Q: Why does my Shifter moves freely, but wont shift? A small piece in steering column has broken off. 2006 Dodge Dakota

asked by on December 05, 2016

I was putting my car in reverse to back out of a parking space and my column shifter will move, but not shift gears. I removed the steering column and a small piece that connected the shift cable was broken off. I cannot properly identify the part to order, and dont even know if it can be bought without an assembly kit.

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

Car does not shift from park to drive Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Hi - you have diagnosed this correctly! Part of the shift linkage has broken, preventing gear selection. I would recommend a shift linkage inspection to determine what parts to order by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

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 insert a CD into the CD player?
Inserting a CD into the CD player is very easy. Make sure the CD is face up (printed side up), then insert it into the CD player. After the CD is partially inserted, the CD player will pull it in...
Front left tire shakes during braking
You may have a warped rotor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/is-it-safe-to-drive-with-warped-rotors), this can be checked with a dial indicator to measure the runout of the suspecting rotor. If the rotor is okay then you may have an ABS problem with the wheel sensor causing...
Driver's seat no longer moves back when key is removed
I would go into your message center in your Lincoln MKZ to the settings menu. You can then scroll down until you find the feature that is labeled "Easy Exit". Once this feature is found, you should have the option...
Oil pressure light won't turn off
Hello. There could be an oil leak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-fluid-leak-inspection) somewhere, or a problem with the car’s oil pump not working properly. It is also possible that the new oil pressure sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-pressure-sensor-replacement) that you just put in is defective and needs...
My car jerks when I accelerate
This may be a sign of a dirty or failing mass air flow sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/mass-airflow-sensor-replacement). The mass air flow sensor reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. When this fails,...
Shifting has become much harder, especially 1st gear and reverse, and sometimes I can't shift into any gear.
Hi. Usually when a manual transmission is hard to shift, it means that the slave cylinder is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced. The purpose of the slave cylinder is to make shifting of the transmission smooth and effortless for...
When pressing gas pedal car starts to shake then stops when i let go
Hello, thank you for writing in. Due to the occurrence of your symptoms being related to the acceleration of the vehicle, it is likely that the vehicle is misfiring for one reason or another and causing an engine vibration. Misfires...
i have a ford ranger 2.2 tdci
Hi there. A check engine or warning light is illuminated after the ECU detects and error coming from sensors or electrical components. This will register an OBD-II trouble code and then illuminate the light on the dash. The only way...
While I was driving I all of a sudden couldn't accelerate no more and my brakes locked up. 1991 Nissan Pathfinder
Hello Typically when this occurs it is due to the brake fluid being contaminated or from a failure in the brake master cylinder. Most of the time when something other than brake fluid is put in the system the seals...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You’re a Vet
The The best car for a vet to own largely depends on the type of practice he or she has. Large animal vets are probably going to want something that delivers a fair bit of power, and possibly even towing...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a General Contractor
If If you're a general contractor, you probably aren’t in the market for a used car. More likely, you’re looking for a pickup truck, because you need to haul equipment and supplies to various job sites. Most contractors will likely...
How to Troubleshoot a Slipping Clutch
There are numerous advantages to operating a vehicle with a manual transmission; many drivers claim it gives them more control over...