* Breaking the parking pawl: This is the most likely outcome. The pawl is designed to hold a stationary vehicle, not absorb the force of a moving transmission. It will likely bend or break, leaving the car unable to stay in park.
* Damaging the transmission: The sudden, forceful engagement can strip gears, bend shafts, or cause other internal damage to the transmission. This is a very expensive repair.
* Damage to the parking lever mechanism: The force can also damage the linkage that connects the parking lever to the transmission.
* Loss of control: Even if the pawl holds briefly, the sudden, violent engagement can cause a loss of control and lead to an accident.
In short, never put a car in park while it's moving. Always bring the vehicle to a complete stop before shifting to park.
