled off all the trim (it looks very ghetto), and now I have to slip my finger down inside and manually push whatever is suppose to be automatically released when you push the brake. So..my shifter gets stuck in two places...in park, and right before dropping into gear. Of course, my car isn't covered under any recall...go figure.
Me and my niece was leaving from the grocery store and when we got into the car & the car started but the gear would not move out of park. So I had to call a tow truck and wait 55 minutes out in the cold before the tow truck came and I had to pay 75.00 for the car to get towed. This was a real problem. When I finally got home it was 11:00pm and I attempted to leave the grocery store at 7:30pm. This type of thing really pissed me off
I have a 7 year, 70000 mile power train/transmission warranty. My car wouldn't get out of park. I was charged $509.20 at the Koons Dodge dealership to replace the gear shift assembly. I googled this problem, and it's a cheap pink plastic piece that broke. Why is this not covered with the warranty?
what a surprise! stuck in driveway can't get car out of park!
Update from Nov 14, 2011: Thanks to this site I figured out the problem was in the shifter box and not transmission. I'm not a mechanic but slightly handy.figured it couldn't get much worse than not moving.
NOW TO FIX: remove rubber cup liner. change tray liner just below ash tray to expose two phillips screws- remove. Remove chrome @ shifter (snaps in). unscrew shifter knob. remove cover around shifter to expose shifter box. there are 4-10mm nuts to remove. cable closest to driver seat is easily disconnected by using screwdriver to release clip. cable on pass. side is disconnected similarly and also remove 1-8mm bolt in adjustment tab. lift unit up and forward to remove using slotted screwdriver to unplug wires. not too hard to do. BE CAREFUL AFTER UNIT IS OUT NOT TO LOOSE THE SPRING THAT IS INSIDE!!! Shifter box can be opened by prying with screwdriver at three latch points. once opened there is a pink plastic part that turns to lock/unlock shifter to which a spring with a green ring should be connected.(I doubt it is and there is the problem)
PARTS REQ'D TO REPAIR: One 1/16" cotter pin about one inch long. Take notice to where spring was attached and remove pink part(no tool req'd). some filing may be necessary to make flat surface. using drill with 1/16" bit drill a hole through pink part so that the head of cotter pin will be located where spring was attached. place cotter pin through hole and bend legs open to secure. re-install pink part and attach spring to it. carefully reassemble shifter box and install in car.
BEST I COULD DO TO HELP!!! even if you buy new tools to do this it better and less expensive than the dealer!!!!!
On the center console to the right of the shifter there is a small rubber tray , Remove this tray, on the inside rear of the hole now there is a small square hole near the rear, insert your finger in said hole and push small medal tab, PROBLEM SOLVED!!. put the rubber tray back with your pens in it and you are on your way!! This really works and is so cool compared to the 600.00 Dodge wanted to fix the problem. Once you see how easy it is it is great. Just don't tell the kids and they will not be able to "Borrow" dads car say this " Son I would love to loan you the Magnum, Buy It keeps getting stuck in park" I think it also makes a very good anti-theft devise, Got lemons, make lemonade. lots of luck.
I purchased my 2005 dodge magnum in 2007. I have had problems with the transmission in 2008. The car made a loud humming noise when going uphill. I luckily bought the extended warranty. I took it back to the dealer several times and finally got the issue fixed after several missed days of work. Now in 2011 My car is in my garage and will NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I have read of this and I don't realize why this hasn't been considered a recall. I need help in getting this problem resolved asap without out of pocket expense.
wife was going to leave work and car would not come out of park.I had just had surgery on my shoulder a few days prior to this.Luckily my stepson is a mechanic at a chevrolet dealership and he went and got the car brought it home took the shifter out and the spring was broke off one of the pink tabs.He was smart enough to fix it so my wife could use her car.The only thing the car will start in any gear.This car was bought off the show room floor and has never been abused its so clean you could eat off the top of the motor.I feel this is a problem that should be on a recall.This is a major problem for when it happens unless you know what to do you are screwed you could be on vacation and that's not good.They should be made to fix this problem most people is not as lucky as we were to have a son that works at a dealership.
I feel this will eventually have me stuck somewhere. If I wait a few minutes or move the wheels with the steering i can eventually get the gearshift out of park. It may not happen again for months but then again it can happen a few days later. I went to my car dealership and they said nothing is wrong but it does not happen when you expect it to so they never see it and say we can fix what we do not see. Again i have mentioned it and they said its nothing. Let one of them be in the car with a bag full of groceries and the car not able to get out of park.
I am very upset, such a stupid and dumb issue with my magnum, never had any issues and all of a sudden the gear will not shift off of park, what the hell is going on, the vehicle turns on but cant drive it, I feel that the manufacturer should pay for this sh*t, or have this sh*t fixed without any cost, it is not my fault that this has to do with poor engineering from the manufacture part, they need to do a recall on this sh*t and fix this issue because if it continues to happen, I am going to sue there A*. How the hell do I fix this problem??? HELPPPPPPPPPPP I dont have $$$ to spend of this sht if it is not my fault...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
SHOULD BE A RECALL IF OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE CHANGED OVER 300 DODGE GEAR SHIFT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN STUCK IN PARK. DODGE NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT, RECALL OR ANYTHING? I AM FRUSTRATED AND NEED DODGE'S HELP!
- Rita V., Glasgow, KY, US