Picture this:
You’re ready to hit the road — you start the engine, shift into drive, press the gas, but nothing happens. Your car won’t move an inch.
Sounds familiar?
If your car starts but won’t move when in drive, chances are you’re dealing with a transmission problem or drivetrain issue.
To help you get back on the road, we’ll explain all the causes, how to diagnose the problem, and how much it’ll cost to fix.
This Article Contains:
- 15 Reasons Your Car Starts but Won’t Move When in Drive (+ Fixes)
- 6 Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Move in Drive but Will Move in Reverse
- How to Diagnose a Car That Won’t Move in Drive
- How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Car That Won’t Move in Drive?
15 Reasons Your Car Starts but Won’t Move When in Drive (+ Fixes)
Several common causes can stop your vehicle from moving, despite it not having a starting problem, such as:
A. Transmission Problems
Some transmission issues that can stop your car in drive are:
1. Insufficient or Contaminated Transmission Fluid
If your vehicle has low transmission fluid, it can’t generate the hydraulic pressure needed for gear shifting, which causes the car to rev but not move.
Similarly, old or contaminated fluid, often due to neglected car maintenance, loses its ability to lubricate and cool the transmission. This causes slipping or a delay in shifting gears.
Solution: Top up or flush the transmission fluid as needed
2. Faulty Gear Shift Linkage
If the linkage connecting the gear shift (or gear lever) to the transmission is damaged or misaligned, the car might not actually shift into drive, even if the lever indicates it has.
Many automatic cars also have a shift lock system that stops the gear shifter from leaving ‘Park’ unless you press the brake pedal. If this system malfunctions or the shift lock solenoid fails, it may prevent the car from moving.
Solution: Replace worn bushings, realign the linkage, and reconnect any disconnected cables or rods
3. Neutral Safety Switch Failure
When you start your car, the ignition switch sends power to the starter motor — but the neutral safety switch ensures the car only starts in park or neutral.
So, even if the starter motor works when you turn the ignition, a faulty neutral safety switch can send incorrect signals to the transmission control system. This prevents it from engaging the drive or reverse properly.
Solution: The switch may need realignment, cleaning, or replacement
4. Bad Torque Converter
The torque converter distributes engine power to the transmission. If it’s faulty or has worn components, the car may idle, but won’t move when in gear. This typically happens due to low or dirty transmission fluid levels, leading to overheating, warping, and excessive wear.
Solution: Replace the bad torque converter
5. Malfunctioning Transmission Solenoids
In semi-automatic or automatic transmissions, solenoids control fluid flow to engage components like the clutch pack.
If they fail, due to electrical issues or contaminated fluid, the semi-automatic or automatic transmission system may not properly control the fluid pressure. This leads to slipping or failure to move in drive.
Solution: Install a new solenoid
6. Faulty Transmission Control Module (TCM)
The TCM controls gear shifting in modern automatic cars by regulating fluid pressure to components like the clutch packs and shift solenoids.
If it malfunctions due to electrical issues and overheating, it may prevent the clutch pack from shifting gears properly, despite starting normally. In this case, it’ll likely trigger the check engine light or engage limp mode.
Solution: Clean the connections, replace damaged wiring, reprogram or replace the TCM
7. Transmission Pump Failure
The transmission pump circulates fluid through the transmission system, creating the pressure necessary to engage various components. However, it can fail due to blockage from contaminated transmission fluid, caused by the lack of regular maintenance.
In this case, there won’t be enough pressure for the transmission to engage the drive or reverse gears.
Solution: Replace damaged pump components, such as gears or seals, or install a new pump
However, a transmission problem isn’t the only reason your car won’t move. Several drivetrain components may also affect your vehicle:
B. Drivetrain Issues
Here are some more common causes your car might not move when in drive:
8. Worn Clutch Disc
Over time, the clutch disc in manual transmission vehicles thins out from constant friction, especially from riding the clutch pedal or not fully engaging it.
Once there’s a clutch failure, it can no longer properly grip the flywheel (clutch slipping). This prevents the engine from transferring power to the transmission, making it difficult for the car to move even if the engine is running.
Solution: Replace the clutch disc and check the clutch master cylinder to ensure it’s converting mechanical force into hydraulic pressure.
9. Broken Axle or CV Joint
If an axle shaft or CV joint breaks, power won’t reach the wheels even though the engine and transmission work.
Several factors can cause axle and joint damage:
- General wear and tear
- Torn CV boots due to insufficient lubrication
- Excessive load from aggressive driving or towing heavy loads
Solution: Replace torn CV boots, CV joints, and axles
10. Broken Transfer Case
In all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicles, the transfer case distributes power from the transmission to the front and rear axles.
If the transfer case is faulty because of insufficient fluid and strain from aggressive or off-road driving, it can’t deliver power to the wheels. As a result, your car won’t move, and you’ll also notice loud grinding noises.
Solution: Replace the transfer case fluid and repair any damaged components, like worn seals.
While drivetrain and transmission issues are common, other causes may be to blame, too.
C. Other Car Problems
Here are the additional car problems that could cause your vehicle to get stuck:
11. Faulty Engine Control Unit
The TCM uses data from the ECU, like throttle position or RPM, to determine when and how to shift gears. If the ECU fails, it could send inaccurate data to the TCM, preventing it from engaging gears properly.
Solution: Replace bad wiring and connections. Reset, reprogram, or replace the ECU.
12. Broken Speed Sensor
Speed sensors monitor how fast the wheels or transmission output shafts spin and send this data to the TCM or ECU. This helps determine when to shift gears, how much power to deliver, and when to engage or disengage the torque converter clutch.
However, a damaged sensor may relay bad data, which can cause improper gear engagement or limp mode, preventing your car from moving.
Solution: Replace the sensor
13. Stuck Parking Brake
If your parking brake is stuck due to rust, a worn brake cable, or mechanical failure like damaged brake shoes, it may prevent the wheels from turning.
Solution: Replace any damaged components (e.g., the brake cable) and lubricate the braking system.
14. Unbalanced Air-Fuel Ratio
The engine needs a balanced air-fuel mixture for efficient combustion. However, a broken oxygen sensor, clogged fuel filter, or damaged fuel injector may cause the ECU to disrupt this balance.
In some cases, this fuel system issue may allow your car to start when you engage the ignition, but prevent it from moving. In more extreme cases, it may not start at all.
Solution: Replace the broken sensor, fuel injector, or other fuel system components affecting the air-fuel mixture, like the fuel filter or fuel pump.
15. Worn or Seized Wheel Bearings (Rare)
Wheel bearings are steel rollers or balls that allow the wheels to spin smoothly with minimal friction.
If a wheel bearing completely seizes, due to insufficient lubrication or corrosion, it can lock up the wheel. This prevents it from turning, even though the transmission sends power.
Solution: Lubricate or replace the wheel bearing
We’ve covered the reasons why your car won’t move when in drive. But if it still moves in reverse, then check out the next section.
6 Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Move in Drive but Will Move in Reverse
Some issues that cause this problem include:
- Insufficient transmission fluid will prevent the transmission from engaging properly, particularly in forward gears. This often occurs due to leaks or the lack of regular maintenance.
- Problems with the linkage that controls the transmission’s shifting will make it difficult to engage forward gears.
- A malfunctioning torque converter will prevent power from transferring to the transmission, affecting forward gears more than reverse.
- Transmission solenoids or valve issues will prevent the proper flow of hydraulic fluid required for gear engagement.
- Damage to gears or clutch failure will affect forward gear operation differently from reverse.
- TCM or related electrical components issues will lead to improper gear selection. This is common on automatic transmissions.
Eager to get to the bottom of your car troubles?
Read on for some useful diagnostic tips.
How to Diagnose a Car That Won’t Move in Drive
Here are a few things you can try:
- Check transmission fluid: Open the hood and check the transmission dipstick. Look for low fluid level or dark, burnt-smelling fluid, which could indicate leaks and overheating.
- Inspect for warning lights: Look for an illuminated check engine or transmission warning light. These indicate problems with sensors, control modules, or internal transmission faults.
- Try other gears: Shift into reverse, neutral, or low gears (for manual transmission). If reverse works but drive doesn’t, the issue may relate to a forward clutch failure or a solenoid issue. If no gear works, it could point to a broken linkage, torque converter failure, or internal transmission damage.
- Check the gear lever: Stiffness or resistance may indicate linkage or shift cable problems that prevent the car from moving. In addition, being able to move in 2nd gear but not 1st can point to a gear synchronizer issue.
- Test the clutch pedal (manual transmissions): Pay attention to how the clutch pedal feels. A spongy pedal may indicate a hydraulic issue or a failing clutch master cylinder.
- Listen for unusual sounds: Start the engine and shift into drive while listening carefully. Grinding and whining may suggest internal transmission wear, while clunking and clicking could mean a broken CV joint, axle, or drivetrain component.
- Scan for trouble codes (OBD-II): Use a scan tool to read any diagnostic trouble codes. Codes like P0700 or P0740 can help identify problems with the transmission, sensors, and control systems that may stop the car from moving.
If these steps don’t fix the issue, you can contact a mechanic for a more detailed diagnosis and repair. Discover the costs below.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Car That Won’t Move in Drive?
The cost of fixing a car that’s unable to move depends on the exact auto repair. Here are some estimates to consider (including labor):
- Transfer case fluid change: $75 to $250
- Transmission solenoid replacement: $75 to $450
- Wheel bearing replacement: $100 to $760
- Transmission fluid flush: $120 to $510
- Speed sensor replacement: $200 to $400
- Fuel pressure sensor replacement: $265 to $380
- CV boot replacement: $300 to $510
- Oxygen sensor replacement: $360 to $520
- Brake cable replacement: $365 to $460
- Linkage bushings replacement: $400 to $515
- TCM replacement: $450 to $1,500
- Torque converter replacement: $600 to $2,000
- Transmission pump replacement: $800 to $2800
- Clutch disc replacement: $800 to $3,000
- CV Axle replacement: $930 to $1,400
- CV joint replacement: $1,000 to $1,080
- ECU replacement: $1,000 to $3,000
- Fuel pump replacement: $1,100 to $1,300
Get Your Car Moving Again with AutoNation Mobile Service
Several issues, from insufficient transmission fluid to a faulty ECU, can prevent your car from moving when in drive. Many of them may require professional repair to be fully resolved.
But since your car won’t move, why not let mobile mechanics from AutoNation Mobile Service come to you to diagnose and repair your vehicle from your driveway?
We offer easy online booking and provide a 12-month,12,000-mile warranty on all repairs.
Get in touch with us to schedule service for all your auto repair and car maintenance needs.