Vehicle ran out of fuel and became disabled in an active roadway/exit ramp. The vehicle retained 12-volt electrical power and the dashboard and electronic controls remained operational. With the brake pedal depressed and the ignition/electrical system on, I attempted to shift the transmission from Park to Neutral so the vehicle …
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Vehicle ran out of fuel and became disabled in an active roadway/exit ramp. The vehicle retained 12-volt electrical power and the dashboard and electronic controls remained operational. With the brake pedal depressed and the ignition/electrical system on, I attempted to shift the transmission from Park to Neutral so the vehicle could be pushed out of traffic. The vehicle repeatedly displayed “Conditions Not Correct for Shift” and remained locked in Park because the engine was not running. There appears to be no driver-accessible mechanical/manual override that allows the transmission to be placed in Neutral when the engine cannot run. As a result, a disabled vehicle with functioning electrical power can remain physically immobilized in a live traffic lane, creating a collision hazard and preventing occupants or bystanders from moving it to a safer location. This condition could occur not only from running out of fuel but potentially from any engine failure that prevents the engine from running. I believe the inability to place a disabled vehicle into Neutral under these circumstances presents a safety hazard.
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