
Originally Posted by
OTEP
By law in most other countries, there should be a swich to override the shiftlock if there is a failure. Maybe you need to read your owner's manual to find this.
For example, on the Nissan Patrol it is a red button marked 'SHIFT LOCK' press this button and the shift lock gets overridden.
On the for Escape, you remove a piece of plastic on top of the steering column, insert any long object (e.g. a key) in the cavity to push the shift lock override button hidden inside.
On a Honda Jazz, there is a small slit by the side of the shifter where you can instert a blade or key to override the shiftlock.
Bottom line is, you will not be left stranded by a shift lock problem if you know how to override it.
The shift lock is a good safety item to have as long as it is functioning properly.