Ranger rolls when left in drive and engine off

[db79467]

2025 Lariat 4x4 with the regular (non-short throw) shifter. If I park, turn the engine off, and leave it in drive, the truck rolls like it is in neutral. Is this normal behavior? I was a bit surprised when it started rolling when I went to get out of it, and there was no warning and not even a ding to alert me to anything. I understand best practice is to put it in park, but years of electronic shifters and pushbutton start/stop engines which automatically shift to park when you turn them off have created some bad habits. Nonetheless, every car I've owned has had some fail-safe for stupidity - the key won't come out unless it's in park or something. At worst the engine seems to offer some resistance, but this was unnerving how easy and fast it rolled.

I'd much prefer one of the useless warnings be replaced with "hey dummy, you left it in drive" or something.

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[Dhass68]

you need to put it into park as it is a mechanical shifter

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

I'm not understanding why you're not putting the truck in "park".

 

[AlpineBike]

Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes!

 

[Meatbag]

complaining over something that isn't even a problem to begin with. wish the mods would purge stupid threads like this.

 

[Don Vandyke]

The transmission has a parking paw that is only activated when placed in park. Even the new Ford Electric vehicles still use a parking paw.

 

[Daweism]

I thought these newer cars won't even let you shut it off if it is in Drive

 

[chasc]

The transmission has a parking paw that is only activated when placed in park. Even the new Ford Electric vehicles still use a parking paw.

Pawl

 

[skinnyjimmy]

There was absolutely a ding and alert to let you know the truck wasn’t in park. Want to know why I know that? Because I forgot to put my truck in park when turning off the engine and it beeped at me with an alert. Who turns off and exits an automatic transmission vehicle without putting it into park? This isn’t a manual.

 

[chasc]

2025 Lariat 4x4 with the regular (non-short throw) shifter. If I park, turn the engine off, and leave it in drive, the truck rolls like it is in neutral. Is this normal behavior? I was a bit surprised when it started rolling when I went to get out of it, and there was no warning and not even a ding to alert me to anything. I understand best practice is to put it in park, but years of electronic shifters and pushbutton start/stop engines which automatically shift to park when you turn them off have created some bad habits. Nonetheless, every car I've owned has had some fail-safe for stupidity - the key won't come out unless it's in park or something. At worst the engine seems to offer some resistance, but this was unnerving how easy and fast it rolled.

I'd much prefer one of the useless warnings be replaced with "hey dummy, you left it in drive" or something.

The manual says it should be making a warning noise if you try to exit with it left in park. I couldn’t find confirmation in the manual but many cars including some Fords will put the e-brake on if you open the drivers door while still in Drive; I have the e-shifter so I can’t test it myself.

 

[Don Vandyke]

Pawl

Thanks

 

[Raptortugal]

I have the electronic shifter and it works like this :
- engine running on D, if I open the door and accelerate, the truck does not move and always stays on D
- engine running on D, if I turn off the ignition, the lever goes to P automatically

Normally without the electronic shifter, an audible signal should sound if you open the door on D.

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

Let's make this simple so some among us can understand. Ready? Here goes. When you park an automatic transmission equipped vehicle you ALWAYS place the gear shift into the "PARK" position, any other operator behavior is, simply put, WRONG. Not need to refer to the operators manual. Does this resolve any questions?

 

[Jason B]

I haven't tried on the Ranger, besides the audible warning, some vehicles will not let you remove the key if not in park.

 

[chasc]

Let's make this simple so some among us can understand. Ready? Here goes. When you park an automatic transmission equipped vehicle you ALWAYS place the gear shift into the "PARK" position, any other operator behavior is, simply put, WRONG. Not need to refer to the operators manual. Does this resolve any questions?

Nobody has questioned what drivers should be doing. The question is whether the vehicle is designed with some alert or failsafe for when someone does it by accident and if in this person’s case that failsafe isn’t operating as designed.

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