It happens fairly often that my key sticks in the ignition when I power-down my Prius.<br><br>I have discovered that I can usually extract the key after jiggling the shift lever. That is, in order to get the car to unlock the key, it is not ususally necessary to shift from Park to Drive or Reverse or restart and stop the car. It is usually enough to push the lever forward a bit, leaving it still in Park.<br><br>Has anyone else experienced similar difficulty when trying to remove the key from the ignition?<br><br>- outerdog

Someone please tell me if there is anything special about the Prius. However, my in-laws just got a new Ford Minivan, and they were complaining about the same thing. It's funny, but cars have had these ignition/steering/shift locks for at least 10 years if not more. I think that people get used to the little machinations needed to make their car work without even being conscious that they are doing them, and are suddenly startled when the tricks are slightly different in a new car.<br><br>Anyway, have you tried noticing which way the tension is on the steering wheel and moving the wheel the opposite way? Typically trouble comes from putting some pressure on the steering wheel after turning the car off and having it lock in under some tension. Try pushing the wheel first one way and then the other to take tension off while turning/removing the key. I think this all ties in with the shift, so it could be the same thing.<br><br>Apologies if what I wrote is well known, and there is, in fact, something special about the Prius that I don't know about.<br><br>Burns<br>2002 Prius on order

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;<br>It happens fairly often that my key sticks in the ignition when I power-down my Prius.<br>&gt;Snip&lt;<br>Has anyone else experienced similar difficulty when trying to remove the key from the ignition?<br>- outerdog <br>&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;<br><br>Not exactly the key, but I once went into a panic when I couldn't get my Prius out of park. I was late for a meeting and just couldn't move the shift lever. Finally, I put my foot on the break and everything was fine. Boy was i embarrassed... and I was by myself!<br><br>George

Absolutely. I talked to the service rep about this the first time I went in and they played dumb. I was in too much of a rush to push the issue, so I'll get it taken care of next time. Not that it's a big deal, but I don't want a relative panicing if they borrow the car and can't get the key out of the ignition. There's enough suspicion of new technology, there shouldn't be any tricks to operating your car.

Press and release the button on the gear shift lever, that should sufficient to free the key.<br><br> arnold

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;<br>Press and release the button on the gear shift lever, that should sufficient to free the key.<br>arnold <br>&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;<br><br>Yeah, this usually works for me too.<br><br>George

The sticking Prius key/shifter bothered me for a while too. It seemed to only occur when I was in a hurry to go. I finally figured out that the brake is also involved. The shifter will not move out of P (to R or beyond) unless the brake pedal is pushed fairly hard. (I suspect its the same amount of pressure needed to shut off the electric motor trying to simulate automatic transmission creep.) So if the shifter sticks, push it ALL the way toward the dash, then push hard on the brake and it will move fine (with button pushed, of course).<br><br>If the shifter is in P but not ALL the way toward the dash, the key can remain locked in the ignition (as if the shifter was not in P). Again, push the brake hard, push the shifter all the way toward the dash, and the key will release (but you may have to first turn it to the ON position if it's in ACC).<br><br>It's annoying, but once you understand how to readjust things, it's not longer panic inducing. If anyone gets this cleared up, please let us know what you told your service dept., and what they did to fix it.<br><br>Robert Snyder<br>NJ-PIKACHU