Q: The car turns off when shifting the gear to neutral automatically.

asked by on October 11, 2016

It seems the issue is related to an electrical problem, where when the car is on, it works normally. But when you shift the gears from park to neutral, the engine shuts off and turns off the car. This only happens at neutral.

My car has 155000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Neutral Safety Switch Replacement $110.75 - $1200.55 Get a Quote

This is likely related to what is called a neutral safety switch. This is an electrical switch near your transmission that is designed to not allow the car to start when in any gear other than park. Occasionally, this switch will fail or become faulty causing it to work intermittently. When this happens it may cause the car to be shut off randomly as you describe. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose and repair the neutral safety switch.

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

How do I turn on the fog lights?
The fog lights can improve visibility in adverse driving conditions, namely rain and fog. To turn on the fog lights, rotate the fog light switch to the on position (the fog light switch is located next to the light switch,...
Knocking sound
Hello. It sounds like there is something broken in the engine internally. A push rod could be bent, a lifter could be stuck, or the engine bearing could be messed up. Have your vehicle's noise inspected (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-making-a-noise-inspection) by a certified...
Car leaking water/coolant
Coolant can leak from a variety of places on the engine: Gaskets, seals, hoses, and the radiator are all suspect. The cooling system will need to be inspected to find the leak. I would not delay getting this repaired; a...
Advice on buying the first car
Unfortunately, I don't want to jinx you, but the first car people get is the first car they wreck. I would say get a nice, used Toyota (https://www.yourmechanic.com/cars/toyota). You pay less, your insurance will be a lot cheaper. As time...
When putting foot on accelerator, brake, or shifter, car dies
A few different faults can cause the vehicle to go into a limp mode. The ECU puts the car into this mode to prevent damage and will be associated with a Check Engine Light. The most likely causes are a...
Where should the coolant temperature needle be pointing?
The gauge is an estimate of the temperature of the engine. You would need to have the vehicle scanned to get actual temperatures.
Switched to synthetic oil, now I smell burning oil, possibly engine running hotter
Hi, thanks for writing in. Synthetic oil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/can-you-switch-between-regular-and-synthetic-motor-oil) is typically a little bit thinner than conventional oil. Often times when a vehicle is switch from conventional to synthetic this can cause oil leaks or burning oil. I would recommend changing...
Radio light goes out with the light switch turned on.
Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. If the radio is a stock radio and not an aftermarket radio, then the lights should be tied into the dimmer switch. Turn the dimmer switch to adjust the lights and see if...
Serpentine belt
Hi There, It sounds like the serpentine belt (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/serpentine-drive-belt-replacement) tensioner pulley (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/drive-belt-tensioner-replacement) may be incorrectly adjusted or potentially worn out. The tensioner pulley is a pulley that allows the tension of the belt to be adjusted. This pulley has a...

Related articles

Is it Safe to Drive With a Fever?
A A fever is considered a higher than normal body temperature. A fever can be caused by viruses, bacteria, drugs, toxins, or fungi. Normally a fever comes with other symptoms depending on the type of illness that causes the fever....
Symptoms of a Bad or Faulty Door Lock Switch
If the door locks are not functioning well or the door lock button is broken, you may need to replace the door lock switch.
How to Replace the Headlights on a Toyota Prius
Your headlights are one of the most important safety components for your car. A broken headlight bulb can endanger yourself and others on the road.