2012 Won't shift out of park sometimes

A few times in the last week my 2012 Limited with console shifter would not shift out of park. I tried restarting it, pumped the brake pedal a few times and nothing. Kept messing with it and finally came out of park.
Does anyone know what causes this and what the remedy is.
Thanks, JOHN

There's a solenoid that locks the shift lever in Park if the brake is not depressed. The brake pedal has a switch that activates the solenoid. So the problem is in either of those components or the shifter or their wiring.

You probably know there's a plug on the face of the shifter than can be removed to permit a screwdriver to be used to over ride this interlock. That's detailed in the owners' manual.

I'd probably start by testing the connector on the switch, then the switch with a meter or test light and work my way to disassembling the shifter and testing the solenoid with voltage...

Thanks Trainmaster...I will give them a try.

Hogg, the solenoid is part of the shifter assembly, so you'll have to take the console apart to get to it. Could be that mechanism is goobered up or worn and sticking if you find the switch to be working. Of course you can just disable the thing by gutting the mechanism if you don't care about the "added safety" it offers.

My son had this problem and we installed a new shifter, not a bad job.

Thanks for all your input guys. Trainmaster was right. I checked the brake lights and they would only come on once in awhile and it would shift when they did come on. I am replacing that brake light switch today or tomorrow. Glad this was it...the cheapest way out. Thank God because usually anything on this Expedition costs a small fortune.
I'll let you know if this corrects the problem.
Once again thanks for all of your replies.
The Hogg

The new brake light switch solved my problem except I have to push the brake pedal fairly hard to work. My brake lights won't come on and I can't stop the cruise control without putting enough pressure on the pedal. I don't see any way to adjust it like the "Old Days". I have another switch coming to replace the new one in case the one I just purchased was defective.
I'll let you know if this works or any of you know if there is a way to adjust these.
Thanks,
The Hogg

Hogg, I'm not sure how the Expedition switch works but here's what I know about some Ford switches:

First, make sure it's installed all the way and locked in its mount. That means you press it in and I think you turn it to the left to lock it in.

Second, you must install some switches with the brake pedal down. The first time you release the pedal, the switch plunger "seats itself", setting its normal or "off" position. After that, any depression of the pedal activates the switch.

So if you accidentally push in the switch plunger too far when you install it, the switch will be forever messed up.

I don't think that's your problem, but it's a tip you may want to keep in your mind when installing it. You don't want the switch depressed to any extreme other than what it is after being installed.

Third, if it says CHINA on it, throw it out and get a real one from Ford.

Glad you can shift now!