A stuck gear select motor in neutral could lead to which condition?

A stuck gear select motor in neutral can indeed lead to a situation where the engine starts in any gear. This is a critical issue because the intended safety feature in most vehicles is that the engine should only start when the transmission is in neutral or park. When the gear select motor is not functioning correctly, it may disable the mechanism that prevents the engine from starting in gear, potentially leading to dangerous circumstances if the vehicle were to lurch forward or backward unexpectedly.

The other conditions mentioned, while they may seem plausible, are not the direct consequence of a stuck gear select motor. For instance, engine overheating is typically associated with cooling system failures or excessive load rather than gear selection issues. Increased maintenance costs can arise from various mechanical problems but aren't a direct result of a stuck gear select motor. Similarly, excessive clutch wear is primarily influenced by driving habits and clutch usage rather than the specific gear selection functionality failing. Understanding these relationships emphasizes the importance of maintaining the gear selection system for both safety and reliability.