# Transmission damage, if car is hit while in park?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage-if-car-is-hit-while-in-park/30305>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** damage, transmissions, parkingbrakes\
**Created:** [May 11, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage-if-car-is-hit-while-in-park/30305 "2009-05-11T04:28:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stevem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@stevem](https://community.cartalk.com/u/stevem)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage-if-car-is-hit-while-in-park/30305/1 "2009-05-11T04:28:48Z")

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Can a transmission be damaged if the car is hit while in “Park?” My 2003 Town & Country was hit while in park, engine not running. The bumper was scraped, and the car moved enough for black tire marks to be made on the ground. Thank you for any guidance.

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**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage-if-car-is-hit-while-in-park/30305/2 "2009-05-11T04:55:14Z")

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I wouldnt worry. The stress your T&C encountered would be in the park pawl, then the CV joints and output shaft splines. Since the park pawl was engaged and holding the internals of the transmission still it would be very unlikely damage ocurred inside. Since your wheels were on the ground and the van was forced forward against the locked transmission, all the stress is in the output shafts and CV’s

transman

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**Author:** ![Pontiacura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pontiacura](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Pontiacura)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage-if-car-is-hit-while-in-park/30305/3 "2009-05-11T13:34:06Z")

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Never mind…

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**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-damage-if-car-is-hit-while-in-park/30305/4 "2009-05-12T02:09:30Z")

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It’s a good question but I have seen this countless times. Your trans should be ok.