Ignition Key Stuck On Your 2000 Grande Cherokee? Check This Before a Costly Repair

When the key wouldn't come out of the ignition on our 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, we thought we'd be making an expensive run to the auto repair shop. We'd had that problem before about ten years ago and had the lock changed (at least I THINK they changed it) so we weren't pleased about having to do it again.

As luck would have it, it was after business hours for most auto shops, and the one I called suggested I call a locksmith. Lucky for us.

As I jiggled the gear shift, wondering whether it had fully engaged in park, I happened to notice a piece of rubber protruding from the front of the shift knob, where the release mechanism is. I pulled on it until it came off, revealing the metal button underneath.

At which point the ignition lock became unstuck, and I was able to fully switch it off and remove the key.

As best I can determine, the rubber piece was just decor, a rubber cover, fitted over the metal release mechanism on the knob (see picture of the kind of gear shift knob I have...Mopar, OEM). Only it had shifted from its intended position and was preventing the lever from fully engaging in park, thereby preventing the removal of the key.

I shudder to think of what this would've cost us in the shop.