Trans to Park when driver door opened
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 255
Likes: 8
GL350
Trans to Park when driver door opened
When I opened my door the other day with the trans still in Drive and the car still slightly moving, the trans automatically shifted into Park and the car jolted to a stop. I was barely moving so it was no big deal. But, it makes me wonder if the trans will shift into park regardless of the speed at which the car is moving. If it will, it seems like you wouldn't need to be going very fast before it would do damage to the trans.
Before some of you jump all over me with "well, dumbsh*t, don't open your door while the car is moving," I just started up from a stop and wasn't sure my door was closed so I opened it in order to close it more firmly. There are other instances where it's reasonable to open the door when the car is moving, even if only slightly, but there doesn't seem to be any need for that discussion now.
I just want to know if the trans will shift into park when the driver's door is opened regardless what speed the car may be moving at the time.
Before some of you jump all over me with "well, dumbsh*t, don't open your door while the car is moving," I just started up from a stop and wasn't sure my door was closed so I opened it in order to close it more firmly. There are other instances where it's reasonable to open the door when the car is moving, even if only slightly, but there doesn't seem to be any need for that discussion now.
I just want to know if the trans will shift into park when the driver's door is opened regardless what speed the car may be moving at the time.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 7
From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
When I opened my door the other day with the trans still in Drive and the car still slightly moving, the trans automatically shifted into Park and the car jolted to a stop. I was barely moving so it was no big deal. But, it makes me wonder if the trans will shift into park regardless of the speed at which the car is moving. If it will, it seems like you wouldn't need to be going very fast before it would do damage to the trans.
Before some of you jump all over me with "well, dumbsh*t, don't open your door while the car is moving," I just started up from a stop and wasn't sure my door was closed so I opened it in order to close it more firmly. There are other instances where it's reasonable to open the door when the car is moving, even if only slightly, but there doesn't seem to be any need for that discussion now.
I just want to know if the trans will shift into park when the driver's door is opened regardless what speed the car may be moving at the time.
Before some of you jump all over me with "well, dumbsh*t, don't open your door while the car is moving," I just started up from a stop and wasn't sure my door was closed so I opened it in order to close it more firmly. There are other instances where it's reasonable to open the door when the car is moving, even if only slightly, but there doesn't seem to be any need for that discussion now.
I just want to know if the trans will shift into park when the driver's door is opened regardless what speed the car may be moving at the time.
It is speed related, although I'm not sure what that speed is .....it is in the manual and I did read it there but can't recall the number. I did the exacct same thing you did and had the same reaction. The same story with the tranny in general......rolling along at highway speed and the tranny cannot be shifted into Park.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
2014 GL 350
This just happened to me. I had a ceramic tint applied to the front two windows and I wasnt able to roll them down for a few days. In order to pay the toll, I had to open my door while the car was almost (but not completely) at a stop. To my surprise, the car jerked and stopped. I learned afterwards that the transmission goes to P as soon as the door opens (I guess at a certain speed that is). I was worried that the transmission was hurt, but I assume MB wouldnt allow this to happen without extensive research.........I hope.
