Q: Parking brake is jammed and won't release on my 04 Hyundai Santa Fe

asked by on November 11, 2017

I pulled the parking brake to keep the car from moving, the following that I couldn't get the parking brake to release. It's jammed and the car won't move at all.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Parking brake is stuck Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hi Charlie. Thanks for contacting us today. There are two possibilities; that the e-brake is stuck on the rear brake itself, or the cable has broken. If you live in an area where you drive in dirt or off-road frequently, it could be excessive dirt has jammed the brake release. You might want to start by spraying off the wheels with high-pressure water to see if this unlocks the emergency brake. If you can’t resolve this issue, please feel free to set up a parking brake system inspection, and one of our mobile mechanics will come to your location and help you diagnose and resolve this problem.

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

What do I do if water gets on my car switches?
Most of the time, when water is spilled on the inside of our cars, it is not a terrible situation. If the water gets onto the carpet, or onto the fabric of the seats, we will usually either soak it...
How do you use the block heater?
If your car is equipped with a block heater (only those specifically destined for cold climates are so equipped), you have an important tool for ensuring that your car starts when the mercury plummets. The block heater keeps engine coolant...
Car shaking and misfiring
Hi. The first thing to do is check the codes stored in the engine computer (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection). If the engine is indeed misfiring, codes will be stored. The source of the misfire will need to be identified, possible faults include a...
Electronic throttle control light is on
Newer cars don't have a choke like the old cars did. The throttle body actually has a small gap that acts as the choke. If this gap gets clogged, and it does from time to time, the car wont start....
Car lost power after being serviced
There is a recall for this problem of no power, and it may fix the the issue by increasing the oil flow during startup and changes to engine ignition timing to increase power. When the car was serviced, they may...
Car started making loud noise, oil changed prior to this
Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2000 Saturn LS2. This can happen at times when the car has been sitting for a period of time. Hydraulic lifters help to operate the camshaft, which opens and closes the valves...
I have hit a curve and flat my tire but I had to ride the rim home. I got a new tire but my car pulls to the right and left now
Hey there. Unfortunately, when you hit the curb you may have damaged the steering gear (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/steering-rack-gearbox-replacement) or the tie rod ends (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/tie-rod-end-replacement). You should have the suspension and steering checked to pinpoint the problem. If your car cannot be driven,...
2004 Tahoe turn signal on and the headlights blink also.
Hi there. Check to see where you have grounded the wires to the lights on the front of the vehicle. It sounds like that all of the lights are being grounded on the same terminal. This is why the headlights...
Tire rubs against inner fender well.
The damage to the lower control arm bent that bad would cause tire to hit fender. You may have also damaged spindle, strut, tie rods. You will also need alignment after repairs are done to make sure it is in...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Just Retired
Here’s Here’s a cruel, hard fact – car manufacturers no longer target seniors. Instead, they devote their time and energy to appealing to the 18-45 demographic. Still, some features make certain cars more suitable for older drivers. We have evaluated...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You Get Motion Sickness
For For people that suffer from motion sickness, even on the shortest car trip, riding in a vehicle can prove to be unbearable. What’s great is that there are a number of cars on the market that can help to...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Construction Worker
If If you're a construction worker, you don’t have to worry about hauling a whole lot of supplies and materials to the site – that’s the boss’s problem. As long as it’s big enough to hold your tools (and most...