Chevrolet Trailblazer battery drain problems

Filed Sep 24, 2026 · Transmission · MI

When putting the gear shift into park there is a constant SHIFT TO PARK message that plays even when shifted to park and forces the car to stay in accessory mode. This drains the battery and does not allow car to shut down fully. This is a known issue with this make and model of vehicle and GM refuses to make any changes or recall any vehicles. I will have to pay out of pocket for this repair with only 29,000 miles on the vehicle.

Filed May 8, 2026 · Electrical · MD

Intermittently I will receive a dashboard message reading “shift to park” after I park the vehicle and do shift to park. This is a known issue with this vehicle across several years identified as “a known issue caused by a faulty switch in the shifter assembly failing to detect when the car is in Park”. GM has identified and found a solution to this problem by replacing the entire shifter assembly at the owners own cost. This malfunction has the potential to cause great harm. Potentially the vehicle could roll if the engine/system does not identify that it is in park. This could cause very expensive damages or even take a life. The vehicle also remains in accessory mode which drains the battery and can become even more costly for the owner at no fault of their own.

Filed Apr 22, 2026 · TN

When I put my car in Park, my car fails to detect it is in Park, leading to a persistent error message that tells me “Shift to Park”, inability to turn off the engine, and battery drain. I’ve had the car since Oct. 2020 and this car has been doing this since at least Oct. 2021.

Filed Dec 12, 2025 · Transmission · NY

“Shift to Park” message came on the dashboard. Car would not change gear or go into reverse or drive. Basically stuck in Park position. Car kept peeping sound nonstop for over 20 minutes. And it drained the battery. Car would not drive. Had to have it towed to the dealership I brought it from 45 miles away. I had to pay $656.72 at dealership to get it fixed. The dealership removed and replaces the shifter assembly which cost $656.72.

Filed Oct 24, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · MI

I am reporting a recurring “Shift to Park” malfunction with my 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer. When I shift the vehicle into Park and attempt to turn it off, the dashboard displays a “Shift to Park” message, and the vehicle remains in Accessory Mode rather than shutting down completely. The vehicle continues drawing electrical power and the battery drains overnight. This condition poses several serious safety risks: 1.The vehicle may not consistently detect or hold the Park position, creating a potential roll-away hazard. 2.It prevents the driver from shutting off or locking the vehicle, leading to security and electrical safety concerns. 3.If the vehicle remains powered in an enclosed area, it increases the risk of carbon-monoxide exposure. I understand this issue has been widely reported by owners of late-model GM vehicles, and appears related to a defective park/position switch or shifter assembly. I request a thorough investigation, appropriate repair, and confirmation whether this defect falls under a service bulletin or recall.

Filed Sep 15, 2025 · Transmission · MO

Vehicle displayed "Shift to Park" error and would not shut off. This occurs after the shifter is placed in the park position. By any standard, a defective component that prevents the car from being shut off is an extreme safety concern and needs immediate attention. Additionally, the instrument panel remains illuminated and the aux power items continue to function. This has happened multiple times and has drained the battery on several occasions.

Filed Sep 2, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · RI

When I shift my vehicle into park and hit the button to shut it off, a "shift to park" message appears on the DIC screen. I then am required to start my vehicle again, shift into gear, and then put it back into park and attempt to shut the vehicle off again. It has taken me up to 15 minutes to be able to get it to recognize that my vehicle is in park and for the message to not pop up. If I get out of the car while the message is still on the DIC screen, I cannot lock my vehicle and it drains the battery. I contacted my local Chevrolet dealer and they are saying that although this is a known issue which has had more than one GM Service Bulletin on this issue which includes my year and model, there is not an actual recall for this, so I have to pay out of pocket, because my bumper to bumper warranty expired at 36,000 miles and I am currently just shy of 39,000 miles. Of note, there is also a class action lawsuit for this exact issue so I am confused as to why a recall would not have been issued, or why it would not still be covered despite the expired bumper to bumper warranty.

Filed Aug 1, 2025 · Electrical · MN

I get a shift to park warning after putting the car into park. I’m not able to turn the car off, this has drained the battery and caused safety issues for me and my child

Filed Jun 13, 2025 · CT

hift to park The vehicle began to display 'Shift to Park' on the display even after the vehicle was in the park position. By shifting back out of park and back into park, but that became less effective as time went on. The vehicle will not shutdown fully when this warning is displayed and therefore can cause a battery drain condition, which can result in a safety risk returning to a vehicle with a weak or dead battery. Vehicle has only 23,478 miles. In researching to understand the problem, I discovered that there are many instances of this same issue occurring at about the same time period, as well as there being several class action lawsuits on the identical issue, which shows that it isn't isolated.

Filed Jun 6, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · MI

The vehicle began to display 'Shift to Park' on the display even after the vehicle was in the park position. This started periodically over a few days, but then became a regular occurrence within a week. At first this could be resolved by shifting back out of park and back into park, but that became less effective as time went on. The vehicle will not shutdown fully when this warning is displayed and therefore can cause a battery drain condition, which can result in a safety risk returning to a vehicle with a weak or dead battery. This occurred at 37 months of ownership with ~28,100 miles on the vehicle. In researching to understand the problem, I discovered that there are many instances of this same issue occurring at about the same time period, as well as there being several class action lawsuits on the identical issue, which shows that it isn't isolated. Further, the cost of this repair is a replacement of the shifter assembly at nearly $700 on a $24,000 vehicle less than 3 years old, because the failed inexpensive switch isn't repairable. Repair information is available, but the system isn't allowing for an upload of the files.