Just noticed that a little cover or something like that is missing on my wife's brand new ILX (see the right side of the shift lever). It looks like someone removed it and didn't put it back. This car was delivered from Acura to the dealer one day before we picked up, so it's reasonable to assume that someone at the dealership removed it. Does anyone know the purpose of the little access port? I want to determine whether the dealer is hiding something.

 

That's the shift release lock, in the event that the car is dead but you need to get it into neutral.

 

So is it likely that the brand new car was locked during the first 12 miles before we picked it up? My paranoia is starting to kick me hard

 

Not a big deal. The dealer prep guy probably somehow popped it open and the plastic cover fell out. Check the floor and see if it's down there. If not, just have the dealer give you a new one. You're under warranty.