I can't put gear shifter into park

looks like the shift lever pivot pin. Your description indicates that you are currently using the shift lever slot (the hole which the shift lever passes through) to actuate your gear selection. The fact it fell out, suggests it was originally installed upside down (wide end towards floor). May have to remove the cowling from around the steering column to find the proper location for the pin.

thanks for your feedback. I actual problem with the gear shifter not letting the suv out of park is because the gear shift solenoid is not working. I had to take the gear floor housing off the car gear box in order to locate the solenoid. not and easy job removing the middle armrest house that includes the rear heater duct and floor gear shifter. Now you can see and disconnect the electric circut connectors, one for the gear shifter, and one for the rear heater controls. Then remove the gear shifter support bracket and lift up on the gear cable so that you can unscrew the push button gear shift solenoid. You know that is the problem because once you press that buttom the gear lever moves out of park and into drive, reverse, or nautural. KEEP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON.
Auto parts stores did not have the part so I had to per order it for $ 100. and 2 days to deliver to the dealer service department and I have to pick it up. Looked online but could not find a match so I had to pay way more than expected, plus down time waiting for the part.
I took pictures and tried uploading them to this comment, however, its not working for me, help ???So far it took 2 hours to disassemble and hopefully 1 hour to install once I get the part. Need various screw drivers, rachet with extension, light, allen rench, and star shape allen rench . In order to get the armrest and rear heater housing off, you need to find the small screws hidden under the cup holders and cd holder. Have a pencil magnet handy to catch small screws that may fall. Do not pry off the armrest, look for the all the screws.. (about 8 and then 4 holding the solenoid in place.

There is a lock mechanism that prevents moving shifter out of PARK unless your foot is on the brake. You can bypass this by sticking a small flat blade screwdriver or a key into the little slot on the console by the shift lever.

Are your brake lights coming on when you press the brake pedal?The shift lock is released electrically when your foot is on the brake, and the sensor is tied to the brake light switch circuit. The brake light switch can be seen if you look under the dash at the brake arm. First, check the connector. If the switch is out of adjustment, you can screw it in or out to adjust. Or just buy a new one.

there is a u shaped clip that holds handle on stem, pull that and then pull handle off and then push down on the white stick that is in center of shifter and see if it can move out of park then, also make sure your foot is on brake ! if that that does'nt work then there is a little solenoid down by shifter that has to move when you put foot on brake so's that it will let you shift it (safety device) it may be bad or bad connection.

I would say it came from the neutral safety switch. They used to be on the side of the transmission but now most are located at the bottom of the steering column. You'll probably have to get it replaced. Hope this helps.

sounds like the shift linkage has fell off
look under the hood of your car and have someone move the shifter
look for the movement and see is it is hooked up
give me feed back if this helps

sounds like an obstrution in the linkage look at the lever on the trans also check the cable to see if it is freyed

Do you mean the shift indicator don't move? The indicator is activated by a cable that gets pulled as you move the shift lever down. There's a spring that pull's it back, so if the screw falls out the indicator will say it's in park no matter what gear you have it in. If you put in park you may be able to get the screw back in.

It may go on the end of the shifter shaft the best advise I can give is to lay under dash and have someone move the shifter and you should see something move that is missing the bolt becaus it pivots

you have to take off the plastic all around the gear shifter. You can wedge a screw driver carefully around the edges and pry the plastic off then there is a screw on the shifter take that off and slide the top off and then take off the rubber until the whole shifter is exposed then you will see in the cavity on the right side a little metal round tab on a spring that you have to push in with a screw driver and it will release the shifter. Good luck