HeathW

So my wife's 2008 RX 350 gearshift has recently started getting stuck in park when trying to put it in reverse, etc. It started a cpl months ago and seems to be happening more often as time passes. I've been reading up on here and most people say to check brake lights to see if they're working and if not, replace the fuse and if that doesn't work check the brake light switch by the brake pedal. I checked the brake lights and sure enough they weren't working. I replaced the fuse and got them back working but the gearshift is still getting stuck in park. Could it still be the brake light switch if the brake lights are now working okay? Of course she can use the little button in the top left corner to shift gears but I'd rather get the problem fixed than have her having to do that every time she wants to drive it.

MattRX

Had something similar happen on my 2002 Highlander. The little electrical shift module box aka parking / shift interlock solenoid under the shifter was not letting me get out of park easily. I swapped one from the junkyard and all was well. It’s worth shooting the linkage with some penetrating oil too to keep it running smooth.

I took apart the old box but could not find out or see why it had been sticking.