HELP! Transmission stuck in park

[tib75]

Help! I have a 2010 Versa. Today when I left work, I started the car, but the transmission would not shift into drive. It was as if the top button on the shifter column was frozen. I have an automatic transmission. The only way I could get the car to go into drive was to press the second button underneath the top button, and the OD OFF light came on the Odemeter. When I got home, I was able to shift the car into reverse and park it. I pressed the second button, and the OD Light went off. I called the Service Dept. at the dealership I bought the car from. The advisor asked if I had my foot on the brake when I started the car, because the car will not shift from park. I thanked him for the advice, but I am 99% sure my foot was on the brake at the time I started the car. Has this ever happened to anyone? Please advise. I have had this car for 2 months, and this is really the first time I have had trouble. Any insight appreciated!

[Shad0wXCalibur]

Brake pedal switch could be defective. Do your brake lights work? If so, then could just be a defective shifter.

[Promise Land]

I don't understand how the O/D switch would affect the shifter from coming out of park. You should have to hold the brake pedal down to move the sifter from park (I think you said you did this). There is a small adjustment on the brake pedal switch that can be made if you are having trouble with the switch detecting you're pushing the brake pedal.

[gtrisfun]

i've had the same issue with my prior nissan, an 04 sentra. both Promise and Shadow are right with things to check.

for my sentra, it was the brake light switch, it was an intermittant issue. the switch was a DPST (double pole, single throw - meaning 1 button, but a pair of contactor terminals). so it is also possible that the brake lights may work, but the other terminals aren't contacting.

until you can take the car in to the dealership, you could use the "shift lock" button slot to shift the car into neutral, then start the engine, then shift into drive.

[Andrews Chalmers]

Ok that is strange... were you parked on a steep hill?

It is also strange as the OD cannot be disengaged until the engine is no longer cold. But from your description, you could disengage OD right after starting the car?

[tib75]

I thank everyone for their answers. I drove the car around today, and did not have the problem. The only thing I can think of is, maybe my foot was just touching the brake, and I needed to apply more pressure to it. I will keep a watch on this, and if it happens again, I will go to the dealership, and ask them to check out brake pedal and shifter.