If you can't physically shift the vehicle into drive, then the linkage going to the transmission may be binding up. If you can shift the gear selector into drive, but the vehicle won't move forward, then you may be very low on fluid. Many times when a transmission gets very low, it will only move in reverse and not forward in any gear. Check the fluid level and top it off if it is low. If the transmission is already full, then you may have more serious damage that may require a trans shop.
trans is slipping
A car that won't move when in reverse could indicate a problem with the transmission. It could also indicate a problem in the gear selector.
it will drive but when in reverse it wont move
If you have an automatic transmission, it probably has a forward clutch/band problem.
I have a 2001 Mercury Cougar it goes in reverse and first and second but it wont go in drive when i put it in drive the rpm just go up.
check your transmission fluid level. If it's low, then reverse goes out first. If that doesn't do it, you may need to take it to a transmission shop..
How to check transmission and discover possible transmission problem when buying a used car.http://www.samarins.com/check/transmission.html
does it shift into reverse and wont drive? if so its your tranny it needs to be replaced
For the Reverse problem, you could have low transmission fluid, or a bad transmission. For starting in drive, just about every modern car will not start when the transmission is in gear. They will only start in Park or Neutral. This is a safety feature to prevent the car from taking off into someone or something when started.
Could be a linkage problem..
You blew your transmission, took out the reverse gear. You'll have to take it to a tranny shop and get it rebuilt (not cheap), or replace it yourself with one from a scrap yard. ($600 in parts, a weekend to do it)
You are probably low on transmission fluids