Q: My car is sticking when I shift into or out of reverse.

asked by on November 01, 2016

Getting my car from park into reverse is very difficult. Then getting it out of reverse to drive is also very difficult. What could be causing this? My car sat for months this summer because of operations I had.

My car has 123000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Engine overheating - 2009 Buick Lucerne
Hello. The thermostat (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/thermostat-replacement) is located inside the housing opposite the engine water pump. The radiator hose and housing must be removed to gain access and new coolant should be added (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/top-off-coolant) when the work is done. I recommend having...
Truck has a wrench light and won't clean exhaust filter
Hello. If the wrench light is coming on, then there is an issue that the computer is seeing. Some generic scan tools cannot read the correct codes in the computer. I use a Ford scan tool on this. It sounds...
Grinding noise from back of car
Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. It seems that your vehicle has a wheel bearing (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/wheel-bearings-replacement) that is grinding causing the noise that your are describing. Raise up the vehicle where the rear wheels are off the ground and the...
Why does my car's RPMs spike randomly at a constant speed?
Depending on the terrain where you live, this may be a normal function of the engine (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-shaking-pulsating-or-vibrating-inspection) downshifting. The vehicle should accelerate slightly when this happens, or should up under an increased load of some kind. With the age of...
Loud roaring sound - 2008 Honda Ridgeline
Hi there. In many cases, the loud noise you're hearing upon start-up is related to a loose drive or serpentine belt. The fact you hear this noise when you turn might indicate that the power steering pulley or drive belt...
Car not starting - maybe ignition coil?
You will need to take out one spark plug wire off a spark plug and put it near a ground with a screw driver or spark tester installed and crank engine to see if there is spark. If no spark...
2007 scion tc eats too much gas.
There are a number of things that can cause poor fuel mileage. A faulty camshaft position sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/camshaft-position-sensor-replacement) is one of them. The camshaft position sensor is a magnetic sensor that monitors camshaft speed to regulate ignition timing and fuel...
Battery saver active light has just come on in my 2011 Equinox and i am on the highway about 100 miles from home. should i be able
Hi There, This can be caused by a loose battery cable (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-cable-replacement) which is often times the problem. Try checking to be sure they are connected properly. Also, there is a sensor that has 3 small wires running to it...

Related articles

How Long Does Clutch Fluid Last?
The The usual answer to this is, forever. Of course, as is the case with many hard and fast answers, there are always exceptions. The reason that your car clutch fluid should last forever is that it’s a closed system....
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Need a Lot of Trunk Space
Many Many people focus more on interior room than cargo carrying capacity. That’s natural if you have a large family or regularly carpool, but what about drivers who need to carry a lot of stuff most of the time and...
How Long Does a Shift Selector Cable Last?
When When you put your gear selector in drive, you expect to be able to move forward. When you shift to reverse, you expect the car to back up. When everything’s working right, that’s what happens. However, if there is...