A method of controlling a vehicle park system in a shift out of park includes receiving a shift out of park request, and commanding a park actuator to rotate an actuator shaft operatively connected toa park pawl movable from an engaged position in which the park pawl is engaged with a park gear, to a disengaged position in which the park pawl is disengaged from the park gear. The method includesdetermining whether a detent lever operatively connected to the park pawl has moved towards an out of park position within a predetermined period of time after commanding the park actuator to rotate the actuator shaft, and then commanding an electric propulsion motor to apply torque to the transmission output shaft to assist the park actuator if the detent lever has not moved towards the out of park position within the predetermined period of time.