2025 - Shift system fault Confirm park brake Apply before exiting the vehicle

[camcdono]

Hello everyone, I have a brand new, 2025 Ford Maverick XLT hybrid. With about 450 miles on it. Today I got a scary message and after some research decided to make a post about it here (attached photo to post, not my exact photo as I forgot to take one but this is the same message).

Tonight I went on a short drive, about 10 minutes to pick up some pizza for dinner. When I went to park and put the car from drive to park I got this error “Shift system fault. Confirm park brake. Apply before exiting the vehicle”. Which naturally freaked me out. So I put the car back in drive, turned off the E break and tried again with the same issue. So I said “f* it” turned off the car, locked it, got my pizza. About 2 minutes later I got back into my car, turned it back on, turned off the E break, problem gone. No errors, no check engine lights, no error log in the ford app. All normal. Drove home, put it in park and drive and put a few times. No issues. But now of course I’m afraid it will happen again.

haven't seen anyone post about this happening to a 2025 ford maverick hybrid yet so I’m making this post as a place where others could potentially share their similar experiences.

Thanks!

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[vandeda2024]

You didn't look hard enough, as I just posted about this just yesterday on my 2025 with 1180 miles

I tried the same things as you. I think it cleared when I rolled the car forward a few inches and tried again. I'm not sure if maybe there was a parking pawl that didn't engage fully initially, but rolling forward a few inches re-positioned it. But, I hope it doesn't come back, that's for sure. I really like the truck, and it's my first Ford ever so I'm leery, but trying to be optimistic that I'll have years of relatively trouble free operation.

 

[Scott Asheville]

OP, the tuxedo cat in your profile image rocks!

 

[Tbone289]

I'm not sure if maybe there was a parking pawl that didn't engage fully initially, but rolling forward a few inches re-positioned it.

This is a good thought, but I'm not sure why a transmission pawl position would cause a parking brake fault. You can apply the parking brake in any transmission selection normally without a fault.

Either way, knowing that you might be able to inch forward/back a bit and re-apply the brake without the fault is good to know.

 

[vandeda2024]

This is a good thought, but I'm not sure why a transmission pawl position would cause a parking brake fault. You can apply the parking brake in any transmission selection normally without a fault.

Either way, knowing that you might be able to inch forward/back a bit and re-apply the brake without the fault is good to know.

I'm not sure either, it does seem strange that the shift system fault is tied to the parking brake. I just know when I went to exit the vehicle, it then told me it wasn't in Park (though the "Brake" light and "P" were both lit). So I really don't know ... hoping a fluke, but odd that someone else has also experienced it. Maybe a software error with the new HF55?

 

[Tbone289]

I'm not sure either, it does seem strange that the shift system fault is tied to the parking brake. I just know when I went to exit the vehicle, it then told me it wasn't in Park (though the "Brake" light and "P" were both lit). So I really don't know ... hoping a fluke, but odd that someone else has also experienced it. Maybe a software error with the new HF55?

Yeah, you almost have to know exactly how the systems are programmed these days to come up with a logical theory. I don't know why rolling a bit would have any influence at all on the parking brake sensors, but it does make sense that it would for parking pawl engagement. I actually don't know enough about the hybrid transmissions to say whether they even have a traditional parking pawl, so I probably shouldn't comment anyway.

 

[vandeda2024]

I actually don't know enough about the hybrid transmissions to say whether they even have a traditional parking pawl, so I probably shouldn't comment anyway.

I haven't looked at it close enough myself to really know. After looking around a bit, I get what the message is actually saying now:
1) Shift System Fault - Ummm ... I can't put your Mav into Park
2) Confirm park brake Apply before exiting the vehicle - Yeah, make sure you put your parking brake is on before you get out, otherwise, your Mav may roll away

Sometimes when I get out, I put the parking brake on first, then put it into park. If ... a big if .... the parking pawl (or whatever is used) couldn't engage with the parking brakes clamped down, then maybe it threw this message. That is my hope. So from now on, I'll make sure to go park first, then parking brakes, and hope it never comes back!

 

[Tbone289]

I haven't looked at it close enough myself to really know. After looking around a bit, I get what the message is actually saying now:
1) Shift System Fault - Ummm ... I can't put your Mav into Park
2) Confirm park brake Apply before exiting the vehicle - Yeah, make sure you put your parking brake is on before you get out, otherwise, your Mav may roll away

I think you're exactly right, and I totally missed the "shift system" part when I posted my first comment... You probably nailed it with your first comment. The problem isn't with the parking brake at all, it's that the transmission doesn't think it's in park.

 

[camcdono]

For me I rarely use the parking e-break. And I didn’t use it the time the shifting fault happened.

when researching this issue with the shift fault people were going from park to drive and failed to shift into drive. And they often had to get their whole transmission replaced. Hoping since we had the opposite issue, (drive to park) that it’s a simple tech glitch. Or a tech glitch with the CVT?

 

[Cactusgrayinny]

I haven't looked at it close enough myself to really know. After looking around a bit, I get what the message is actually saying now:
1) Shift System Fault - Ummm ... I can't put your Mav into Park
2) Confirm park brake Apply before exiting the vehicle - Yeah, make sure you put your parking brake is on before you get out, otherwise, your Mav may roll away

Sometimes when I get out, I put the parking brake on first, then put it into park. If ... a big if .... the parking pawl (or whatever is used) couldn't engage with the parking brakes clamped down, then maybe it threw this message. That is my hope. So from now on, I'll make sure to go park first, then parking brakes, and hope it never comes back!

I was always told that with these E-Brakes, we should always have our foot on brake before applying or releasing. I have been using E-brakes since 2016 on my Mazda with no problems. The routine I use is to apply foot brake to full stop then with foot still applying brake, set E-brake. Then, throw it into Park, then ignition off. Is this correct.?

 

[d7602002]

I was always told that with these E-Brakes, we should always have our foot on brake before applying or releasing. I have been using E-brakes since 2016 on my Mazda with no problems. The routine I use is to apply foot brake to full stop then with foot still applying brake, set E-brake. Then, throw it into Park, then ignition off. Is this correct.?

I think you are correct cuz that's the way I do it. I pull up to wherever I'm at, I do the same thing you do, apply the brakes, with foot on brake put the parking brake on then I put it park except once I forgot. Then I turn the ignition off. And when I release it I start the car, apply the brake, turn the parking brake off, put the car in drive and go.

 

[vandeda2024]

I was always told that with these E-Brakes, we should always have our foot on brake before applying or releasing. I have been using E-brakes since 2016 on my Mazda with no problems. The routine I use is to apply foot brake to full stop then with foot still applying brake, set E-brake. Then, throw it into Park, then ignition off. Is this correct.?

That's what I would have assumed ... seems normal and reasonable to me. But, I see 3 people with 2025s who've now had this warning now appear: myself, camcdono, and Tom H.

 

[JPerata]

In My 2022 Lariat, I push the start/stop button to turn off and it automatically goes into PARK. Then I apply park brake. Easy habit to get into. Not sure if 2025 will do the same thing.

 

[camcdono]

Update: did a lot of driving today. Stopping, parking, driving again. For about 2 hours. Not a single issue. I’m just going to say it was a system glitch/user error.

 

[25XLT]

I also have a 2025 XLT hybrid, and it seems to me that it engages the e-brake when I park or turn off the vehicle? When I start up the car through, I do not need to release the e-brake. Has anyone else noticed this or is it my imagination?

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