Buick Encore: Starting and Operating / Shifting Into Park

Buick Encore 2020-2025 Owner's Manual / Driving and Operating / Starting and Operating / Shifting Into Park

Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Parking Brake.
Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pressing the button on the shift lever and pushing the lever all the way toward the front of the vehicle.
Turn the ignition off.

Leaving the Vehicle with the Engine Running

Warning

It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the engine running. It could overheat and catch fire.

It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll.

Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is running. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting Into Park.

If you have to leave the vehicle with the engine running, be sure the vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you have moved the shift lever into P (Park), hold the brake pedal down. Then see if you can move the shift lever away from P (Park) without first pressing the button on the shift lever. If you can, it means that the shift lever was not fully locked into P (Park).

Torque Lock

If you are parking on a hill and do not shift the transmission into P (Park) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever out of P (Park). This is called torque lock. To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into P (Park) properly before you leave the driver seat. To find out how, see “Shifting Into Park” previously in this section.

When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of P (Park) before releasing the parking brake.

If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so you can pull the shift lever out of P (Park).

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)

When the ignition is turned from on to off, the following features (if equipped) will continue to function for up to 10 minutes, or until the driver door is opened...

Shifting out of Park

This vehicle is equipped with a shift lock control. The shift lock control is designed to prevent movement of the shift lever out of P (Park) unless the ignition is on and the brake pedal is applied...

Other information:

Buick Encore 2020-2025 Owner's Manual: Where to Put the Restraint

According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in an appropriate child restraint secured in a rear seating position. Whenever possible, children aged 12 and under should be secured in a rear seating position...

Buick Encore 2020-2025 Owner's Manual: Lockout Protection

If the vehicle is on or in ACC/ACCESSORY and the power door lock switch is pressed with the driver door open, all the doors will lock and only the driver door will unlock. If the vehicle is off and locking is requested while a door is open, when all doors are closed the vehicle will check for RKE transmitters inside...