2001 Mazda Tribute LX-V6: Shifter stuck in park, dashboard reads car is in neutral, brake lights work, anu suggestions?

 

Here are a couple other posts on this forum. Both reference a cable/wire issue.

Stuck in Park: https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16869

Stuck in Reverse: https://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/mazda-tribute-22/gear-stuck-reverse-21262/

If neither of those help, try running a search for in the Tribute thread for your issue (I found these links by searching for "stuck", but that might not have been the most efficient word to use!).

Good luck.

 

We had this problem today. Wife turned off the car while in Reverse, then couldn't shift to Neutral or Park to restart the engine. Tested to confirm brake lights worked. Checked fuse #8 was not blown (shifter interlock solenoid). I removed the cover plug on the center top of the steering column to expose the white button that manually overrides the column shift solennoid interlock, and pressed it. This allowed the lever to move, but the tribute remained in Reverse and wouldn't start.

The solution in our case was the linkage at the transmission had come out. A small plastic bushing was damaged. After reaching down in the engine compartment on the left rear area near the brake master cylinder, the transmission linkage was re-connected, and the car started. We drove home without shifting the lever again for fear it would come undone. Monday we'll take it into have it repaired.

Hope this helps.