What is this?

What is this little square cap with a slot on the front of the center console?
It looks like a cap to cover a screw or is it something else?

 

I think its the release to neutral/release from park/parking pawl release override button under the cover.

 

When the AT shifter gets stuck, you can put a screwdriver in there to release it.

 

Alright! Now I know what it is. Thanks

 

When not if? Lol. I’ve been driving for 40 years and never had a shifter get stuck. Is there a reason they get stuck?

 

I have never owned an automatic but think maybe if you parked on a hill with no handbrake there may be too much pressure to release. The Owners Manual probably has a section showing it and explaining events that may cause it to get stuck.

 

Im pretty sure if the engine isn’t running you can’t shift out of park. That little release thing allows you to. That’s how it has worked in other autos for me. Haven’t tried in the Tacoma though.

 

This. It's for shifting to neutral with the power off. Useful if you exercise poor judgement and need to load onto a tow truck, or if you drive a Nissan Xterra.

 

The explanation of its purpose was found on page 213 of my owner's manual under "If the shift lever cannot be shift from Park."

 

usually what happens is the battery goes dead or electrical power is lost for some reason and the release button allows the tow truck driver to winch it onto the flatbed without dragging the tires.

Also helpful if the brake light switch fails, as it needs to see your foot on the brake to release the shifter mechanism