Question: I just bought a brand new Jeep Wrangler and I’m wondering about the ParkSense system. The guy at the dealership said it would help me back up without hitting stuff, but he didn’t explain much else about it. So what is ParkSense? Is it just my backup camera?
Answer: ParkSense is an alert and assistance system that helps you park safely. The way your ParkSense works will vary depending on whether your vehicle is equipped with Rear Park Assist or Active Park Assist.
What’s the difference between Rear Park Assist and Active Park Assist?
ParkSense Rear Park Assist: This system uses sensors in the bumper to detect obstacles while you’re reversing at less than 7 mph. If there’s anything behind you, the system will beep and you’ll see an indicator flashing on the driver’s information screen.
ParkSense Active Park Assist: Active Park Assist is a semi-automatic driving assistance feature. When this feature is active, the system will control the steering to help you park safely. You still control the gas, brake, and gear shifter.
How do I use ParkSense Active Park Assist?
To use your vehicle’s Active Park Assist feature:
- Press the ParkSense button—it will have the letter P and a steering wheel on it and should be in the center stack of your car.
- Choose either the “Parallel” or “Perpendicular” option from the touchscreen menu, then press the OK button on the left side of your steering wheel.
- Turn on your left blinker if you’ll be parking on the left, or the right blinker if you’ll be parking on the right. (If you don’t choose an option, the system will default to parking on the right side.)
- Drive until the system beeps to signal that it’s found an appropriate parking spot.
- Take your hands off the wheel and follow the directions that appear on your driver information screen.
- Continue to control the vehicle with the gas and brake pedals as ParkAssist helps you park.
To exit a parallel parking spot, follow the same steps, but choose “Parallel Park Exit” from the menu after pressing the ParkSense button.
Need to know: Monitor the entire area surrounding your vehicle while you’re using ParkSense. Apply the brakes if there’s a person, car, or other obstruction in your path.
Can I add ParkSense Active Park Assist to my vehicle?
If you drive certain Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, or Ram models, you may be able to visit a local authorized dealership to have ParkSense added to your vehicle.
You’ll need to have the appropriate sensors and wiring installed, and you may also need to install a Bypass Device. Then, a technician can use an OBD Genie programmer to install the ParkSense Park Assist feature on your vehicle.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
